Engineering Manager, Systems Engineering

General Atomics; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Manager for their System Engineering department. This role involves leading a dedicated team of engineers, overseeing system engineering tasks, and ensuring project success through collaboration and effective communication. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background in engineering and proven leadership skills, guiding teams through complex projects while fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Join a forward-thinking organization where your contributions will directly impact innovative defense and energy solutions, and where your expertise will be valued in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• 11+ years of progressive engineering experience in system engineering.
• Strong technical background in electrical, mechanical, or software engineering.
• Experience leading teams through system engineering processes.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of engineers and oversee system engineering tasks.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet project goals.
• Implement process improvements and ensure engineering quality.

Skills

System Engineering

Project Management

Leadership

Communication

Problem Solving

Requirements Management

Technical Documentation

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Master's Degree in Engineering

PhD in Engineering

Tools

DOORS

JAMA

MS Word

MS Excel

SAP

Windchill

Job description

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world’s leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs and manufactures first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS’ expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions support critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide.

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Manager in the System Engineering department. This position manages a small- to medium-sized team (5-10 people) of engineers as well as working directly on programs. These responsibilities include but are not limited to working system engineering responsibilities on contracts, tracking system engineering performance, change implementation, bid and proposal activities. This position is responsible for managing system engineering staff and their tasking in support of various projects. This position reports to the Manager of System Engineering Integration, Safety and Reliability, Availability and Maintainability.

This role interacts with other functional departments within engineering as needed, and project management organizations. This individual ideally has a strong technical background in system engineering and a strong technical background in either one or more of the following fields: electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, nuclear engineering, software engineering or a strong background in Department of Defense early development design execution or one of GA-EMS’ key product domain areas of high energy lasers, optical communications, space payloads, high power or high energy systems. This individual ideally emphasizes collaboration, teamwork, process alignment, engineering best-practices, visibility, and effective team communication; and has experience in engineering change implementation, product development, project engineering, engineering leadership, and project management.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Planning and Collaboration

• Participate in the preparation of proposals, business plans, proposal work statements and specifications, operating budgets and financial terms/conditions of contract(s).
• Collaborate with individuals in Program Management, Project Management, Proposal Management, and Design Engineering to establish consensus-based solutions and plans.
• Assign individual contributors and leads to projects and ensures appropriate processes and practices are followed.
• Organize all engineering work, assignment, and inputs to support the project Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and budget per the Project Management Plan (PMP) for multiple business areas.
• Assist in the management and execution of project plans, in concert with project leadership.
• Work with business management, project leadership, and control account managers to maintain up to date engineering manpower estimates.
• Accountable for engineering tasks, budget, schedule, and performance.
• Work closely with the program leadership to ensure project activities are appropriately planned, resourced and managed by assigned staff.
• Works with project leadership to deconflict resource limitation challenges and level-load work.

Execution and Coordination

• Provides direct support in the role of a Lead SE or Individual Contributor as required to support timelines and deliverables.
• Develop further definition of the roles and responsibilities for the group as well as develop procedures and processes.
• Provide day-to-day prioritization of tasks in accordance with schedule and program needs.
• Provides oversight on the quality of work from their department.
• Supervise and ensure staff execution to conform to cost, schedule, production, and performance commitments.
• Leads the engineering team to common objectives, clearly communicates the status of efforts, identifies/resolve issues, and manages to cost/schedule.
• Responsible for the execution and appropriate implementation of system engineering processes: design, development, integration, test and performance verification.
• Manages resource needs and leads system engineering activities across multiple programs, as well as from the extended engineering organization when surge support is necessary to support schedule.
• Provide leadership and direct all activities of the group including planning and managing technical performance to ensure quality, business and financial objectives are attained.

Status and Communication

• Regularly gather status from engineering team and provides the status and updates to the Engineering Management and Senior Leadership.
• Represents the engineering functional organization to Project Management providing status, coordination, and collaboration in achieving project objectives and timelines.
• Represent specific project team’s efforts to the engineering functional organization and Project Managers.

Growth and Continual Improvement

• Identify and implement process improvements centered on company systems engineering processes, product lifecycle best practices, and functional manager best practices.
• Ensure technical leadership and excellence is maintained by participating in the planning, attraction, selection, retention, and development of the required technical talent.
• Participate in the preparation of proposals, business plans, proposal work statements and specifications, operating budgets, and financial terms/conditions of contract(s).
• Responsible for ensuring all laws, regulations and other applicable obligations are observed wherever and whenever business is conducted on behalf of the Company.
• Responsible for ensuring work is accomplished in a safe manner in accordance with established operating procedures and practices.

Job Qualifications:

• Typically requires a Bachelors, Masters or PhD in engineering or a related technical field as well as eleven or more years of progressively complex engineering experience. May substitute equivalent experience in lieu of education.
• Experience as a system engineer leading the development, assembly, integration and testing for a system which will undergo verification and validation including creation of system engineering and test artifacts.
• Experience leading teams through milestone SE Review process.
• Demonstrates knowledge in the application of engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice as well as project management and leadership skills including organizing, planning, scheduling, and coordinating workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones.
• Must demonstrate the ability to resolve managerial, technical, and interpersonal challenges.
• Knowledge/experience with Requirements Management Systems (DOORS, JAMA, etc.), support requirements, lifecycle planning and integration for systems is required.
• Strong communication, leadership, presentation, and interpersonal skills are required to enable an effective interface with other departments, all levels of management, professional and support staff, customers, potential customers, and government representatives.
• Customer focused, must be able to work on a self-initiated basis and in a team environment, and able to work extended hours and travel as required.
• A Professional Engineering License, and original work(s) published in professional engineering journals are desirable.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a top secret DOD or DOE-Q clearance is required.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of SysML and model based system engineering (MBSE) with experience developing multiple SysML diagram models.
• Requires strong skills in management, project management, leadership, communication, systems engineering, and engineering technical disciplines.
• Broad, multi-disciplinary technical expertise and a history of applying of engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice.
• Demonstrated experience leading multi-disciplinary, product-oriented engineering teams.
• Demonstrated success in aligning procedure and processes to improve team throughput and visibility.
• Experience writing technical documents and computer literate with versatile knowledge of the computer applications and MRP systems used in the industry (MS Word, Excel, Access, Project, SAP, Windchill, etc.).
• Demonstrated knowledge and implementation of best practices to help transitions from design development to sustainment.
• Expertise or significant experience in systems engineering, industrial process engineering, nuclear engineering, or mechanical engineering.
• Existing Security Clearance preferred (DOE-Q or DOD –Secret)

Salary: $125,810 - $229,670