Principal Systems & Product Design Engineer (UAS/Autonomous Systems)

COLSA; Madison (AL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

COLSA is seeking a Principal Systems & Product Design Engineer to bridge Product Management and Engineering at our Madison, Alabama site. You will translate operational needs into scalable architectures, system requirements, and execution plans across aircraft, payloads, autonomy, networking, and software domains.

Lead cross-functional teams, guide design and verification efforts, and shape products from prototype to production. A U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related engineering discipline is required.
• 10–12 years of experience in aerospace/defense robotics or unmanned systems.
• Experience defining architectures, interfaces, verification, and baselines.
• Leadership or mentoring of multidisciplinary teams is expected.
• Experience with sUAS, payloads, RF, networking, autonomy or embedded systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers on complex programs.
• Develop architectures, system requirements, verification strategies.
• Plan, direct and manage major engineering projects and phases.
• Coordinate technical support and ensure quality and change control.
• Drive design reviews, field tests, and production transitions.
• Collaborate with stakeholders including government customers.

Skills

Systems engineering

Cross-functional leadership

Technical mentoring

Systems integration

Documentation and communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

SolidWorks

PDM

Job description

Tracking Code

9824-987

Posted Date

10/9/2026

Job Location

Madison, Alabama

Location of Position

Madison, Alabama

Work Arrangement

On Site: 100%

Position Type

Full-Time/Regular

Clearance Required?

No

Level of Clearance Required

• None

As COLSA continues to expand our uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) capabilities, we are seeking a Principal Systems & Product Design Engineer to join our growing team at our Madison, Alabama facility.

This position will be the technical bridge between Product Management and Engineering, you will transform operational needs into scalable product architectures, system requirements, and engineering execution through design, prototype, test. Working across aircraft, payloads, autonomy, networking, embedded software, and mission systems, you will establish the technical baseline that enables COLSA to rapidly develop, field, and evolve mission-critical capabilities for customers ranging from state/federal civil agencies, law enforcement, and Department of War.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a multi-disciplinary team of engineers
• Responsible for developing and applying advanced techniques in the investigation and solution of advanced system requirements and problems
• Design, develop, maintain, and support technical infrastructure that includes network, hardware, database and/or system software components.
• Performs advanced technical planning, system integration, verification and validation, evaluates alternatives
• Analyzes and resolves difficult and complicated program support deficiencies
• Guide configuration, and support for infrastructure and ensure all quality and change control standards are met
• Plans, conducts and technically directs projects or major phases of significant projects
• Responsible for coordinates efforts of technical support staff in the performance of assigned projects
• Conducts design and fielded product performance investigations and tests of considerable complexity
• Reviews literature, patents and current practices relevant to the solution of assigned projects.
• Reviews completion and implementation of system additions and/or enhancements and makes recommendations to executive leadership
• May evaluate vendor capabilities to provide required products or services

At COLSA, people are our most valuable resource and centered at our core value. We invite you to unite your talents with opportunity and be a part of our "Family of Professionals!" Learn about our employee-centric culture and benefits here: https://www.colsa.com/culture_benefits

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 10-12 years of experience developing complex aerospace, defense, robotics, autonomous systems, or unmanned aircraft platforms from concept through production.
• Proven experience developing product architectures, system requirements, interface definitions, verification strategies, and technical baselines for multidisciplinary systems.
• Previous technical leadership or mentoring multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Experience developing or integrating small, unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), mission payloads, tactical communications, RF systems, networking, autonomy, or embedded systems.
• Proficiency with systems engineering tools such as Solid Works and PDM.
• Strong understanding of systems integration, networking architectures, payload integration, verification and validation, configuration management, and the engineering product lifecycle.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional technical teams resulting in successful design, prototype, to new product introduction to manufacturing.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively with engineering teams, executive leadership, customers, and government stakeholders.
• U.S. Citizenship required; must be able to successfully undergo a criminal background investigation

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in related degree preferred.
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
• UAS flight-test or field-operations experience.
• Experience with autonomous flight systems and mission planning.
• Familiarity with MBSE/SysML and requirements-management tools.
• Experience with rapid prototyping, 3D printing, and advanced manufacturing.
• Knowledge of DoW/UAS standards and airworthiness processes.
• Experience integrating EO/IR sensors, communications, or specialized payloads.
• Experience transitioning prototype UAS products into production.
• Technical leadership or mentoring multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Applicant selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. COLSA Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

Salary Type

Annually

The salary range, if referenced, represents a good faith estimate. COLSA considers various factors when determining base salary offers, but not limited to, location, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements.

COLSA offers a comprehensive and customizeable benefits program which includes Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Supplemental Income Protection Programs, 401(k) with company match, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Education & Certification Reimbursement, Employee Discount Program, Paid Time Off and Holidays.

This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 business days. If a candidate has not been selected at that time, it will continue to be posted until a suitable candidate is selected or the position is closed.