Lead Engineer

Astrion; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Astrion seeks a Lead Engineer, System Engineer SME for the CAML Project Office in Huntsville, AL. The role supports design, development, integration, verification, and lifecycle management of a munitions platform on an autonomous mobility platform.

Responsibilities include coordinating cross-functional teams, conducting trade studies, requirements development, and leading system reviews to ensure compliant, reliable, and safe system performance across the program lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in systems engineering or related field.
• BS degree plus 8 years relevant work experience may substitute for master's.
• 12+ years in systems engineering, weapon-system integration, autonomous systems, or related field.
• Experience with system requirements development, architecture, design analysis, integration, verification, and lifecycle engineering.
• Experience leading program reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR) and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional engineering teams across mechanical, electrical, software, safety, cybersecurity, and test disciplines.
• Specify functional requirements; design, analyze, configure, integrate, and test system components.

Skills

Systems engineering

Weapon-system integration

Autonomous systems

Cross-functional leadership

Technical judgment

Education

Master's degree in systems engineering

Bachelor's degree plus 8 years experience

12+ years experience equivalent

Job description

Overview

Lead Engineer, System Engineer Subject Matter Expert - CAML Project Office

The Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher (CAML) Project Office is seeking a highly qualified System Engineer Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support the design, development, integration, verification, and lifecycle management of a unique munitions platform integrated onto an autonomous mobility platform. The position serves as an emerging technical authority and provides senior-level engineering leadership, independent judgment, and domain expertise across a mission-critical defense program.

The System Engineer SME will develop technical solutions to complex engineering problems and exercise considerable latitude in determining technical objectives, methods, and approaches. The position provides expert guidance on system design, trade studies, technical feasibility assessments, requirements development, and integration strategies involving existing and future weapon-system architectures. The engineer will support system engineering reviews, including System Requirements Reviews, Preliminary Design Reviews, and Critical Design Reviews, and will evaluate vendor designs and technical documentation for compliance with program requirements.

Responsibilities include coordinating cross-functional engineering teams spanning mechanical, electrical, software, safety, cybersecurity, test, and other technical disciplines to ensure cohesive and technically sound design progression. The engineer will specify functional requirements; design, analyze, configure, integrate, and test system components; assess system performance; troubleshoot complex technical issues; and evaluate overall design effectiveness, cost, reliability, maintainability, interoperability, and safety.

The position will conduct technical investigations, engineering surveys, and feasibility assessments; develop preliminary and final design concepts, engineering specifications, cost estimates, and procurement documentation; and provide project engineering, program management, development, integration, verification, and lifecycle-support assistance. The engineer will provide authoritative technical expertise for acquisition documentation, technical reports, engineering change proposals, risk assessments, design reviews, and program decision briefings.

As a recognized technical expert, the engineer may initiate, supervise, or develop requirements from program inception through completion for complex and highly complex systems. The position provides strategic advice and technical guidance to program and project personnel, leads technical studies and data-collection efforts, evaluates client-specific and mission-critical challenges, and develops recommendations for system improvement, optimization, integration, sustainment, and risk reduction. The engineer may also mentor and provide technical direction to less experienced engineering personnel.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in systems engineering, engineering, computer science, or a related technical discipline.
• A bachelor's degree in a related discipline plus 8 years of relevant work experience may be substituted for the master's degree.
• Twelve years of relevant work experience may be substituted for the master's degree.
• More than 10 years of progressively responsible experience in systems engineering, weapon-system integration, autonomous systems, aerospace engineering, or a related technical field.
• Demonstrated experience developing technical solutions to complex systems-engineering problems and independently determining objectives, approaches, and methods.
• Experience with system requirements development, architecture, design analysis, integration, verification, validation, and lifecycle engineering.
• Experience supporting technical reviews such as System Requirements Reviews, Preliminary Design Reviews, and Critical Design Reviews.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional engineering teams, including mechanical, electrical, software, safety, cybersecurity, and test disciplines.
• Experience preparing or reviewing technical reports, acquisition documentation, engineering change proposals, requirements specifications, trade studies, and risk assessments.
• Demonstrated ability to provide independent engineering judgment and authoritative technical recommendations for mission-critical systems.
• Strong written, verbal, analytical, organizational, and executive-briefing skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a SECRET security clearance.
• Ability to travel CONUS and OCONUS as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience integrating munitions or weapon systems onto autonomous, robotic, ground, air, or multi-domain mobility platforms.
• Experience supporting autonomous systems, launch systems, missile or munition platforms, aviation systems, robotics, or other complex defense systems.
• Experience with government acquisition programs and DoD systems-engineering, test-and-evaluation, safety, cybersecurity, and configuration-management processes.
• Experience evaluating vendor designs, engineering specifications, technical data packages, and integration plans.
• Experience developing or evaluating system architectures, interface control documents, functional analyses, allocation analyses, and technical performance measures.
• Experience leading design trade studies, technical feasibility assessments, system integration activities, or engineering investigations.
• Experience supporting safety assessments, hazards analyses, reliability and maintainability assessments, cost and risk analyses, or system readiness evaluations.
• Experience developing procurement packages, cost estimates, engineering specifications, or lifecycle-support plans for mission-critical systems.
• Experience providing technical leadership across the full system lifecycle, from concept development through design, integration, verification, fielding, and sustainment.
• Experience leading, mentoring, or providing technical direction to engineers and other technical personnel.
• Active SECRET security clearance.
• Recognized expertise, publications, certifications, or professional standing in systems engineering, weapon-system integration, autonomous systems, or a related technical discipline.