Aeronautical Engineer 2

PDS Defense, Inc.; Elkton (MD); On-site; USD 197,713,000 - 212,040,000; Full time

Job summary

PDS Defense, Inc. in Elkton, MD is seeking an Aeronautical Engineer 2 to join the propulsion systems and controls team. This full-time Systems Engineer will support propulsion development through Critical Design Review (CDR) and may assume lead systems engineer duties as needed.

Qualified candidates will have a strong background in requirements management, MBSE/SysML, and experience with DoD-style reviews; legacy system design experience is a plus. Competitive hourly pay offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related STEM discipline.
• Experience performing systems engineering activities on technical programs (requirements, design, integration, or test).
• Experience with requirements development and management, including writing clear, testable requirements and maintaining a requirements baseline.
• Experience establishing and maintaining requirements traceability (e.g., between stakeholder needs, system requirements, lower-level requirements, design, and test).
• Experience supporting or leading technical reviews (e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR) or equivalent design/requirements reviews.
• Experience with MBSE and SysML in tool environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and coordination between engineering disciplines, program management, and external stakeholders to ensure an integrated solution.
• Produce and maintain key systems engineering artifacts (Requirements specifications, ICDs, V&V matrices, risk registers, verification technical reports).
• Define and maintain a requirements decomposition strategy across subsystems and disciplines
• Perform requirements change impact analysis based on CCN's and design confugrations.
• Lead requirements reviews (PDR, CDR-level artifacts) to ensure completeness, consistency, feasibility, and testability.
• Lead Risk and Opportunity meetings on behalf of technical and programmatic team.
• Develop verification plans, mapping each requirement to verification methods (test, analysis, inspection, demonstration) and responsible owners
• Support creation of work breakdown structure (WBS) and technical schedules based on SE activities.
• Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong social skills, and ability to build consensus among peers while building solid relationships with team members.

Skills

Systems engineering

Requirements management

MBSE/SysML

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

DOORS

Jama

JIRA

Cameo/MagicDraw

Rhapsody

Siemens Teamcenter

Job description

Engineering

Aeronautical Engineer 2 Elkton, MD Posted: 9/21/2026

Job Description

Job ID#:

225592

Job Category:

Engineering

Position Type:

Associate - W2

Duration:

67

Shift:

1

PDS Defense, Inc. is seeking an Aeronautical Engineer 2, in Elkton, MD. Job ID#225592

Pay Rate: $69 - $74/hr

Job Description:

This position is for a full-time Systems Engineer within the Propulsion Systems and Controls Business Unit. The selected candidate will support the development of a propulsion system through Critical Design Review (CDR). The role will span two programs and include supporting the lead systems engineer, with the ability to assume that role as needed. The candidate will apply systems thinking to help the program team plan, coordinate, and execute technical deliverables. Experience with legacy system design and requirements is preferred.

Job Responsibilities

Provide technical leadership and coordination between engineering disciplines, program management, and external stakeholders to ensure an integrated solution.

Produce and maintain key systems engineering artifacts (Requirements specifications, ICDs, V&V matrices, risk registers, verification technical reports).

Define and maintain a requirements decomposition strategy across subsystems and disciplines

Perform requirements change impact analysis based on CCN's and design confugrations.

Lead requirements reviews (PDR, CDR-level artifacts) to ensure completeness, consistency, feasibility, and testability.

Lead Risk and Opportunity meetings on behalf of technical and programmatic team.

Develop verification plans, mapping each requirement to verification methods (test, analysis, inspection, demonstration) and responsible owners

Support creation of work breakdown structure (WBS) and technical schedules based on SE activities.

Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong social skills, and ability to build consensus among peers while building solid relationships with team members.

Basic Qualificaitons

Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related STEM discipline

Experience performing systems engineering activities on technical programs (requirements, design, integration, or test)

Experience with requirements development and management, including writing clear, testable requirements and maintaining a requirements baseline

Experience establishing and maintaining requirements traceability (e.g., between stakeholder needs, system requirements, lower-level requirements, design, and test)

Experience supporting or leading technical reviews (e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR) or equivalent design/requirements reviews

Experience running formal Risk Review Boards.

Experience developing or contributing to verification and validation (V&V) plans, including mapping requirements to verification methods (test, analysis, inspection, demonstration)

Experience performing requirements change impact analysis

Demonstrated ability to work across multi-disciplinary engineering teams to resolve requirements and design issues

Experience with at least one requirements management tool (e.g., DOORS, Jama, JIRA, or similar)

Demonstrated problem-solving and analytical skills, including ability to identify risks/issues and propose mitigations

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly document technical information and present to stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

Experience on U.S. Air Force, Navy, strategic deterrence, or related weapon system programs.

Experience with hands‑on manufacturing

Familiarity with the DoD Contracting process.

Experience re‑designing to legacy system standards and requirements.

Experience with solid rocket motors, propulsion systems, or related energetic systems (performance, environments, or testing methods).

Experience developing and executing subsystem‑level verification and validation plans, including test requirements, test procedures, data review, and FMEAs.

Familiarity with MBSE and SysML using tools such as Cameo/MagicDraw, Rhapsody, or similar, and integrating models with requirements (e.g., DOORS).

Experience with Siemens Teamcenter or similar product lifecycle management (PLM) / configuration management tools.

Experience coordinating and developing CDRLs and other contract deliverables

Job Requirements

Minimum Security Clearance:

No Clearance

Military connected talent encouraged to apply.

VEVRAA Federal Contractor / Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals / Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visit http://www.tadpgs.com/candidate-privacy/ or https://pdsdefense.com/candidate-privacy/

The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

• The California Fair Chance Act


• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance


• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers


• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

VEVRAA Federal Contractor / Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals / Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled