Principal Hardware Integration and Test Engineer

Draper Labs; Cambridge; On-site; USD 75,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Principal Integration & Test Engineer to lead multidisciplinary teams in developing advanced electro-mechanical systems. This role emphasizes collaboration and innovation, requiring expertise in systems engineering and a curiosity-driven approach to complex problem-solving. You will manage testing methodologies, advise on strategic opportunities, and shape development processes in a dynamic environment. If you thrive in a fast-paced setting and are passionate about making impactful contributions in defense and space applications, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Workplace flexibility

Employee clubs

Health and finance workshops

Off-site social events

Discounts to local museums

Qualifications

• 7-10 years in Systems Engineering or a relevant role.
• Expertise in verification and validation planning and execution.
• Ability to derive test plans and procedures for complex systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and advise teams on best practices for test plans and procedures.
• Manage priorities, scope, schedule, and cost for programs.
• Develop and document best practices for less experienced engineers.

Skills

Systems Engineering

Test Planning

Integration and Testing

Problem Solving

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's Degree in Systems Engineering

Tools

MATLAB

Python

LabVIEW

DOORS

Job description

Overview:

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Job Description Summary:

The Aiding Technologies Integration & Test Group at Draper is seeking a Principal Integration & Test Engineer with broad technical skills and a wealth of industry experience to lead/advise teams in a multidisciplinary environment to conceptualize, build, and test advanced electro-mechanical and electro-optical systems for a wide range of applications including GN&C (Guidance, Navigation and Control) systems, defense, space, and other related areas. The emphasis of this role will be advising and leading the development of hardware systems.


Tasking will include leading and advising programs and business areas on the best practices for the development of test plans and procedures, supporting the design and development process (DFT), analysis and evaluation of sensors (custom and COTS) and sensor performance, and the design, manufacture, and implementation of all required supporting test equipment, fixturing, and test scripts. Those qualified for this role will be able to effectively apply their deep technical understanding and extensive experience in this area to grow and shape testing and development methodologies, advise on business capture opportunities, and influence core system designs to help ensure program success. Program roles will typically be as a Principal Integration and Test Engineer and/or Principal Systems Engineer.

Job Description:

Duties/Responsibilities
* Manage and control priorities, scope, schedule, and cost to baselines by proactively monitoring program/task performance across larger activities.
* Independently derive system-level I&T requirements based on mission requirements and defines plans, approaches, and detailed test procedures to solve complex I&T problems.
* Helps customers understand and adequately mitigate and resolve I&T risks and issues.
* Subject Matter Expert (SME) able to develop and implement I&T approaches through a program lifecycle.
* Identify program/system-level I&T technical risks and develop and execute mitigation strategies.
* Develop, document, and teach best practices to less experienced engineers. Demonstrate strong organization, planning, and time management skills to achieve program goals.
* Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills/Abilities
* Curiosity-driven approach to solving complex, industry and customer-driven problems as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
* Collaborate and communicate effectively and openly with multi-disciplinary program team members. program leadership, and non-technical personnel
* Be a team player able to work in a fast-paced environment with the ability to balance multiple competing tasks and demands.

Education
Requires a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Applied Physics, or related field.

Experience
Requires 7-10 years in Systems Engineering or relevant role.

Additional Job Description:

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated expertise with verification and validation planning and execution for industry applications, including design of test or design of experiment methodologies.
• Expert ability to derive test plans, approaches, and procedures for solving highly complex I&T problems across a program lifecycle, capturing all assumptions, and anticipating changes in requirements and program direction while implementing industry best practices and advising leadership and business areas on effective test strategy.
• Extensive demonstrated experience leading the development of large-scale test programs and plans, and systems engineering documents for complex electro-mechanical and/or electro-optical systems.
• Proven ability to design and develop test systems (hardware and software), test equipment, and fixturing required to support integration and testing activities for assigned programs while implementing DFT/DFM and related industry best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to expertly lead medium to large sized teams, collaborate, and present to stakeholders across internal and external functional boundaries.
• Proven ability to expertly lead multiple large-scale programs while tracking priorities, scope, cost, and schedule to ensure success.
• Extensive experience shaping technical reports and presentation guidelines for both their work and the teams they support, showing an advanced understanding of their tasks and intended audience.
• Demonstrates highly advanced skills in presenting technical information during meetings with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Proven history serving as an advisor and thought leader in their field and imparting their knowledge to less experienced engineers to ensure their growth and development.
• Ability to easily and expertly shift from a hands-on individual contributor, to a leader, to an advisory role to fit the needs of the team and maximize success and efficiency for the program.
• Proven history of success with the identification of program and system-level technical/business risks and implementation of industry proven mitigation strategies.
• Expertly manages ownership of multiple programs and assignments while advising program leadership, team members, and business areas on testing strategy.
• Extensive experience with leading and advising on integration, testing, and troubleshooting of complex electro-mechanical and/or electro-optical systems and their sensors.
• Extensive experience in completing system design technical baseline activities e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, etc.
• Extensive experience collecting relevant data and applying data analysis methods and data analytics tools to extract critical information on a wide variety of complex systems.
• Proficiency in at least one software programming language and its use for system testing (e.g., MATLAB, Python, LabVIEW).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Majority of experience working with strategic weapon systems, DoD, space, GN&C, inertial systems, and the like.
• Knowledge of MBSE (Model Based Systems Engineering) that includes system modeling languages (e.g. SysML) and relevant tools (e.g. MagicDraw).
• Experience in functional system modeling and simulation development using MATLAB, Simulink, or other comparable tools.

• Experience with the use of DOORS for systems requirements development, traceability, and/or verification and validation.

• Knowledge of control theory, or mixed-signal hardware systems, computer vison, sensor fusion.
• Familiarity with LabVIEW, Python, C, C++, MATLAB
• Proficiency with CAD or FEA/CFD modeling tools

Applicants selected for this position are required to be eligible to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

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Job Location - City:

Cambridge

Job Location - State:

Massachusetts

Job Location - Postal Code:

02139-3563

Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities. If this specific job opportunity and the chance to work at a nationally renowned R&D innovation company appeals to you, apply now www.draper.com/careers.

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact [e-mail].