Principal Integration Engineer – Defense Programs

Hawthorn Aero; Dayton (OH); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Hawthorn Aero in Dayton, OH seeks a Principal UAS Integration Engineer to lead the integration of a third-party UAS into production, test, and field environments for U.S. War programs. The role combines hands-on execution with top-level oversight as programs scale.

The position emphasizes system architecture, OEM engagement, and manufacturing transitions, with airworthiness, verification, and risk management at its core. A government clearance is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace or related field; Master’s preferred.
• 10+ years aerospace/defense with UAS or complex aircraft integration.
• Proven senior technical leadership in large-scale integration.
• Experience interfacing with OEM/design authority on defense programs.
• Experience transitioning manufacturing/integration/test capabilities between facilities.
• Strong systems engineering, configuration management, and defense quality processes.
• Ability to obtain and maintain U.S. government security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Principal Engineer and technical authority for UAS integration.
• Define system integration strategies, standards, and best practices.
• Mentor a multidisciplinary integration team as capability scales.
• Act as primary contact with OEM design authority.
• Lead design reviews, configuration control and engineering data exchange.
• Coordinate engineering changes with OEM and government stakeholders.
• Direct transition of manufacturing, integration, and test to company site.
• Oversee system integration across airframe, avionics, propulsion, and autonomy software.
• Lead test planning, readiness reviews, and airworthiness activities.
• Advise leadership on risk, cost, schedule, and integration strategy.

Skills

Technical leadership

UAS integration

System architecture

Design authority coordination

Manufacturing transition

Test & verification

Airworthiness knowledge

Configuration management

OEM interface

Gov't engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical/Systems Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

MBSE

Digital engineering tools

ICD development

Job description

Mar 2

Hawthorn Aero Confidential - Do Not Distribute Outside Intended Recipient

Location: Dayton, OH Reports To: CEO Employment Type: Full-Time Clearance: Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance required

The Principal Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Integration Engineer serves as the senior technical authority responsible for the integration of a third-party designed unmanned aircraft system into company production, test, and delivery into operational environments in support of U.S. Department of War programs.

This role is initially focused on direct technical execution combined with oversight of integration activities, ensuring successful transition of manufacturing, integration, test, and acceptance processes from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to the company’s facility. As programs mature and production capability scales, the position is expected to evolve toward a predominantly leadership-focused role, emphasizing technical oversight, team leadership, and strategic integration planning.

The role acts as the primary engineering interface with the OEM that retains design authority and is accountable for duplicating full system capability at the company’s site while maintaining configuration control, airworthiness, and mission readiness.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Authority & Integration Leadership

• Serve as the Principal Engineer and technical authority for UAS system integration and manufacturing transition activities.
• Establish system integration strategies, technical standards, and best practices to support scalable production and long-term sustainment.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to a multidisciplinary integration team, with responsibility transitioning from direct execution to oversight as capability matures.

OEM Interface & Design Authority Coordination

• Act as the primary technical point of contact with the OEM holding aircraft design authority.
• Lead technical interchange meetings, design reviews, and configuration control discussions with the OEM.
• Manage engineering data exchange, interpretation of design intent, and resolution of technical issues within design authority constraints.
• Coordinate and evaluate engineering changes, deviations, and concessions with OEM and government stakeholders.

Manufacturing Transition & Capability Duplication

• Lead the transition of aircraft manufacturing, integration, test, and acceptance processes from the OEM’s facility to the company’s site.
• Define and execute plans to duplicate full aircraft build, integration, test, and delivery capability, including tooling, procedures, test equipment, workforce training, and quality processes.
• Establish scalable integration and production workflows supporting increased build rates and program growth.
• Support first article builds, production ramp-up, and ongoing sustainment activities.

System Integration & Execution Oversight

• Direct and initially perform system integration of air vehicle structures, avionics, propulsion, payloads, communications, autonomy software, and ground control systems.
• Develop and maintain system architectures, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), integration plans, and verification artifacts.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action for complex integration, test, or production issues, transitioning toward technical oversight as the organization scales.

Test, Verification & Airworthiness

• Lead planning and oversight of laboratory, ground, and flight test activities.
• Serve as a senior technical authority in support of military airworthiness, certification, and acceptance processes.
• Participate in and lead test readiness, flight readiness, and production readiness reviews.
• Advise program leadership on technical risk, cost, schedule, and integration strategy.
• Represent the company as the senior UAS integration authority in engagements with government customers, prime contractors, DCMA, and airworthiness authorities.
• Lead and support formal program reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and PRR.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related engineering discipline (Master’s degree preferred).
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive aerospace or defense engineering experience, including significant experience with UAS or complex aircraft system integration.
• Demonstrated ability to provide senior technical leadership while executing complex integration efforts.
• Experience interfacing with an OEM or design authority on defense programs.
• Experience transitioning manufacturing, integration, or test capability between organizations or facilities.
• Strong understanding of systems engineering, configuration management, and defense quality processes.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience serving as a Principal Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, or Chief Engineer on defense programs.
• Prior experience scaling engineering or integration teams.
• Familiarity with MIL-STD requirements, military airworthiness processes, and DCMA oversight.
• Experience with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and digital engineering tools.
• Flight test planning and execution experience in a defense environment.
• Senior technical leadership and engineering judgment
• Systems integration and production transition expertise
• OEM and government stakeholder engagement
• Configuration control and disciplined change management
• Clear, concise technical communication in high-consequence environments