Staff Defense Hardware Systems Engineer — Lead Architect

CHAOS Industries; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits 100% paid by company

401k with company match

Relocation assistance

Free daily lunch

No meeting Fridays

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

CHAOS Industries is seeking a Staff Hardware Systems Engineer to lead the development of next‑generation defense systems from concept to field deployment. You will translate mission needs into robust hardware architectures and drive cross‑functional execution onsite in El Segundo, CA.

The role requires deep technical credibility, proven leadership in delivering complex hardware in fast‑paced programs, and ability to solve tough tradeoffs across mechanical, electrical, RF, software, and test

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field with 8+ years of relevant engineering experience.
• Background in space systems, missile systems, avionics, radar, EW, or defense electronics.
• Strong understanding of system architecture, interface definition, and engineering tradeoffs.
• Proven technical leadership within multidisciplinary engineering teams delivering complex hardware products in a fast‑paced development environment.
• Experience performing system architecture trade studies and allocating system and hardware requirements.
• Strong attention to detail and execution.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Support a small cross‑functional hardware development team, establishing technical priorities and driving execution from concept through production.
• Support hardware systems engineering from early product definition through architecture, requirements, qualification, production, and lifecycle support.
• Define system architectures and allocate functionality across mechanical, electrical, RF, software, and test subsystems.
• Define and coordinate internal and external interfaces.
• Support system‑level trade studies balancing performance, SWaP‑C, manufacturability, reliability, schedule, and cost.
• Make timely technical decisions under ambiguity while balancing mission performance, risk, schedule, manufacturability, and cost.
• Develop new product concepts and support proposals and technology demonstrations.
• Identify technical risks early and drive practical mitigation strategies.
• Support technical reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR.
• Personally contribute to critical engineering work as needed to ensure team and program success.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, suppliers, and test teams to mature designs into production.

Skills

System architecture

Engineering leadership

Trade studies

Security clearance

Defense electronics

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's degree in engineering (preferred)

Tools

DOORS

Jama

Cameo

MagicDraw

SysML

Job description

CHAOS Industries is seeking a Staff Hardware Systems Engineer to lead the development of next‑generation defense systems from concept to field deployment. You will translate mission needs into robust hardware architectures and drive cross‑functional execution onsite in El Segundo, CA.

The role requires deep technical credibility, proven leadership in delivering complex hardware in fast‑paced programs, and ability to solve tough tradeoffs across mechanical, electrical, RF, software, and test