Sr Project Engineer

Sierra Nevada Corporation; Hagerstown (MD); On-site; USD 181,000 - 249,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive pay

Medical, dental, vision plans

401(k) with 150% match

3 weeks paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Sierra Nevada Corporation is seeking a Program Engineer II to lead RAPCON‑X derived programs, coordinating cross‑functional teams from prototype to production. You will provide engineering leadership, integration oversight, and risk management across multi‑disciplinary efforts in a hybrid office environment.

The role supports the IRS Platform development, requires a Top Secret clearance, and offers opportunities to influence next‑generation ISR capabilities for global operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field required.
• 12+ years in engineering roles with 4+ years in a leadership capacity.
• Advanced understanding of engineering principles, design, and integration.
• Ability to obtain and maintain U.S. Top Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Project Management: develop and manage plans, schedules, and budgets for RAPCON-X programs.
• Technical Oversight: guide RAPCON-X derived capabilities into baselines; oversee design maturity.
• Customer Interface: act as technical point of contact for follow-on RAPCON-X programs.
• Status Reporting: provide progress, risk, and integration insights to stakeholders.
• Issue Resolution: identify design/integration issues and coordinate mitigations.
• Continuous Improvement: apply best practices in system design and engineering workflows.
• Risk Management: identify, document, and mitigate technical risks across teams.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Requirements management

System design

System integration

Risk management

Customer interface

Clearance eligible

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

INCOSE standard

Job description

SNC is redefining the future of airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (A‐ISR) — and RAPCON‐X is at the center of that transformation. RAPCON‐X has already demonstrated itself as a disruptive, next‐generation ISR platform, delivering unmatched flexibility, performance, and survivability in near‐peer environments. Its digitally born architecture, MBSE-driven design, and modular, sensor‐agnostic approach create a platform capable of rapid evolution and mission‐specific configuration without aircraft redesign. As a Program Engineer II supporting programs derived from the RAPCON‐X prototype, you’ll help guide this cutting‐edge capability from prototype success into fully realized operational programs. You will provide engineering leadership, integration coordination, risk management support, and technical oversight as RAPCON‐X‐derived systems mature and transition into fielded customer solutions. This role also plays a key part in the development and integration of SNC’s next‐generation IRS (Inertial Reference System) Platform — a critical subsystem that enhances navigation accuracy, mission reliability, and overall ISR performance. Built on a modern commercial‐derivative aircraft and engineered for global operations, RAPCON‐X offers exceptional range, endurance, reliability, and readiness for Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE) to bolster survivability in complex, peer‐to‐peer threat environments. RAPCON‐X has successfully completed major flight‐test milestones, validated its full flight‐envelope performance, and continues to demonstrate readiness to deliver rapid, adaptable ISR capability worldwide. In this role, you won’t just support a program — you’ll help engineer the future of A‐ISR. This position is ideal for technical professionals who want to work at the intersection of systems engineering, program execution, and rapid innovation, contributing to modular, rapidly reconfigurable ISR capabilities that deliver an asymmetric advantage in modern operational environments. To learn more about RAPCON‐X, visit: https://www.sncorp.com/capabilities/rapcon-x-aerial-isr/The Mission Solutions and Technologies (MST) business area provides affordable, turn-key command/control, communications, integrated ISR, force protection and security solutions worldwide. The MST team has a long legacy of supporting the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, commercial and international customers with years of experience in platform operations, engineering and full lifecycle management across domains – air, land, sea, space and cyber.**Responsibilities:** **Project Management*** Develop and manage detailed project plans, schedules, and budgets for programs stemming from the RAPCON‐X prototype.* Coordinate cross‐functional engineering and integration activities supporting next‐gen IRS Platform development and prototype-to-production transitions.**Technical Oversight*** Provide technical guidance to engineering teams maturing RAPCON‐X-derived capabilities into operational program baselines.* Oversee engineering analysis, system integration, and design maturity of next‐generation IRS subsystems.**Customer Interface*** Serve as a key technical point of contact for external customers engaged in follow‐on RAPCON‐X programs.* Translate customer requirements into actionable engineering tasks and clearly communicate system decisions, progress, and impacts.**Status Reporting*** Prepare detailed technical and program status reports, including progress updates, risk assessments, and system integration insights.* Communicate complex technical information clearly to both internal stakeholders and external program partners.**Issue Resolution*** Identify issues related to design integration, prototype maturation, or system performance.* Develop resolution plans, coordinate engineering investigations, and implement mitigation strategies.**Continuous Improvement*** Seek opportunities to improve engineering processes and strengthen execution across RAPCON‐X‐derived programs.* Implement best practices in system design, integration, modeling, and engineering workflow optimization.**Risk Management*** Support risk identification, documentation, and mitigation planning across multi‐disciplinary teams.* Track technical risks impacting schedule, cost, and performance as systems progress from prototype to production maturity. **Qualifications You Must Have:*** Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field.* 12+ years experience in engineering roles with at least 4+ years in a leadership role.* Higher level relevant degree may substitute for experience.* Advanced knowledge of engineering principles and practice.* Experience working in multi-disciplinary design and development team.* Comprehensive understanding of requirements management, system design, and integration.* Ability to obtain and maintain United States Top Secret security clearance **Qualifications We Prefer:*** 6-8 years relevant leadership and/or project management experience.* Master's degree preferred.* Experience leading a multi-disciplinary design and development team and communicating with program management and customers.* Familiarity with preparation and development of project estimates, technical proposals, and program cost and schedule management.* Past history of leading baseline definition and maturation in a complex development setting, including the use of highly integrated trade studies and analysis of alternative.* Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and schematics, parts lists, specifications, instructions, and test procedure.* Experience or certification in International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) standard.* Background in the Aerospace and Defense Industry. **Essential Functions:*** Occasional travel to customer or field locations may be required.* Ability to work primarily in an office or hybrid environment.* Ability to lift up to 10 pounds occasionally.* Prolonged periods of working on a computer.* Hand and finger dexterity for computer use.* Capability to work in potentially hazardous environments when visiting project sites.This posting will be open for application for a minimum of 5 days and may be extended based on business needs.Estimated Starting Salary Range: $181,136.21 - $249,062.29. Compensation varies depending on a wide array of factors, such as candidates' key skills, relevant work experience, and education/training/certifications. The disclosed range estimate may be adjusted for any applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.SNC offers annual incentive pay based upon performance that is commensurate with the level of the position.SNC offers a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more.**IMPORTANT NOTICE:**This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret U.S. Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. Citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance. The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination include, but are not limited to, allegiance to the U.S., foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations and illegal drug use.Learn more about the background check process for Security Clearances.SNC is a global leader in aerospace and national security committed to moving the American Dream forward. We’re known and respected for our mission and execution focus, agility, and disruptive and rapid innovation. We provide leading edge technologies and transformative solutions that support our nation’s most critical security needs. If you are mission-focused, thrive in collaborative environments, and want to make our country stronger with state-of-the-art technologies that safeguard freedom, join our team!SNC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an environment free of discrimination. Employment decisions are made based on merit without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.