Senior Systems Engineer: DoD Programs & Architecture Lead

Voyagertechnologiesinc; Folsom (CA); On-site; USD 116,000 - 171,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Discretionary annual bonus

Comprehensive health benefits

Retirement savings

Paid time off (PTO)

Job summary

Voyager Technologies is seeking a Project Engineer VI to serve as a senior technical authority and programmatic leader for high-complexity defense and aerospace programs.

This role defines system architecture, oversees IPT execution, and interfaces with DoD customers, management, and subcontractors to ensure technical and schedule success.

Qualifications

• Active DoD Secret Clearance (or ability to obtain)
• 15+ years of progressively responsible experience in project engineering, systems engineering, or program-level technical leadership
• Experience managing large-scale DoD/MDA programs with system integration and verification
• DoD acquisition lifecycle and MIL-STD processes familiarity
• Experience overseeing subcontractors, suppliers, and multi-disciplinary teams
• Customer engagement, proposal efforts, and engineering process improvement experience

Responsibilities

• Serve as chief project engineer or senior technical lead for large defense/aerospace programs
• Define and guide system architecture, integration, and verification strategies
• Oversee engineering execution across IPTs and major subcontractors
• Lead configuration management and system integration planning
• Chair major design/integration reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and ensure compliance with performance metrics
• Act as engineering interface to DoD customers and executive management
• Manage Statements of Work and major supplier inputs
• Develop risk/opportunity management frameworks
• Mentor project engineers and leads
• Support proposal development, cost estimation, and new business capture
• Enforce systems engineering standards and model-based engineering
• Drive process improvements and knowledge management

Skills

Leadership

Systems thinking

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in systems/ aerospace/ mechanical/ electrical engineering

Tools

Microsoft Project

Primavera

Job description

Voyager is an innovative defense, national security and space technology company committed to advancing and delivering transformative, mission-critical solutions. We tackle the most complex challenges to unlock new frontiers for human progress, fortify national security, and protect critical assets to lead in the race for technological and operational superiority from ground to space.

Forge the Future: Join Voyager Technologies

The future belongs to those who build it. At Voyager Technologies, we’re building technologies that protect lives, expand frontiers and prepare us for what’s next. And we’re doing that with people who are wired to solve, build, adapt and lead. These roles are not for the faint of heart.

You’ll help lay the foundation for humanity's future. Join a culture where innovation thrives, curiosity is rewarded, and impact is real. We’re a company of doers, thinkers and builders, united by purpose and grounded in reality.

If you want to put your skills to work where the stakes are real and the mission is bigger than any one person,forge the future with Voyager.

Job Summary:

The Systems Engineer - Project Engineer V serves as a senior technical authority and strategic integrator for high-complexity defense and aerospace programs. The individual provides technical direction and programmatic oversight across engineering disciplines, ensuring alignment of design, performance, and risk with mission and contractual requirements. The Level V engineer represents engineering leadership at the enterprise level, contributing to organizational strategy, process improvement, and technology development initiatives.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as chief project engineer or senior technical lead for large, multi-phase, or multi-contract defense and aerospace programs
• Define and guide system architecture, integration, and verification strategies aligned with customer and mission objectives
• Oversee engineering execution across multiple Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) and major subcontractors, ensuring technical, cost, and schedule compliance
• Lead technical baseline definition, configuration management, and system integration planning
• Chair or provide executive-level support for major design and integration reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and ensure readiness and compliance with technical performance metrics
• Serve as the primary engineering interface to executive management and DoD customers, supporting technical interchange meetings and milestone reviews
• Manage and approve Statements of Work (SOWs), subcontractor technical deliverables, and major supplier design inputs
• Develop and implement advanced risk and opportunity management frameworks across enterprise-level programs
• Provide mentorship, coaching, and technical oversight to project engineers and functional leads
• Support proposal development, cost estimation, and new business capture activities
• Guide and enforce adherence to systems engineering standards, model-based engineering practices, and configuration control
• Drive organizational engineering process improvements, knowledge management, and best practices

Required Qualifications:

• Must have or be able to obtain and maintain an active DoD Secret Clearance
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale, multi-disciplinary engineering projects through the full lifecycle—from concept development through verification, qualification, and delivery
• Proven ability to develop and execute technical strategies aligned with business and program objectives
• Exceptional leadership, influencing, and mentoring abilities across engineering, program management, and customer teams
• Strong technical depth and judgment to guide architecture-level decisions and complex trade studies
• Proactive, strategic thinker with a continuous improvement mindset and commitment to technical excellence and mission success
• Advanced knowledge of DoD acquisition frameworks, contract structures, and customer interface management

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in project engineering, systems engineering, or program-level technical leadership
• Proven experience managing large-scale DoD or MDA programs, including complex system integration and verification activities
• Demonstrated success as a Control Account Manager (CAM) and technical lead under EVMS-compliant contracts
• Deep understanding of DoD acquisition lifecycle (DoDI 5000 series) and MIL-STD systems engineering processes
• Experience overseeing major subcontractors, suppliers, and multi-disciplinary engineering teams
• Background in propulsion systems, flight vehicle integration, or complex electro-mechanical systems preferred
• Prior experience leading customer engagements, proposal efforts, and engineering process improvement initiatives

Education:

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in systems engineering, aerospace engineering, or related STEM field with 10 years of experience in project engineering OR Master’s degree in project engineering or related STEM filed with 8 years of experience OR 14 years of experience in project engineering in lieu of a degree OR High School Diploma or Equivalent

Skills:

• Advanced technical and organizational leadership skills, with the ability to manage ambiguity and competing priorities
• Expertise in system integration, verification planning, and risk-based engineering approaches
• Strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills—capable of engaging executive and customer audiences
• Proficient with engineering management and project planning tools (Microsoft Project, Primavera, or equivalent)
• Skilled in data-driven decision making, technical trade analysis, and configuration control
• Strong interpersonal skills for guiding and motivating diverse, high-performing teams
• Experienced with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Visio

Others:

• Must be able to travel approximately 10% of the time to support program and customer needs
• Must be comfortable working in secure or classified environments, as required
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven development environment
• Ability to balance multiple priorities across concurrent workstreams
• Committed to mission success, technical integrity, and collaborative execution in a national defense environment

Please click “Apply” to submit your application.

Voyager offers a comprehensive, total compensation package, which includes competitive salary, a discretionary annual bonus plan, paid time off (PTO), a comprehensive health benefit package, retirement savings, wellness program, and various other benefits.When you join our team, you’re not just an employee; you become part of a dynamic community dedicated to innovation and excellence.

Able to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

Voyager is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran

The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe the general content and requirements for performance of this job. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties, responsibilities, and requirements. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter the scope of work within the framework of this job description at any time without prior notice.

California pay range

$161,700—$199,400 USD

Nevada pay range

$153,615—$189,430 USD