AVIATION WARFARE SYSTEMS ENGINEER

Cardinal Engineering LLC; Virginia Beach (VA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous 401k Company contribution

Flexible spending and dependent care

Job summary

Cardinal Engineering LLC is seeking an Aviation Systems Engineer to support the U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier Engineering Team in the Tidewater region of Virginia.

The role requires collaboration with Navy offices, shipyards, and major contractors to ensure integration and delivery of aviation warfare systems on Ford Class carriers. The successful candidate will coordinate across government and industry partners, maintain program schedules, and uphold security posture, including current SECRET

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical discipline or equivalent experience.
• Experience with U.S. Navy aviation warfare systems aboard aircraft carriers or large-deck ships.
• Strong technical writing, communication, and coordination skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical engineering support and risk assessments to Ship Design Managers and the Aviation Systems Engineering Manager.
• Lead the Aviation Installation Coordination Team (ICT) and coordinate with NAVAIR, PARMs, SUPSHIP NN, and shipbuilder to resolve integration issues.
• Ensure aviation warfare system hardware and software are installed, configured, and tested per contract requirements.

Skills

Navy aviation systems

Active SECRET clearance

Citizenship required

Technical writing & coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical discipline

Job description

Cardinal Engineering LLC provides world-class marine engineering services to the U.S. Navy, industry partners, and other government agencies, supporting programs of national importance. Our core capabilities include structural engineering, survivability, power and energy systems, hydrodynamics, signal processing, digital engineering, systems and software development, and rapid prototyping.

Cardinal supports the full life cycle of U.S. Navy surface ships, aircraft carriers, submarines, and submersibles—from early research and requirements development through design, engineering, testing, construction, operation, maintenance, and modernization. The company also contributes to marine renewable energy initiatives for the U.S. Department of Energy, partnering with private industry, national laboratories, and government test facilities.

Our mission is to deliver objective, technically rigorous engineering solutions and trusted, independent assessments that enable informed decision-making through innovative and cost-effective application of advanced technologies.

Position Summary

Cardinal Engineering is seeking an Aviation Systems Engineer to support the U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier Engineering Team (CET) within the Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) Maritime organization.

The successful candidate will join the Aviation Group within the CET and report to the Aviation Systems Engineering Manager (SEM). In this role, you will support the New Construction Aircraft Carrier Ship Design Managers (SDMs) and their deputies by addressing complex engineering challenges associated with the Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Class aircraft carrier aviation systems. The position requires close coordination with Navy program offices, warfare centers, shipbuilders, and other stakeholders to ensure successful integration, testing, and delivery of aviation warfare systems.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provide technical engineering support and risk assessments to Ship Design Managers and the Aviation Systems Engineering Manager in support of Ford Class aircraft carrier design, integration, and delivery.
• Lead the Aviation Installation Coordination Team (ICT) and serve as a member of the Warfare Systems Installation Coordination Team (WSICT). Coordinate technical activities among the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Participating Acquisition Resource Managers (PARMs), Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Newport News (SUPSHIP Newport News), and the shipbuilder to resolve aviation warfare system integration issues.
• Ensure aviation warfare system hardware and software are properly installed, integrated, configured, and tested in accordance with ship construction contract requirements to support successful ship delivery.
• Coordinate rapid resolution of installation, integration, and testing issues identified during warfare system integration by leading the Installation Coordination Team and supporting specialized technical working groups as required.
• Identify technical issues requiring resolution by Participating Acquisition Resource Managers, In-Service Engineering Agents (ISEAs), Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), and other Naval Systems Commands (SYSCOMs).
• Support execution of the integrated shipboard test program through the Obligation Work Limiting Date (OWLD).
• Promote early assessment and evaluation of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, and Intelligence (C5I) systems through the new construction Test and Evaluation (T&E) program.
• Coordinate with post-delivery test program managers to maximize the use of testing opportunities and reduce schedule and cost impacts.
• Establish and facilitate coordination between the government team and shipbuilder to ensure required products, services, and technical resources are available to support warfare system installation, integration, and testing while meeting program cost and schedule objectives.
• Assist in resolving Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE) and Government-Furnished Information (GFI) issues identified during ship construction, installation, and testing.
• Coordinate government technical resources necessary to support installation, integration, and test activities.

Qualifications

Required qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical discipline; or
• Former U.S. Navy Limited Duty Officer (LDO), Chief Warrant Officer (CWO), or Chief Petty Officer (CPO) with at least 10 years of directly relevant experience.

Candidates should also possess:

• Experience with U.S. Navy aviation warfare systems aboard aircraft carriers or large-deck amphibious ships.
• Experience supporting ship construction, operation, maintenance, modernization, or repair at organizations such as:
  • Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)
  • Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC)
  • Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)
  • Supervisor of Shipbuilding (SUPSHIP)
  • Regional Maintenance Center (RMC)
  • Type Commander (TYCOM)
  • A major U.S. shipbuilder or comparable organization
• Strong technical writing, communication, and coordination skills.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Experience supporting Ford (CVN 78) Class aircraft carriers.
• Familiarity with Navy systems engineering, ship integration, and test and evaluation processes.
• Experience working across multiple Navy acquisition organizations and technical authorities.

Location and Travel

This position is based in the Tidewater region of Virginia and offers a hybrid work schedule with part-time telework. Occasional travel is required to support shipyard activities, technical meetings, and program execution.

Security Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Candidates must currently possess an active SECRET security clearance.

Salary

Salary commensurate with years and applicability of experience ranging from $120 – $150K.

Cardinal Engineering is an equal opportunity employer. We offer industry-leading employee benefits and growth potential is limited only by the candidate’s ambition:

Benefits

• Generous 401k Company contribution
• Flexible spending and dependent care accounts