Principal Component Engineer

Mercury Systems, Inc.; Huntsville, Chantilly, Cypress, Andover (AL, VA, CA, MA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9/80 work schedule

Stock-based awards

Tuition reimbursement

Health, life and disability insurance

Employee stock purchase plan

Professional development access

Job summary

Mercury Systems is seeking a Lead Component Engineer to drive component strategy across mission‑critical space and defense programs. You will lead reviews, ensure compliance with space and customer requirements, and collaborate with customers, government agencies, suppliers, and cross‑functional teams to resolve supply chain issues.

You will mentor junior engineers, guide technology insertion, and manage part qualifications with external test houses, while shaping standards and design decisions

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM or 10+ years of relevant experience allowed in lieu of degree.
• 6+ years in defense/aerospace/electronics preferred.
• Experience as lead component/parts/reliability engineer on defense/aerospace/space programs.
• Familiar with MIL/ASTM/AS9100/ISO standards and NSPAR/NSMARS processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead component engineering strategy across programs.
• Drive reviews, analyses, and compliance with space/military/customer requirements.
• Collaborate with customers, government, suppliers, and cross-functional teams to resolve supply chain issues.
• Guide technology insertion, component selection, and standardization considering constraints.
• Create/update component drawings, verification packages, and risk assessments.
• Perform alternate-part evaluations, reliability assessments, and MRB support.
• Develop EEE parts specifications and test plans; manage part qualifications with external test houses.
• Present NSPAR/NSMAR findings to customers with clarity.
• Mentor junior engineers and promote knowledge sharing.

Skills

Lead component engineer

Parts engineer

Reliability engineer

NSPARs/NSMARS processes

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM or equivalent experience

Tools

PLM

MES

Job description

Join Mercury Systems as a Lead Component Engineer and help shape the future of mission‑critical space and defense technologies. In this role, you will drive component engineering strategy across high‑visibility programs, influencing design decisions that safeguard warfighters, protect critical infrastructure, and enable next‑generation aerospace solutions.

You'll work in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment where your expertise directly strengthens our products and our mission. This is an opportunity to lead, innovate, and meaningfully contribute from day one.

This position is hybrid, and can be located in one of the following Mercury Systems locations:

• Huntsville, AL, Chantilly, VA. Cypress, CA or Andover, MA

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead EEEE parts or materials-and-processes engineer across space and terrestrial programs, driving component engineering strategy.
• Lead component reviews, assessments, and analyses to ensure compliance with space, military, and customer program requirements.
• Collaborate closely with customers, government agencies, suppliers, and cross‑functional teams to resolve supply chain issues, mature PMP processes, and meet contractual obligations.
• Guide technology insertion, component selection, and standardization while balancing business, environmental, and circuit application constraints.
• Generate and update component drawings, verification packages, and risk assessments supporting design reviews.
• Perform alternate‑part evaluations, reliability assessments, and support MRB activities.
• Develop EEE parts specifications, screen/qualification test plans, and manage part qualifications with external test houses.
• Present non‑standard part requests (NSPARs) and technical findings to customers with confidence and clarity.
• Mentor junior engineers and promote knowledge sharing across programs.

Required Qualifications

• Ideally a bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline, or 10+ years of relevant experience in lieu of a college degree.
• Ideally a minimum of 6+ years of relevant industry experience (defense, aerospace, electronics)
• Prior experience serving as a lead component engineer / parts engineer / reliability engineer or similar role on defense, aerospace, or space programs.
• Strong knowledge of military/industry standards (MIL, ASTM, AEC, ESA, NASA).
• Understanding of electronic fabrication processes (SMT, chip and wire, hybrids, etc.) and circuit card assembly design/manufacturing).
• Presenting non-standard part approval requests (NSPARS), non-standard material approval requests (NSMARS), and technical findings to customers with confidence and clarity.
• Experience with NSPAR processes, environmental testing (MIL‑STD‑883), and passive/active component reliability.
• Active Secret Clearance or ability to obtain one (U.S. citizenship required).

Preferred Qualifications

• Understanding of failure modes in passive components and packaged active devices.
• Experience in design engineering, particularly for space‑based programs.
• Background collaborating with suppliers, including PPAPs, qualification reports, and documentation review.
• Experience designing complex embedded digital hardware (microprocessors, FPGAs, network switches).
• Prior experience in Quality or Supplier Quality organizations; familiarity with AS9100/AS9102 and QMS requirements.
• Proficiency with PLM, MES, or quality management systems.

Fulltime Equivalent Job Grade Salary Range for this position

• $75,000.00 - $150,000.00 annual salary for in-office or hybrid employees in FL, GA, IN, AZ, AL, MD or TX, and all remote employees
• $84,000.00 - $168,000.00 annual salary for in-office or hybrid employees in VA, CA, NH or MA
• $88,500.00 - $177,000.00 annual salary for in-office or hybrid employees in NJ

Additional Information

Mercury considers a variety of factors to determine individual base salary offers to candidates, including:

• the role and related responsibilities;
• education, training, skills and certifications;
• internal equity with others employed by Mercury in similar roles;
• geographic location; and
• alignment with market data.

In addition to base salary, Mercury provides a variety of benefits for team members including:

• bonus opportunities (or special incentives for sales positions);
• health, life and disability insurance;
• company-paid holidays and time off;
• discounted employee stock purchase plan;
• tuition reimbursement; and
• access to professional development and personal wellness platforms including LinkedIn Learning, Headspace, Aaptiv and Virgin Pulse.

Team members at the Director or Vice President level are also eligible to receive annual stock-based awards.

Mercury offers a 9/80 alternative work schedule that provides employees more opportunity for work/ life balance (available based off location)

Why Mercury?

Why should you join Mercury Systems?

Mercury Systems is a technology company that makes the world a safer, more secure place. We push processing power to the tactical edge, making the latest commercial technologies profoundly more accessible for today's most challenging aerospace and defense missions. From silicon to system scale, Mercury enables customers to accelerate innovation and turn data into decision superiority. Headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, Mercury employs more than 2,300 people in 24 locations worldwide. To learn more, visit mrcy.com

Our Culture

We are committed to making Mercury a great place to work, no matter where our employees are located. We offer a casual and enjoyable atmosphere that allows employees to learn and grow. We help and care for one another and work as one to achieve results for us and for our customers. We value communication and transparency, and strive to foster two‑way dialogue at all levels of the organization. We are committed to lifelong learning, offering comprehensive skills training and tuition reimbursement. Whether you're just starting out on your career journey or you are an experienced professional, it's important to us that you feel recognized and rewarded for your contributions.

Mercury Systems is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, creed, citizenship, disability, protected veteran or marital status.

As an equal opportunity employer, Mercury Systems is committed to a diverse workforce. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact the number below for assistance.