Payload Development Supervisor

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems; Poway (CA); On-site; USD 141,000 - 252,000; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) seeks an engineering leader to manage large, complex programs from concept to delivery. You will coordinate across customers, industry partners, and internal teams to ensure technical excellence, program integrity, and on‑time results.

Requires extensive experience in engineering leadership, system integration, and DoD‑level interfaces, with the ability to travel and work extended hours as needed. This is a full‑time, on‑site role in California.

Qualifications

• Requires bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering with progressive leadership in R&D environments.
• Experience leading large programs from concept to completion and interfacing with customers and partners.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills for cross‑department collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Supervise program phases from concept through completion, including planning and financial objectives.
• Influence technical approach across customers and industry partners.
• Perform system analysis, generate requirements, and develop architectures and designs.
• Contribute to white papers, concept studies, and proposals.
• Interface with customers, contractors, and engineering teams; support test plans and integration.
• Develop program plans, estimates, and schedules; represent company at technical reviews.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Project management

Technical communication

System integration

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in engineering

PhD preferred

Job description

Job Summary

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft and tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high-resolution surveillance systems.

Duties and Responsibilities

• This position will involve supervisory responsibilities.
• Manage all phases of the program(s) from conceptualization through completion, including acquisition, planning, and managing technical performance to ensure quality, business, and financial objectives are attained.
• Influence and drive the technical approach across a wide spectrum of Customers and industry partners.
• Perform system analysis, trades, generate requirements, develop system architectures and designs.
• Contribute to white papers, concept studies, and proposals.
• Interface with customers, contractors, and engineering groups assigned to projects.
• Support the development of test plans and manage the integration, verification and validation of sensors and systems.
• Troubleshoot conflicting design/development requirements, difficult coordination requirements, and special requirements.
• Maintains the strict confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Develop program plans, estimates, and schedules and execute programs in accordance with those plans.
• Represent company at technical reviews and system-level integration activities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; eighteen or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, sixteen or more years of experience with a masters degree, or thirteen or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
• Demonstrates technical expertise in the application of engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice with the ability to organize, plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones with some experience in project leadership.
• Experience developing one or more of the following areas is desired: laser systems, mechanical enclosures, algorithms and signal processing, machine learning, communications.
• Experience in land-based and aircraft payload integration is desirable.
• Must possess the ability to understand new concepts quickly and apply them accurately throughout a fast-paced, R&D environment.
• Must have strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills to effectively interface with other departments, customers, government representatives, and/or professionals.
• Must be customer focused and able to work on a self-initiated basis or in a team environment.
• Must be able to work extended hours and travel as required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance is required.

Job Type: Full-Time Salary

Salary range: 140,940 - 252,293