Principal Systems Engineer

Cubic; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 138,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company that is at the forefront of technology solutions in transportation and defense. As a Principal Systems Engineer, you will leverage your expertise to lead complex engineering efforts, guiding teams to innovate and solve significant challenges. This role emphasizes collaboration with stakeholders, technical leadership, and mentoring junior engineers. With a strong focus on advancing technical capabilities, you'll play a crucial role in shaping the future of systems engineering while ensuring project success and alignment with strategic goals. If you thrive in dynamic environments and are passionate about making an impact, this opportunity is for you.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in Systems Engineering or related fields.
• Strong leadership in managing complex engineering programs.
• Demonstrated ability to solve ambiguous engineering problems.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex systems engineering efforts and guide program systems.
• Manage project schedules, budgets, and technical performance.
• Mentor junior engineers and oversee architectural design.

Skills

Systems Engineering

Technical Leadership

Problem Solving

Communication Skills

Project Management

Education

Bachelor's in Systems Engineering

Master's in Electrical Engineering

PhD in Computer Science

Tools

DOORS

EPDM

All Change

Job description

Business Unit: Cubic Transportation Systems Company Details: When you join Cubic, you become part of a company that creates and delivers technology solutions in transportation to make people’s lives easier by simplifying their daily journeys, and defense capabilities to help promote mission success and safety for those who serve their nation. Led by our talented teams around the world, Cubic is committed to solving global issues through innovation and service to our customers and partners.

We have a top-tier portfolio of businesses, including Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) and Cubic Defense (CD). Explore more on Cubic.com. Job Details:

JOB SUMMARY: The Program Systems Engineer (PSE), Principal Systems Engineering is the leading practitioner, functioning as the technical manager on assigned programs. The Principal Systems Engineer leverages broad expertise across specialized fields or several related disciplines to lead complex systems engineering efforts and guide program systems ensuring alignment with CTS architecture standards. This role will work on advanced electronic and software-intensive systems, providing technical direction and thought leadership. The position requires significant conceptual thinking, creativity, and independent judgment to address unique, complex issues and drive results that impact broader company functions. The Principal Systems Engineering will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, coordinate cross-functional projects, and serve as a recognized subject matter expert.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Define project concepts, develop objectives, and manage project resource needs.

• Manage the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), budgets (burn rates, Earned Value, Estimate-at-Completion), technical performance, and subcontractors while ensuring compliance with contractual requirements.

• Direct the application of existing principles while contributing to the development of new policies and ideas. Leverage cross-disciplinary expertise to advance the organization's technical capabilities.

• Lead the application of advanced engineering principles, procedures, and techniques to perform systems engineering tasks related to the development of electronic and software-intensive systems and subsystems across programs.

• Serve as the primary technical consultant, guiding program teams on the most suitable technical approaches and solutions for complex challenges.

• Exercise independent judgment in evaluating advanced technical methods, techniques, and data to solve significant and unique issues across systems engineering disciplines.

• Direct the application of existing principles while contributing to the development of new policies and ideas. Leverage cross-disciplinary expertise to advance the organization's technical capabilities.

• Direct the development and application of innovative solutions and contribute to the advancement of company objectives and strategic goals.

• Mentor and guide junior engineers, providing technical leadership and knowledge transfer to ensure individual growth and organizational development.

• Oversee architectural design, system performance evaluations, and risk mitigation strategies, identifying both technical risks and creative ways to mitigate them.

• Maintain a strong awareness of technological advancements in systems engineering and actively contribute to the improvement of processes, policies, and methods across the organization.

• Interface with customers, vendors, subcontractors, and interdisciplinary teams to drive project success, ensuring that systems meet all performance, cost, and schedule requirements.

• Lead system design studies, evaluate technical risks, and communicate findings and advancements through briefings, presentations, and technical papers.

• Actively lead proposal efforts, offering technical advice, developing system architectures, and preparing cost estimates.

• Develop proposals for new business, including technical planning and cost estimation, ensuring alignment with business and technical goals.

• Participate in broader organization projects, requiring effective persuasion of diverse stakeholders and the ability to articulate advanced technical information to non-technical audiences.

GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES:

• Comply with Cubic’s Quality Management System.

• Comply with Cubic Occupational Health, Safety and Environment policies and procedures.

• Comply with Cubic Human Resources Procedures.

• Comply with security in accordance with established policies and procedures of relevant organizations.

BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline, plus a minimum of 12 years of experience; or a Master’s degree with 8 years of experience; or a PhD with 5 years of experience in a related field.

• Strong technical leadership experience leading large complex programs.

• Demonstrated expertise in solving complex, ambiguous engineering problems and developing innovative solutions.

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and work on significant issues impacting broader business goals.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to effectively interface with stakeholders at all levels of the organization, including senior executives.

• Experience with Automated Fare Collection (AFC) and/or Transportation Systems (hardware and software) is highly preferred.

• Ability to work under project deadlines, applying advanced engineering judgment and techniques to deliver high-quality solutions.

• Knowledge of industry-standard software and systems tools, including DOORS, EPDM, and All Change, with the ability to lead technical discussions and make impactful decisions.

Cubic Pay Range:

$138,000.00 - $185,000.00 + benefits.

The Cubic pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

LI-JM1

Worker Type: Employee