Senior Sensor Systems Engineer

Draper Labs; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 82,000 - 206,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Workplace flexibility

Employee clubs

Health & finance workshops

Offsite social events

Museum discounts

Job summary

Draper is seeking a senior engineer to conceptualize, develop, and assess robust GN&C sensors and systems for defense and space applications. This role emphasizes high-fidelity modeling, test planning, and integration of complex hardware within multidisciplinary teams in Cambridge, MA.

Required are 5–7 years in Systems Engineering or related roles, with experience in inertial sensors, verification/validation planning, and DoD/space projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Applied Physics, or related field.
• 5–7 years in Systems Engineering or relevant role.
• Experience evaluating high-precision inertial sensor technology (gyros, accelerometers).
• Experience with verification and validation planning/execution and test program design.
• Experience completing SRR, PDR, CDR, and baseline activities.
• Ability to lead small to medium teams and communicate with stakeholders.
• Strong data analysis skills and familiarity with analytics tools.
• Experience with LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB, and systems modeling/simulations.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of assignments and guide others; lead tasks while tracking priorities, scope, cost, and schedule.
• Develop plans and procedures for solving complex I&T problems across a program lifecycle.
• Contribute high quality content for technical reports and presentations; communicate with stakeholders.
• Identify program/system-level technical risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Mentor less experienced engineers and provide constructive feedback.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Curiosity-driven

Collaboration

Team player

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

LabVIEW

Python

MATLAB

DOORS

Job description

Overview

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Job Description Summary

The Inertial Sensor Integration & Test Group at Draper is seeking a senior engineer with broad technical skills to work in a multidisciplinary environment to conceptualize, develop, analyze, and assess robust GN&C (Guidance, Navigation and Control) sensors and systems for a wide variety of applications, including defense systems. Program roles will usually be Systems Engineer and/or Integration and Test Engineer. Tasking will include participating in the development of high-fidelity sensor models, test development and planning, conducting analysis on systems and sensor packages, and evaluating sensor performance integrated into high-level assemblies and systems. Demonstrated experience integrating and testing complex hardware systems is required.

A successful candidate will have:

• Experience evaluating high-precision inertial sensor technology (e.g., gyroscopes and accelerometers), including understanding the device physics, associated errors models, analysis techniques, etc.
• Experience in verification and validation planning and execution, including design of test or design of experiment methodologies; previous experience developing test programs and plans, and systems engineering documents.
• Demonstrated experience in completing system design technical baseline activities i.e. SRR, PDR, CDR, etc.
• Strong ability to lead small to medium-sized teams, collaborate, and present to stakeholders across internal and external functional boundaries.
• Ability to effectively apply data analysis methods and data analytics tools to extract important information for utility.
• The ability to work in a team and succeed with a process-oriented setting is critical, as is the ability to thoroughly document and communicate one's work to a technical audience.

Job Description

Duties/Responsibilities

• Able to take ownership of assignments and guide others as needed; successfully lead tasks while tracking priorities, scope, cost and schedule.
• Derive plans, approaches, procedures for solving complex I&T problems across a program lifecycle, capturing all assumptions and adapting appropriately to changes in requirements with limited direction.
• Independently contributes high quality content for technical reports and presentations which shows an understanding of their task and an awareness of the intended audience. Demonstrates both confidence and success when presenting technical information during meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
• Identify program/system-level technical risks and develop and execute mitigation strategies.
• Actively mentor less experienced engineers and provide thoughtful, constructive feedback
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills/Abilities

• Curiosity-driven approach to solving complex, industry and customer-driven problems as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively and openly with multi-disciplinary program team members, program leadership, and non-technical personnel
• Be a team player able to work in a fast-paced environment with the ability to balance multiple competing tasks and demands.

Education

Requires a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Applied Physics, or related field.

Experience

Requires 5-7 years in Systems Engineering or relevant role.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with (interfacing with, command-and-control of) motion simulators / positioning systems (e.g., rate tables and indexing heads)
• Experience with environmental test (vibration, shock, pressure, temperature, humidity, etc.) on inertial sensor technology
• Experience with strategic weapon, DoD, space, GN&C, or inertial systems.
• Experience integrating and testing complex hardware/software systems.
• Ability to develop and effectively apply data analysis methods and data analytics tools to extract important information for utility.
• Familiarity with LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB.
• Experience in functional system modeling and simulation development using MATLAB, Simulink, or other comparable tools.
• Experience in Systems requirements development and traceability and/or verification and validation with DOORS.
• Knowledge of digital signal processing, control theory, or mixed-signal hardware systems.

Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

Job Location - City

Cambridge

Job Location - State

Massachusetts

Job Location - Postal Code

02139-3563

Salary

The US base salary range for this full-time position is$82,300.00 - $205,750.00

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Benefits

• workplace flexibility
• employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga
• health and finance workshops
• off site social events
• discounts to local museums and cultural activities

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact [e-mail].