Principal Hardware Integration and Test Engineer

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work-life balance

Employee clubs (photography to yoga)

Workshops (health and finance)

Off-site social events

Discounts to local museums

Job summary

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. in Cambridge, MA, seeks a Principal Integration & Test Engineer to lead and advise teams in developing and testing advanced electro-mechanical and electro-optical systems for GN&C, defense, and space applications.

You will shape testing methodologies, develop test plans, and guide hardware and sensor evaluation across programs. Requires 7–10 years in Systems Engineering or related roles, with expertise in test strategy, DFT/DFM, and leading large

Qualifications

• 7–10 years in Systems Engineering or a related role.
• Expertise in verification and validation planning and execution.
• Experience leading large-scale test programs and plans.
• Ability to design and develop test systems (hardware and software), test equipment, and fixturing.

Responsibilities

• Manage priorities, scope, schedule, and cost baselines.
• Derive system-level I&T requirements and define plans and test procedures.
• Mitigate and resolve I&T risks and issues for programs.
• Lead and teach best practices to engineers across teams.
• Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Develop and document test approaches and program Lifecycle assets.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Verification planning

Validation planning

Test plan development

System integration

MATLAB/Python/LabVIEW

Education

Bachelor's degree Electrical Engineering

Bachelor's degree Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree Computer Engineering

Bachelor's degree Systems Engineering

Tools

MATLAB

Python

LabVIEW

Job description

Overview

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation.

For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Job Description Summary

The Aiding Technologies Integration & Test Group at Draper is seeking a Principal Integration & Test Engineer with broad technical skills and a wealth of industry experience to lead/advise teams in a multidisciplinary environment to conceptualize, build, and test advanced electro-mechanical and electro-optical systems for a wide range of applications including GN&C (Guidance, Navigation and Control) systems, defense, space, and other related areas. The emphasis of this role will be advising and leading the development of hardware systems. Tasking will include leading and advising programs and business areas on the best practices for the development of test plans and procedures, supporting the design and development process (DFT), analysis and evaluation of sensors (custom and COTS) and sensor performance, and the design, manufacture, and implementation of all required supporting test equipment, fixturing, and test scripts. Those qualified for this role will be able to effectively apply their deep technical understanding and extensive experience in this area to grow and shape testing and development methodologies, advise on business capture opportunities, and influence core system designs to help ensure program success. Program roles will typically be as a Principal Integration and Test Engineer and/or Principal Systems Engineer.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Manage and control priorities, scope, schedule, and cost to baselines by proactively monitoring program/task performance across larger activities.
• Independently derive system-level I&T requirements based on mission requirements and defines plans, approaches, and detailed test procedures to solve complex I&T problems.
• Helps customers understand and adequately mitigate and resolve I&T risks and issues.
• Subject Matter Expert (SME) able to develop and implement I&T approaches through a program lifecycle.
• Identify program/system-level I&T technical risks and develop and execute mitigation strategies.
• Develop, document, and teach best practices to less experienced engineers.
• Demonstrate strong organization, planning, and time management skills to achieve program goals.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills/Abilities

Curiosity-driven approach to solving complex, industry and customer-driven problems as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Collaborate and communicate effectively and openly with multi-disciplinary program team members, program leadership, and non-technical personnel. Be a team player able to work in a fast-paced environment with the ability to balance multiple competing tasks and demands.

Education

Requires a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Applied Physics, or related field.

Experience

Requires 7-10 years in Systems Engineering or relevant role.

Required Qualifications

Demonstrated expertise with verification and validation planning and execution for industry applications, including design of test or design of experiment methodologies. Expert ability to derive test plans, approaches, and procedures for solving highly complex I&T problems across a program lifecycle, capturing all assumptions, and anticipating changes in requirements and program direction while implementing industry best practices and advising leadership and business areas on effective test strategy. Extensive demonstrated experience leading the development of large-scale test programs and plans, and systems engineering documents for complex electro-mechanical and/or electro-optical systems. Proven ability to design and develop test systems (hardware and software), test equipment, and fixturing required to support integration and testing activities for assigned programs while implementing DFT/DFM and related industry best practices. Demonstrated ability to expertly lead medium to large sized teams, collaborate, and present to stakeholders across internal and external functional boundaries. Proven ability to expertly lead multiple large-scale programs while tracking priorities, scope, cost, and schedule to ensure success. Extensive experience shaping technical reports and presentation guidelines for both their work and the teams they support, showing an advanced understanding of their tasks and intended audience. Demonstrates highly advanced skills in presenting technical information during meetings with internal and external stakeholders at all levels. Proven history serving as an advisor and thought leader in their field and imparting their knowledge to less experienced engineers to ensure their growth and development. Ability to easily and expertly shift from a hands-on individual contributor, to a leader, to an advisory role to fit the needs of the team and maximize success and efficiency for the program. Proven history of success with the identification of program and system-level technical/business risks and implementation of industry proven mitigation strategies. Expertly manages ownership of multiple programs and assignments while advising program leadership, team members, and business areas on testing strategy. Extensive experience with leading and advising on integration, testing, and troubleshooting of complex electro-mechanical and/or electro-optical systems and their sensors. Extensive experience in completing system design technical baseline activities e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, etc. Extensive experience collecting relevant data and applying data analysis methods and data analytics tools to extract critical information on a wide variety of complex systems. Proficiency in at least one software programming language and its use for system testing (e.g., MATLAB, Python, LabVIEW).

Preferred Qualifications

Majority of experience working with strategic weapon systems, DoD, space, GN&C, inertial systems, and the like. Knowledge of MBSE (Model Based Systems Engineering) that includes system modeling languages (e.g. SysML) and relevant tools (e.g. MagicDraw). Experience in functional system modeling and simulation development using MATLAB, Simulink, or other comparable tools. Experience with the use of DOORS for systems requirements development, traceability, and/or verification and validation. Knowledge of control theory, or mixed-signal hardware systems, computer vision, sensor fusion. Familiarity with LabVIEW, Python, C, C++, MATLAB. Proficiency with CAD or FEA/CFD modeling tools.

Applicants selected for this position are required to be eligible to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

Job Location

City: Cambridge

State: Massachusetts

Postal Code: 02139-3563

Salary

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $95,000.00 - $245,000.00. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Benefits

Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities.

Company Culture

If this specific job opportunity and the chance to work at a nationally renowned R&D innovation company appeals to you.

We are in the business of redefining what is possible.

Join our inclusive, multidisciplinary team to engineer the groundbreaking solutions of tomorrow. Explore life at Draper with our unique culture and benefits at draper.com.

Equal Opportunity

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact [e-mail].