Project Engineer

Leonardo DRS; Fitchburg (MA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 199,000; Full time

Job summary

Leonardo DRS, Inc. in Fitchburg, MA, is seeking a Project Engineer to lead challenging technical projects, bridging engineering and management while delivering robust system-level solutions.

This leadership role involves estimating, planning, and driving execution on U.S. military and niche commercial programs, guiding 5–10 engineers, coordinating suppliers and customers, and presenting status to executives. Indivdually responsible for scope, schedule, and risk within a matrix organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering required; 8+ years of experience.
• 5+ years in engineering leadership role demonstrated.
• Proven experience driving product development from concept to fielded systems.
• Experience with system-level thinking and system engineering methods.

Responsibilities

• Plan and drive execution of large system design and development projects to high quality, on schedule, within budget.
• Contribute directly to project execution through individual technical contributions.
• Bridge detailed technical activities of the engineering team with other functions for overall success.
• Organize large issues and break them into workable plans and tasks.
• Develop detailed project plans and pre-contract estimates with robust basis of estimates.
• Facilitate technical reviews and contribute to risk/opportunity management and mitigation plans.
• Represent DRS to customers and suppliers, clearly communicating technical status.

Skills

System engineering

Project leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Requirements analysis

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Tools

Jira

Job description

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Location: Fitchburg, MA, US, 01420

Job ID:113824

The Leonardo DRS Naval Power Systems business is a trusted provider of innovative naval gas and hybrid power systems, control technology and support solutions for the U.S. Navy and navies around the world.

Job Summary

DRS NPS has an immediate need for a Project Engineer to lead challenging and innovative technical projects, with the ability to be an effective bridge between engineering personnel and management. This broad technical role is responsible for the successful execution of technical projects involving system-level engineering, component design, and advanced analyses. This role demands a strong focus on providing our customers with robust engineering solutions that meet their requirements and exceed their expectations.

This highly-visible leadership position includes estimating, planning, and driving technical execution of U.S. military and niche commercial projects ranging from <$2M - $150M+. The day-to-day focus entails organizing, leading, and encouraging multidisciplinary project team(s) ranging from 5-10+ engineers, as well as direct individual contributions to project work. Critical to success in the role is the ability to organize & construct technical project plans, inspire the engineering team to find innovative solutions to design challenges, and clearly document / present project status within the team, to project leadership, and to other functions (including executive management). Significant supplier and customer interaction is required to drive project execution.

This position requires direct involvement in and total ownership of assigned projects and tasks, independently and confidently working within a matrix organization. It requires that the individual develops and maintains an in-depth knowledge of DRS products, systems, and services. He or she must use this knowledge to understand, coordinate, and constantly evaluate the engineering work scope to ensure value-added activities are meeting project goals.

The ideal candidate is an individual possessing strong mechanical and/or electrical engineering skills, combined with engineering team leadership skills. The ability to set a technical vision for a project and influence its adoption, while motivating the team, is a key skillset.

Job Responsibilities

• Plan and drive the execution of detailed technical work scope of large system design & development projects to a high level of quality, on schedule, and within budget.
• Contribute directly to project execution through individual technical contributions, as required
• Comprehend and bridge the detailed technical activities of the Engineering team with other functions to ensure overall project success.
• Organize large or loosely defined issues / problems and break them down into workable plans / task lists.
• Develop detailed project plans and pre-contract proposal estimates based on:
• Ability to understand the overall project scope down to the critical details
• Generating robust and clearly documented basis of estimates
• Establishment of a comprehensive design verification plan
• Facilitating of effective technical reviews
• Contribute to quantifiable risk/opportunity management and mitigation plans
• Understand detailed project tasking / critical path activities and advocate for key resources required to execute engineering efforts
• Organize, lead, and motivate technical teams in the design and development of challenging products and systems
• Confidently and competently represent DRS in front of customers, including the US Navy, and key suppliers / partners.
• Clearly communicate, orally and in writing, technical and programmatic information to technical and non-technical individuals
• Review, analyze, and status project milestones and provide quantifiable estimates to complete for assigned projects/tasks
• Manage drawing, schematic, bill of material, and software releases to support technical projects
• Collaborate with other departments, DRS locations, and suppliers to solve problems and develop cost-effective, high quality solutions

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree from a 4 year accredited college or university in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering with a minimum of 8 years of experience as an individual contributor
• 5+ years of experience and demonstrated success in an engineering leadership role
• Proven experience individually driving the product development / product design cycle from concept to qualified / fielded systems
• Experience with system-level thinking and system engineering principles/methods

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong sense of ownership and high level of accountability for assigned projects
• Experience with execution of projects for the US military or foreign navies
• Familiarity with industrial and military design specifications
• Experience with the development of electro-mechanical systems or other power machinery
• Experience with marine steam turbines, gas turbines, and/or diesel engines
• Experience with agile project management tools and/or using Jira
• Experience of leading the successful integration of multiple sub-systems
• Demonstrated focus on designing to cost targets, while meeting key performance requirements
• Proven track record of being able to stretch outside one’s comfort zone, as needed, to get the job done
• Active security clearance

U.S. Citizenship required. This position requires an active DOD security clearance or the ability to obtain such clearance within a reasonable time after commencement of employment.

The salary range for this position is $125,114-$199,484. This range reflects the good faith estimate of pay the employer is willing to offer at the time of posting. Several factors can influence the pay scale, including but not limited to: Federal contract labor categories and contract wage rates, collective bargaining agreements, geographic location, business considerations, scope, and responsibilities of the position, local or other applicable market conditions, and internal equity. Other factors include the candidate’s qualifications such as prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education/training, and certifications. In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible for: annual performance-based bonuses, equity awards, and overtime pay (for non-exempt employees as applicable. Our benefits package includes comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), employer matching 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off including vacation, holidays, and sick leave (including ant state-mandated paid sick leave), parental leave benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional development support, and life and disability insurance coverage.

Taking care of our people is a top priority at Leonardo DRS. We are proud to offer competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a company contribution to a health savings account, telemedicine, life and disability insurance, legal insurance, and a 401(k) savings plan. We champion wellness programs that focus on physical, emotional, and financial well-being. We develop our talent by offering programs and activities to support career-growth, professional development, and skill enhancement. And we understand there is more to life than work, and the importance of offering flexible work schedules with our 9/80 program, competitive vacation, health/emergency leave, paid parental leave, and community service hours.
*Some employees are eligible for limited benefits only

Leonardo DRS, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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Our Vision. To be the leading mid-tier defense technology company in the U.S.

Our Values. The Leonardo DRS culture is defined by our Core Values and Principles:

- Integrity - Agility - Excellence - Customer Focus - Community & Respect - Innovation

We strive to uphold them in all aspects of our business practices to inspire our employees and provide outstanding support for our customers.