Chief Engineer - Hardware & Embedded Systems

Intellisense Systems, Inc.; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO 4 weeks

401k matching

Relocation assistance

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

HSA/FSA

Job summary

Intellisense Systems, Inc. is seeking a Chief Engineer in Torrance, CA to lead a multi-disciplinary team and drive technical execution for DoD programs.

The role combines direct technical design contributions with leadership and oversight to ensure practical, simple, cost-effective solutions. The ideal candidate has 20+ years of engineering leadership, strong systems engineering background, and experience delivering hardware, firmware, and software across complex programs.

Qualifications

• BS in Engineering with 20+ years hands-on and strategic engineering experience.
• 5+ years driving technical execution within aerospace, defense electronics, and mission systems.
• Systems engineering & architecture expertise with full lifecycle experience.
• Hands-on design, testing, and troubleshooting of electronic, electromechanical, and embedded software systems.
• Strong verbal and written communication; able to present to customers and program managers.

Responsibilities

• Write proposals for SBIR grants and support non-SBIR proposals led by the business development department.
• Guide testing efforts (e.g., MIL-STD-810, 461, 704, DO-178) across programs to ensure robust, reliable products.
• Support creation and presentation of customer deliverables and certification documents (SFR, SRR, PDR, CDR).
• Engage in hands-on design, troubleshooting, and problem-solving as needed in areas of expertise.
• Assert lessons learned and proven design elements in new designs and products.
• Interact with COR or Program Manager on schedule and cost; oversee engineering work to ensure execution.

Skills

Senior leadership

Systems engineering

Hands-on design

Communication skills

Multi-disciplinary

Education

BS in Engineering

Job description

Intellisense Systems, Inc. is a privately held company with a proven track record of developing and deploying innovative products that successfully operate in the most extreme environments. We are a fast-growing Southern California technology innovator that solves tough, mission-critical challenges for our customers in the aerospace, defense, and commercial markets. We design, develop, and manufacture advanced products for ground, maritime, and airborne applications.

We’re seeking a Chief Engineer to join our growing organization to drive successful execution of key technical efforts for DoD applications. As Chief Engineer, you will be responsible for guiding development of new and existing efforts performed by a multi‑disciplinary team of electrical, mechanical, firmware, and software engineers. Your role will cover both technical and managerial duties with expectations that you can:

• Contribute technical output in your field (e.g. electrical, mechanical, software designs)
• Assess the quality of electronic, mechanical, and software engineering work from other engineers to prevent over‑engineering and to eliminate overly complex approaches
• Influence the technical direction of each program in coordination with their customers (particularly when unexpected issues arise) to ensure that only the simplest and most direct path is chosen
• Support documentation and testing efforts so that designs can be fully qualified and certified against various military and avionics standards
• Support proposal and costing efforts

While Intellisense achieves the same levels of certification as large aerospace primes, as a small business Intellisense does so with a mindset of practicality and simplification in order to achieve lower cost and great agility for our customers without compromising quality. Rather than dogmatic or formalized processes that slow innovation, Intellisense expects its staff to have a deep technical understanding of problems that arise to enable pragmatic and efficient problem solving. As such your role as the Chief Engineer at Intellisense will not be high‑level and process‑focused but rather will consist of direct technical design contributions as well as oversight of the work of others to ensure that successful technical execution is achieved.

Location

Torrance, CA (Onsite)

Responsibilities

• Write proposals for SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) grants as well as supporting the writing and costing of non‑SBIR proposals led by the Intellisense business development department
• Guide testing efforts (e.g., MIL-STD-810, 461, 704, DO-178, etc.) on multiple programs to ensure that the testing performed prioritizes the right aspects of each system to achieve robust and reliable products
• Support creation and presentation of customer deliverables including documents, artifacts, and presentations required for SFR, SRR, PDR, CDR, etc. as well as certification documents
• Engage in hands‑on design, troubleshooting, and problem‑solving as needed in areas of expertise
• Assert lessons learned and proven design elements in new designs and products
• The ideal candidate is equally comfortable at a lab bench, in a design review, and in a room with a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) or Program Manager discussing schedule and cost
• Perform other duties as assigned

Mentorship & Project Support

• Mentor the engineering team by assessing the quality and simplicity of engineering work produced, and offer guidance to improve those designs
• Set expectations and offer exemplary work product examples to achieve the best work product from the engineering team

Requirements

• Senior Engineering Leadership: BS in Engineering backed by 20+ years of hands‑on and strategic engineering experience
• 5+ years driving technical execution within aerospace, defense electronics, and mission systems
• Systems Engineering & Architecture: Proven track record in complex analytical problem‑solving and full‑lifecycle systems engineering
• Hands‑on Technical Expertise: Extensive experience designing, testing, and troubleshooting advanced electronic, electromechanical, and embedded software systems
• Collaborative and adaptable, able to work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with experience presenting to customers, program managers, and technical teams
• Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment

What You Can Expect

• The ability to innovate, transition a prototype technology into a new product, and to be rewarded
• The chance to continually work on new differentiating technologies and implement simple elegant solutions to meet customer needs and that make an impact
• Leadership that enables its engineers with all the tools they need to be successful

Pay Range: $200,000 - $300,000 (However, base salary for this position will vary based on your skills, qualifications, and experience)

Benefits

• 4 Weeks PTO a year (including 40 hours of PTO your first day)
• 10 paid holidays
• 401(k) with 100% employer matching up to 4% of salary (no vesting period)
• Multiple options for Medical, Vision, Dental Insurance plans
• Health Savings Accounts
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition Assistance (30% of Tuition with a minimum qualifying grade)
• 100% Paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 100% Paid Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• 100% Paid Workers Compensation Insurance
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Eligible for relocation assistance

The unique culture at Intellisense offers the entrepreneurial spirit of a smaller company with the support and expertise of a larger organization. We are looking for individuals that have a wide breadth of experience while also being subject matter experts in their respective field.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre‑employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact us by phone at [phone] or by email at [e-mail]

Unless otherwise stated in the requirements section of an individual job listing, our positions require U.S. Citizenship, U.S. Permanent Residency, or other status as a U.S. Person as defined by 8 USC 1324b(a)(3). Intellisense Systems, Inc is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic data, or other legally protected status.