Senior Mechanical Engineer

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems; Poway (CA); On-site; USD 128,130 - 229,358; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is a world leader in remotely piloted aircraft and high‑resolution surveillance systems.

The role focuses on end‑to‑end payload lifecycle, from conceptual design to production, across airborne, ground, maritime, and fixed installations. The successful candidate will lead payload projects, apply strong engineering fundamentals, and guide a multidisciplinary team to deliver reliable, producible solutions while meeting safety and regulatory

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in engineering; extensive technical mastery and leadership experience.
• Proven ability to lead complex payload design and analysis across multiple disciplines.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Determines annual and multi-year technical objectives for designated payload systems and related projects.
• Serve as prime technical expert and project lead for payload development efforts.
• Provide advisory guidance across structural, thermal, electrical, and integration domains.
• Lead cross-functional teams to ensure manufacturability, reliability, and timely production.
• Oversee planning, documentation, analysis, testing, and deployment of payloads.
• Maintain compliance with engineering standards, safety, and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Strong communication

Project leadership

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor's / Master's / PhD in engineering or related field

Job description

Job Summary

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft and tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high-resolution surveillance systems.

With consultative direction, this position exercises considerable latitude in determining technical objectives for the review, research, design, development, and implementation of advanced payload systems. The successful candidate will serve as a project lead and subject matter expert (SME) within the Payload Design and Analysis group, working across a variety of quick‑reaction and new‑start payload projects.

This role focuses on the end‑to‑end lifecycle of payloads for airborne, ground mobile, maritime, and fixed installations, including conceptual design, detailed design, analysis, integration, test, and transition to production. The candidate will be expected to apply strong engineering fundamentals and sound engineering judgment, demonstrate strong interdisciplinary skills, and effectively “productionize” designs for repeatable, reliable manufacture and fielding.

Functioning in an advisory and leadership capacity, this position participates in the planning and oversight of payload development efforts and provides direction and guidance to professional and support staff. This position formulates multi‑year technical plans for payload solution development, documentation, and deployment, and is responsible for meeting applicable compliance, reporting, and safety standards.

This position evaluates the integration of payload solutions within the overall aircraft and mission system architecture, including support to aircraft conceptual design activities. Responsibilities include planning and overseeing documentation, analysis, testing, maintenance, and engineering updates. The candidate communicates with engineering professionals, payload users, and management throughout the development cycle; represents the company as a prime technical contact on assigned payload systems and projects; and interacts with senior internal and external personnel on technical matters requiring coordination between organizations. The candidate anticipates future payload needs and contributes to the development of new or expanded business opportunities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Determines annual and multi‑year technical objectives for designated payload systems and related project(s)/program(s) within the Payload Design and Analysis group.
• Serves as a prime technical expert and project lead for new and quick‑reaction payload development efforts.
• Acts as an expert consultant and advisor in payload design and analysis, including structural, thermal, electrical, and integration considerations across airborne, ground mobile, maritime, and fixed environments.
• Provides technical leadership and direction to multi‑disciplinary teams, ensuring strong cross‑functional collaboration (e.g., structures, systems, electrical, manufacturing, test, and operations).
• Applies strong engineering fundamentals and sound engineering instincts to resolve unusually complex technical problems and to make timely decisions in a fast‑paced, quick‑reaction project environment.
• Leads the “productionization” of payload designs, including design for manufacturability, reliability, maintainability, and cost, and coordinates with manufacturing and supply chain to transition designs into production.
• Supports and influences aircraft conceptual design by defining payload concepts, interfaces, performance requirements, and integration constraints, and by assessing payload impacts on aircraft configuration and mission capabilities.
• Directs and allocates technical resources and professional staff to achieve project objectives, including planning, organizing, scheduling, and coordinating workloads to meet established deadlines and milestones.
• Develops new and/or expands existing business opportunities by identifying innovative payload concepts, architectures, and technology insertions that address customer needs.
• Ensures compliance with applicable engineering standards, regulatory requirements, reporting obligations, and safety.
• Participates in the planning, selection, retention, and development of professional staff within the Payload Design and Analysis group.
• Publishes and presents technical papers and abstracts, and participates in internal and external technical program reviews as a recognized technical authority.
• Maintains the strict confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Responsible for observing all laws, regulations, and other applicable obligations wherever and whenever business is conducted on behalf of the Company.
• Expected to work in a safe manner in accordance with established operating procedures and practices.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; fifteen or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, thirteen or more years of experience with a masters degree, or ten or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
• Demonstrates a detailed and extensive technical expertise and application of engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice as well as project and/or program leadership including organizing, planning, scheduling, and coordinating workloads to meet established project deadlines or milestones.
• Strong interdisciplinary background with the ability to work effectively across mechanical, electrical, systems, software, and manufacturing engineering domains.
• Proven experience leading hardware development from concept through detailed design, integration, test, and transition into production, including design for manufacturability and reliability.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a quick‑reaction, fast‑paced project environment, including managing technical risk, making timely trade decisions, and delivering solutions on aggressive schedules.
• Ability to contribute to the development of new concepts and principles and to resolve unusually complex technical problems.
• Ability to serve as spokesperson on projects and/or programs and to act as a technical expert in payload design and analysis and related engineering areas.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills enabling effective leadership and interface with other departments, all levels of management, professional and support staff, customers, potential customers, and government representatives.
• Customer‑focused mindset with the ability to formulate plans based on innovative payload designs that resolve advanced technical engineering problems and meet mission needs.
• Ability to work on a self‑initiated basis and in a team environment, and to work extended hours as required.
• A Professional Engineering (PE) license, original work(s) published in professional engineering journals, invitations to present original work at national or international engineering symposia, and invitations to chair engineering review panels as a technical expert are desirable.

Job Type: Full-Time Salary

Salary range: 128,130 - 229,358