Systems Engineer, Principal

About this role

Worker Type

Regular Job Description

  Summary We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Systems Engineer to lead systems engineering activities for a family of Unmanned Systems supporting defense and commercial applications. In this role, you will: • Lead mid-career and junior systems engineers across the full systems engineering V, including requirements decomposition, functional analysis (using MBSE), and verification and validation planning and execution. • Collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, software, and integration teams to develop, review, and implement system architectures and requirements. • Represent systems engineering in customer meetings and design reviews, presenting technical content and systems engineering artifacts. • Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME), mentoring junior engineers and driving process and tool improvements across the organization.

Key Responsibilities • Lead the development of requirements specifications, MBSE architecture models, and interface definitions. • Plan and manage requirements decomposition, derivation, allocation, and traceability across hardware, software, and integration. • Define and manage system interfaces, including creation and control of Interface Control Documents and related artifacts. • Own and/or support system trade studies and analyses (performance, cost, schedule, risk). • Lead verification and validation planning including strategy for establishing requirements compliance assessments; support the development of test plans and test procedures;; support test execution as needed. • Develop and maintain foundational systems engineering documentation (e.g., SEMP, OSMP, integration plans, interface control plans). • Serve as a primary systems engineering interface in customer discussions and internal/external design reviews. • Lead and mentor systems engineering teams, promoting best practices, MBSE adoption, and continuous process improvement. • Identify, analyze, and resolve system design weaknesses; influence future products and architectures spanning multiple products or systems. • Make complex design and architecture decisions to meet stated and derived requirements, leveraging appropriate analysis, modeling, and simulation tools. • Travel up to 15% to support customer meetings, design reviews, integration, and test events.

Basic Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science/Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering, or related field; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD Secret security clearance. • 15+ years of relevant experience architecting, modifying, and supporting complex systems, preferably defense and/or aerospace systems. • Demonstrated proficiency in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) using SysML v1.x  and  Cameo Enterprise Architect / Cameo Systems Modeler. • Experience with requirements management tools (preferably Jama), including: • Authoring and managing system, subsystem, component specifications. • Establishing and maintaining end-to-end traceability to architecture, design, and verification artifacts.

• Demonstrated experience developing systems engineering and architecture artifacts, such as: • Specifications, ICDs, architecture diagrams, CONOPS, trade studies,  analyses.

• Experience planning and executing verification and validation: • Verification & compliance assessments. • Test planning, procedure development, and participation in test execution.

• Experience presenting systems engineering content and artifacts at technical reviews (e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR). • Experience working in a collaborative, multidisciplinary engineering environment and effectively communicating progress, issues, and risks to systems engineering leadership and program stakeholders. • Ability to perform in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment where small teams share broad responsibilities. • Strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives. • Excellent problem-solving, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications • Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science/Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering, or related field from an ABET-accredited institution. • Current, active U.S. DoD Secret clearance or higher. • Experience with UAVs / UAS and/or weaponized unmanned systems. • Familiarity with DoD acquisition processes and methods for developing system models aligned and traced to Government Reference Architectures. • Experience with SysML v2 and/or using AI-assisted tools for development of architecture models. • Experience with MBSE methodologies and frameworks such as UAF and OOSEM. • Experience with Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) implementation and compliance. • Experience developing CONOPS, mission threads, and detailed use cases. • Experience with program-level risk management, including identification, analysis, mitigation planning, and tracking of technical and programmatic risks. • Broad technical knowledge in several of the following areas: • Software / Embedded Software • RF Systems • Networking • Optics (EO/IR) • Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) • Natural and Induced Environments • Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3) • Cybersecurity • Reliability Engineering • System Safety (e.g., MIL-STD-882) • Weapon System Safety and Ordnance

Physical Demands

Ability to work in an office and production environment (Constant) Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Clearance Level

  Secret The salary range for this role is: $154,500 - $247,250 AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, e

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