Lead Systems Engineer - Flight Management Computing

Description

The company is hiring a Lead Systems Engineer to support its Flight Management Computing programs. You will lead systems engineering across a set of advanced avionics platforms, keeping customer needs, technical requirements, product design, integration, and verification in step with one another.

The work is highly collaborative and cross-functional. You will balance what is common across platforms with what each program needs, on both military and civil applications, and work with software, hardware, and program teams from concept through production and in-service operation.

The role suits someone with strong systems thinking, technical leadership, and sound engineering judgment, who can shape decisions, weigh tradeoffs, and push execution across multidisciplinary teams.

The position is based in Grand Rapids, MI and requires at least hybrid work, with the office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. An extensive corporate relocation package is available to eligible candidates.

Responsibilities

• Lead systems engineering work for Flight Management Computing programs on military and civil platforms.
• Manage what is shared across platforms and what is specific to each program, so solutions scale and stay high in quality.
• Own requirements development, allocation, traceability, verification, and validation.
• Work closely with software and hardware teams so system requirements are understood, built, and verified.
• Lead integration of components, subsystems, and products to improve performance, operability, and quality.
• Define and manage system and product requirements and specifications, and flow them down to internal teams, suppliers, subcontractors, and partners.
• Drive system-level verification and validation, including help building integration and test strategies.
• Manage the key interfaces between components, teams, and execution organizations so development and integration run smoothly.
• Lead risk management, trade studies, and CTQ decisions to optimize system design and program execution.
• Support configuration management and configuration control across the product lifecycle.
• Apply technical expertise and data-driven analysis to solve moderately complex engineering problems and recommend practical fixes.
• Act as a technical resource and mentor for less experienced engineers, and build alignment and consensus across teams.
• Contribute to functional best practices, continuous improvement, and technical strategy within systems engineering.

Requirements

• Required: a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college.
• Required: at least 6 years of experience in systems engineering or a related engineering field.
• Required: U.S. citizenship.
• Desired: a strong grounding in systems engineering principles, including requirements management, integration, verification, and validation.
• Desired: experience on cross-functional teams that include software, hardware, and program leadership.
• Desired: a record of leading technical work, influencing stakeholders, and driving delivery in a complex product environment.
• Desired: strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with sound decisions based on engineering judgment and data.
• Desired: excellent written and verbal communication.
• Desired: strong interpersonal and leadership skills, and the ability to collaborate across teams and organizational boundaries.
• Desired: experience with technical trade studies, risk management, and configuration control.
• Desired: a proven ability to document plans, manage priorities, and deliver projects.

Conditions

Hybrid work in Grand Rapids, MI, in the office Tuesday through Thursday at minimum.

Base pay of $130,000 to $173,000 USD per year, with the final offer depending on experience, education, and skill set.

The role requires access to U.S. export-controlled information, so you must qualify as a U.S. Person: a U.S. lawful permanent resident, a U.S. citizen, or a person granted asylee or refugee status.

Employment is limited to those legally authorized to work in the United States for this role.

Any offer is conditional on passing a drug screen where applicable, and employees may face random and reasonable-suspicion drug and alcohol testing.

The posting is expected to close on 11/30/26.

The company may change or end its benefit plans at any time, and this document does not create an employment contract.

Benefits

• An annual discretionary bonus, calculated as a percentage of base salary or commission under the plan.
• Relocation assistance is available, through an extensive corporate relocation package for eligible candidates.
• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage, plus a Health Coach and a 24/7 confidential Employee Assistance Program for assessment, counseling, and referral.
• HealthAhead support for physical, emotional, financial, and social wellbeing.
• A 401(k) savings plan with company matching and company retirement contributions, plus Fidelity resources and planning consultants.
• Tuition assistance, adoption assistance, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, and paid time off for vacation or illness.