Senior Project Engineer, High Energy Laser Technologies

General Atomics; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 131,000 - 228,000; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics is seeking a Project Engineer within its Systems Engineering group to lead the development of high-energy laser systems and related technologies. You will guide up to fifty engineers, coordinate with the Chief Engineer and Project Manager, and drive design, development, and verification across the enterprise.

The role emphasizes program management, resource planning, and technical leadership across SRR, PDR, CDR, and TRR milestones, with communication to senior staff and

Qualifications

• Requires engineering degree or higher with long track record in project leadership.
• Strong knowledge of systems engineering processes and requirements management.
• Experience leading large cross-functional engineering teams and programs.

Responsibilities

• Designs engineering development efforts and leads execution of engineering processes.
• Manages cross-functional teams and allocates resources to meet schedule and cost commitments.
• Leads program planning, IMS development, and progress reporting to senior leadership.
• Interacts with customers and presents technical work at reviews and milestones.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Systems engineering

Multi-tasking

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's degree in engineering

PhD in engineering

Tools

PLM/Windchill

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

MS Project

Job description

Job Summary

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world’s leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.

Job Summary

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world’s leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs and manufactures first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS' expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions support critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide.

We currently have an exciting opportunity in our Systems Engineering group for a Project Engineer to lead engineering and development of cutting-edge solid-state laser High Energy Laser (HEL) products in the 100 kW-class to 300 kW and beyond. This position directly supports EMS business units in the development of innovative new designs in resolving advanced technical engineering problems. This position reports to the Manager of Project Engineering and leads engineering project teams of up to approximately fifty engineers.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for designing the engineering development effort and leading the execution and implementation of the engineering process in concert with the Chief Engineer and Project Manager.
• Accountable for aggregate technical team, engineering plan and execution, and performance to plan.
• Ensures that program technical resource needs are defined and met by working with the functional organizations to identify and secure appropriate staffing.
• Manages resource needs and leads engineering activities for a cross-functional engineering team.
• Executes program plans to conform to cost, schedule, production, and performance commitments.
• Supports technical leadership on product design, development, and improvement projects in concert with Program Management.
• Represents the project team’s efforts to the engineering functional organization and Project Manager.
• Provides regular updates to the Program Management Office and senior leadership.
• Represents the engineering functional organization to Project Management.
• Communicates with engineering professionals, solution users, and management throughout the solution development cycle, and represents the company as a prime technical contact on contracts and/or projects.
• Presents engineering work products in periodic and milestone reviews to senior staff and customers.
• Organizes all engineering work to support the project Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and budget per the Project Management Plan (PMP):
• Assist in the management and execution of the IMS
• Lead development of engineering inputs to program IMS
• Provide day-to-day prioritization of tasks in accordance with schedule
• Work with PM/scheduler to update engineering manpower estimation
• Accountable for engineering tasks, budget, schedule, and performance
• Tracking and reporting of engineering progress
• Coordinate and drive engineering tasks and actions to closure in a timely fashion
• Responsible for the execution and implementation of engineering processes: design, development, integration, test and performance verification.
• Manage the planning, execution, and tracking/reporting of all technical aspects of the engineering development for company systems.
• Evaluates the integration of the engineering solution within the overall engineering environment; ensures that appropriate documentation, testing, maintenance, and engineering updates are completed in accordance with Systems Engineering best practices.
• Leads the engineering product development process through major program milestone reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, etc), in addition to helping establish the overall review plan.
• Formulates plans, typically long-term, for solution(s) development, documentation, and deployment, as well as meeting various compliance, reporting, and safety standards.
• Supports development of interface control documents, software requirement specifications, performance specifications, presentations and review test plans/procedures.
• Supports the development and execution of test plans and guides the integration, verification, validation, and documentation of requirements through the system development cycle.
• Keeps comprehensive notes/records, provides formal documentation following established processes and makes technical presentations, as required.
• Leads support for proposals/white papers and interfaces with customers
• Works with functional engineering leads to develop Basis of Estimates for engineering support to projects.
• Performs other duties as required.

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.
• An Engineering degree is preferred, though a Science degree may be accepted with appropriate experience.
• Demonstrates broad technical expertise and application of engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice with the ability to organize, plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones, with significant experience in project leadership.
• Requires strong skills in management, project management, leadership, communication, systems engineering, and engineering technical disciplines.
• Expertise or significant experience in at least one engineering technical discipline or domain is required. Examples: power electronics, vehicles drive train, energy storage, optical or high power laser systems, mechanisms and structures, etc.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of systems engineering processes, flow down of system requirements, system architecture and the interaction of system and subsystem requirements.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of system verification and validation to ensure the final products conform to the stated requirements.
• Experience with contractual documents -- understand and apply statement of work requirements, familiarise stakeholders with contract and organization requirements.
• Detailed working knowledge of PLM/Windchill is desired.
• Knowledge/experience with Requirements Management Systems, support requirements, lifecycle planning and integration for DOD systems is desired.
• Strong computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project) are required. Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills are required, enabling an effective interface with customers and other departments and/or professionals; capable of representing the organization as a prime technical contact, as well as providing leadership and guidance to less experienced professionals.
• Multi‑tasking team player with a hands‑on approach; customer‑focused, formulates plans based on the development of innovative new designs in resolving advanced technical engineering problems.
• Demonstrated ability to organize, plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate workloads of technical team to meet established deadlines or milestones.
• Broad, multi‑disciplinary technical expertise and a history of applying of engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice.
• Previous DOD experience highly desirable.
• Have a desire to work in a fast‑paced testing environment.
• A Secret DOD clearance is required, with the ability to obtain and maintain and TS/SCI clearance.

Job Type: Full‑Time Salary

Salary range: 130,500 - 228,375