Physical Architect

Hanwha Defense USA, Inc.; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Hanwha Defense USA is seeking a seasoned Physical Architect to lead the vehicle-level physical architecture and integration across all subsystems for an Army ground vehicle program.

You will define layout, packaging constraints, interface relationships, and system routing, collaborating with engineering teams to ensure compliance with Army requirements and program constraints.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in a relevant engineering field.
• Extensive experience developing physical architectures, layouts, and integration solutions for military ground vehicles or defense systems.
• Experience interpreting engineering drawings and interface control documents; knowledge of installation requirements and routing constraints.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and ownership of the vehicle’s physical architecture, including system layout and subsystem integration.
• Define physical architecture requirements, interface constraints, installation guidelines, and integration assumptions.
• Coordinate physical integration of powertrain, vetronics, turret and armament systems, fire control, sensors, crew stations, harnesses, hull structures, armor, and auxiliary equipment.
• Manage space claim models, vehicle arrangement documents, CAD representations, and integration diagrams.
• Ensure As-Designed, As-Built, As-Tested, and As-Delivered configurations are aligned.
• Conduct trade studies to evaluate packaging, layouts, interfaces, routing, and placements while respecting constraints.
• Interface with mechanical, electrical, systems, turret, armament, and safety teams to resolve issues.
• Support physical integration testing, fit checks, harness routing, and build reviews.
• Provide oversight and approve physical layout changes ensuring consistency with architecture requirements.
• Document decisions, assumptions, layouts, and interface definitions.
• Participate in technical meetings, design reviews, and government working groups.

Skills

CAD tools

Spatial modeling

System integration

Engineering drawings

Defense knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field

Tools

CAD tools

Job description

Position Summary

Hanwha Defense USA is seeking an experienced Physical Architect to lead the vehicle-level physical architecture and integration of all systems for an Army ground vehicle program. This senior individual contributor role defines and manages the physical placement, packaging, interface relationships, and spatial integration of all mechanical, electrical, electronic, and structural subsystems across the platform. The Physical Architect works across engineering disciplines to ensure that vehicle layout, mounting schemes, system routing, and structural accommodations meet Army requirements, program constraints, and integration best practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead development and ownership of the vehicle’s physical architecture, including system layout, spatial allocation, mounting strategies, packaging constraints, and subsystem integration.


• Define physical architecture requirements, interface constraints, installation guidelines, and integration assumptions for all systems and subsystems.


• Coordinate the physical integration of powertrain, vetronics, turret and armament systems, fire control systems, sensor suites, crew stations, electrical harnesses, hull structures, armor packages, and auxiliary equipment.


• Manage and maintain space claim models, vehicle arrangement documents, CAD-based physical architecture representations, and integration diagrams.


• Implement the physical architecture with the PLM system and in coordination with Digital Engineering team ensure the As-Designed, As-Built, As-Tested, and As-Delivered configurations are fully aligned and current.


• Conduct trade studies to evaluate packaging alternatives, mechanical layouts, structural interfaces, routing approaches, and system placement options. Ensure physical architecture aligns with structural, thermal, EMI, environmental, maintainability, and safety constraints.


• Interface with mechanical, electrical, systems, turret, armament, fire control, safety, human factors, and integration teams to resolve physical integration issues.


• Support physical integration testing including fit checks, installation validations, harness routing evaluations, subsystem mounting inspections, and vehicle build reviews.


• Provide technical oversight and approval of physical layout changes, ensuring consistency with architecture requirements and vehicle configuration control.


• Document physical architecture decisions, integration assumptions, layout analyses, installation requirements, and interface definitions.


• Participate in technical interchange meetings, design reviews, government working groups, integration summits, and build readiness reviews.


• Ensure compliance with Army vehicle integration principles and defense-industry physical architecture practices.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field.


• Extensive experience developing physical architectures, system layouts, and integration solutions for military ground vehicles or complex defense systems.


• Strong proficiency with CAD tools, spatial modeling, mechanical packaging, and subsystem integration methodologies.


• Demonstrated ability to interpret engineering drawings, interface control documents, mechanical installation requirements, and electrical routing constraints.


• Experience coordinating across multiple engineering disciplines to resolve complex physical integration challenges.


• Proven ability to manage space claim data, perform layout trade studies, and support vehicle build and integration activities.


• U.S. citizenship required; security clearance preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience integrating turret systems, powertrain assemblies, vetronics equipment, or armored structures into military vehicles.


• Background in structural analysis, thermal management, EMI/EMC considerations, or environmental integration constraints.


• Familiarity with Army vehicle integration guidelines and physical architecture best practices.


• Experience with model-based engineering environments or digital integration frameworks.

Hanwha Defense USA is committed to pay transparency and equitable compensation practices. The salary range listed for this position represents a good faith estimate of the base pay we reasonably expect to offer for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant skills/experience, education and certifications, market conditions, geographic location and internal pay equity. In addition to base salary, employees may be eligible for discretionary annual bonuses, benefits, and other forms of compensation as part of Hanwha Defense USA's total rewards package.

Hanwha Defense USA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.