Principal Systems Engineer, Product Architecture
On-siteHuntsville, Alabama, United States
Job Summary
Own the technical architecture, system requirements, and engineering baseline for the portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems, payloads, and mission systems. Partner with Product Management, customers, and operational stakeholders to translate mission needs into verifiable system requirements and lead Model-Based Systems Engineering activities using SysML. Develop and manage requirements spanning aircraft, autonomy, networking, and embedded software while conducting trade studies to balance mission effectiveness, risk, and cost. Maintain the product digital thread by ensuring end-to-end traceability from customer needs through verification and production configuration. Lead technical planning for system integration, laboratory testing, and flight demonstrations. This role requires a U.S. Security Clearance and involves occasional travel to customer and flight test sites.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
- Master's degree
- 10+ years of experience developing complex aerospace, defense, robotics, autonomous systems, or unmanned aircraft platforms from concept through production
- Demonstrated expertise applying Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodologies using SysML and industry-standard digital engineering tools
- Proven experience developing product architectures, system requirements, interface definitions, verification strategies, and technical baselines for multidisciplinary systems
- Experience developing or integrating small, unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), mission payloads, tactical communications, RF systems, networking, autonomy, or embedded systems
- Proficiency with systems engineering tools such as Cameo Systems Modeler, or equivalent platforms
- Strong understanding of systems integration, networking architectures, payload integration, verification and validation, configuration management, and the engineering product lifecycle
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional technical decisions while influencing engineering direction without direct organizational authority
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively with engineering teams, executive leadership, customers, and government stakeholders
- Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance
- Ability to sit, stand, bend, reach, climb, and move about regularly throughout the day
- Ability to lift/carry up to 35 pounds
- Must have manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment, engineering laboratory equipment, prototype hardware, flight test equipment, and diagnostic tools
- Must be physically capable of supporting laboratory integration, manufacturing activities, customer demonstrations, and outdoor flight testing
- Occasional travel (approximately 15–20%) to customer locations, supplier facilities, and flight test sites
Desired Qualifications
- Experience with DoD Digital Engineering initiatives, Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA), Open Mission Systems (OMS), FACE, or other open architecture standards
- Experience developing, fielding, or sustaining military unmanned systems or autonomous products for U.S. Government customers
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