Senior Principal Project Engineer - Chief Engineer (ONSITE)
$132,400–$251,600 year
On-siteCedar Rapids, Iowa, United States
Job Summary
Serve as the technical design authority for Multi-Function Processing & Secure Solutions Products, ensuring architecture aligns with program strategy. Lead cross-discipline integration across systems, software, electrical, mechanical, and specialty engineering while developing engineering plans, scope, schedules, and project controls. Coordinate technical content for proposals, business cases, specifications, and contract commitments. Set design direction and oversee development, integration, verification, validation, and qualification activities. Identify issues, drive timely resolution, and maintain execution alignment to cost, schedule, and performance targets. Act as the primary technical interface for program leadership, customers, and suppliers. Travel up to 25% required.
Required Qualifications
- Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date
- U.S. citizenship is required
- Secret - Current Security Clearance Status: Active and existing security clearance required on day 1
- Ability to obtain Top Secret after start date
- Extensive experience in systems, software, or multi-disciplinary engineering leadership roles
- Demonstrated authority in leading technical direction, architecture definition, and cross-functional integration on complex programs
- Proven experience planning and executing engineering scope, including work breakdown structures, estimates, schedules, and project controls
- Strong background in technical risk & opportunity management, issue resolution, and execution within cost/schedule/quality targets
- Experience leading verification, validation, and qualification activities for mission-critical systems
- Proven ability to collaborate with program management, customers, and suppliers in a high-visibility technical leadership capacity
- Experience with Agile Mission Suite Government Reference Architecture (AMS GRA)
- Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM)
- Minimum 10 years prior relevant experience
- Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 7 years of experience
Desired Qualifications
- Prior technical leadership experience as a Chief Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, or equivalent architecture/ownership role
- Experience with mission systems, avionics, or other complex, integrated software/hardware product families
- Demonstrated success driving engineering strategy, process improvements, and architectural cohesion across large programs or portfolios
- Background in supporting proposals, business plans, or contract negotiations for technically complex systems
- Knowledge of regulatory, certification, or qualification requirements applicable to mission products
- Ability to lead and influence without direct authority across engineering functions
- Experience leading within an agile execution model with knowledge and experience in agile tools such as JIRA & Confluence
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