Senior Systems Engineer (R6455)

Description

The company is a venture-backed defense technology business. It builds autonomy software, two aircraft lines, and simulation and synthetic reality technology, supporting operations from offices and facilities in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.

This role sits on the next-generation unmanned aircraft system program. You will help design, build, and bring together autonomous aircraft for national defense, and you will lead the technical side of system architecture.

The work means combining avionics, autonomy, propulsion, sensor payloads, and mission-critical systems into one aircraft. You will work with hardware, software, autonomy, flight operations, and manufacturing teams to build a scalable platform that can operate in contested environments.

You will set system requirements and architecture using model-based systems engineering, run trade studies, check compliance with military and aviation standards, and support flight testing and operational deployment.

Responsibilities

• Shape and refine the next-generation UAS system architecture so that avionics, autonomy, propulsion, sensor payloads, and mission systems fit together.
• Specify system-level behavior, including modes, states, transitions, and responses to faults.
• Contribute to safety analyses (FHA, FMEA, FTA) by defining how the system behaves under fault conditions.
• Set top-level requirements, break them down into subsystem requirements, and keep them traceable through the full development lifecycle.
• Work with autonomy and software teams to build AI-driven flight control, decision-making, and mission execution.
• Use SysML, DOORS, or other MBSE tools to build digital system models, run trade studies, and improve performance.
• Weigh design options, assess technical risk, and recommend the strongest engineering choice for mission effectiveness.
• Engage with DoD stakeholders, industry partners, and government agencies to match system capability to operational needs.
• Work with hardware, autonomy, software, propulsion, and flight operations teams to integrate the system and move quickly through development cycles.

Requirements

• Required: 5+ years in systems engineering for aerospace, defense, or autonomous aircraft systems.
• Required: experience defining system behavior logic and operating modes.
• Required: deep knowledge of system architecture, avionics integration, and autonomy-driven flight systems.
• Required: proficiency in MBSE, DOORS, SysML, CAMEO, or similar modeling tools for complex systems.
• Required: experience with Group 4 or Group 5 UAS, military aircraft, or autonomous airborne platforms.
• Required: strong background in flight testing, system integration, and performance validation.
• Required: knowledge of DoD acquisition, MIL-STDs, FAA airworthiness certification, and airborne system safety standards.
• Required: a record of leading cross-functional teams through complex projects to completion.
• Required: ability to work in an agile setting with shifting priorities.
• Required: experience on a developmental program from clean sheet through first flight.
• Preferred: experience developing AI-driven autonomy for unmanned aircraft.
• Preferred: expertise in ISR, EW, and advanced sensor integration on airborne platforms.
• Preferred: familiarity with modular open system architectures (MOSA) and Government Reference Architectures (GRA) for defense.
• Preferred: prior work with defense primes, DoD stakeholders, or government R&D programs.
• Preferred: an active Secret clearance, or the ability to obtain one.

Conditions

Full-time regular employee offer package.

Temporary employee offer package, with pay within the listed range.

Pay depends on factors including skill set, experience, licenses and certifications, and work location.

Offers depend on a cleared background check and a possible reference check.

Ask your talent acquisition representative for more details.

The company is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, and offers accommodation for disabilities or special needs on request.

Benefits

• Temporary employees receive a benefits package after 60 days of employment.
• Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits.