System Architect

CAE USA; Arlington (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

Work-life balance

Professional development

Job summary

CAE USA offers an opportunity for a System Architect to shape training capabilities for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) operators in a defense-focused environment. The role requires integrating autonomous technologies with flight dynamics, avionics, and simulation tools, while coordinating across software, hardware, and cyber disciplines.

The successful candidate will lead MBSE-driven architecture efforts, ensure cybersecurity and interoperability compliance, and work with DoD standards to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Computer or Computer Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of systems engineering experience for military aircraft, CCA, mission systems, or advanced simulation/training systems.
• Experience with Autonomous Government Reference Architecture (A-GRA) and Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) mission and/or flight autonomy.
• Strong proficiency in MBSE practices and tools (Cameo/MagicDraw, Rhapsody, SysML).
• Proven ability to lead architecture development for complex, multidisciplinary systems.
• Experience with aircraft system integration, avionics interfaces, or mission system architectures.
• Understanding of DoD acquisition processes, MIL-STDs, and training system standards (AR/VR, DIS/HLA).
• Familiarity with aircraft communication standards (UDP/TCP, MIL-STD-1553, ARINC).

Responsibilities

• Lead the systems architecture design for CCA training programs, ensuring alignment with program objectives and evolving mission requirements.
• Apply AGRA principles to guide development, integration, and evaluation of autonomous training capabilities.
• Develop and maintain system interface definitions, integration frameworks, and operational concept artifacts for scalable and interoperable training solutions.
• Collaborate with operators, instructors, software developers, and stakeholders to translate training needs into system design requirements.
• Assess emerging autonomy technologies for applicability to CCA operator training systems.
• Support system-of-systems architectural planning, risk identification, and technical decision-making throughout the lifecycle.
• Ensure architectures meet cybersecurity, data governance, and interoperability standards for autonomy systems.
• Provide technical leadership during integration, testing, and validation across simulation, live, and blended training environments.
• Develop system models for requirements decomposition, system behaviors, interfaces, and verification strategies for simulation systems.
• Support trade studies, technology assessments, and design decisions for fidelity, interoperability, and scalability.
• Ensure architecture aligns with safety, cybersecurity, and DoD training system specs.

Skills

MBSE

System architecture

Architecture leadership

AGRA

Cameo/MagicDraw

Rhapsody

SysML

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Computer or Computer Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Tools

Cameo/MagicDraw

Rhapsody

ARINC/ MILSTD1553/ UDP-TCP

Job description

Who We Are:

• CAE Vision:Our vision is to be the worldwide partner of choice in defense and security, and civil aviation by revolutionizing our customers' training and critical operations with digitally immersive solutions to elevate safety,efficiencyand readiness.

• CAE Defense & Security Mission:CAE's Defense and Security business unit focuses on helping prepare military customers to develop andmaintainthe highest levels of mission readiness.

• CAE Values:Empowerment, Innovation, Excellence,IntegrityandOneCAEmake us who weareand we strive to make a difference in the world while helping each other succeed.

What We Have to Offer:

• Comprehensive and competitive benefits package and flexibility that promotes work-life balance

• A work environment where all employees are valued, respected and safe

• Freedom to succeed by enabling team members to deliver, take initiatives and make decisions

• Recognition, professional development, advancement and having fun!

Summary

CAE Defense & Security is seeking an experienced System Architect to support the development of training capabilities for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) operators. This role will play a key part in shaping the integration of advanced autonomy and training systems within our CCA training programs. The ideal candidate will bring hands‑on experience with the Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (AGRA) and a strong background in designing scalable, interoperable solutions that enable effective operator preparation in emerging autonomous mission environments. This role also involves collaborating with software developers, hardware engineers, cyber security and certification authorities to ensure seamless integration of flight dynamics, avionics, graphics, and user interfaces, while also managing scalability, maintainability, and cost. Strong knowledge of realtime systems, simulation theory, and industry standards is essential, along with experience in system modeling (MBSE), performance tuning, and cross-disciplinary project leadership.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Lead the systems architecture design for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) training programs, ensuring alignment with program objectives and evolving mission requirements.

• Apply Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (AGRA) principles to guide the development, integration, and evaluation of autonomous training capabilities.

• Develop and maintain system interface definitions, integration frameworks, and operational concept artifacts that support scalable and interoperable training solutions.

• Collaborate closely with operators, instructors, software developers, and program stakeholders to translate training needs into actionable system design requirements.

• Assess emerging autonomy technologies and determine their applicability to CCA operator training systems.

• Support system‑of‑systems architectural planning, risk identification, and technical decision‑making throughout the training capability lifecycle.

• Ensure architectures adhere to cybersecurity, data governance, and interoperability standards required for government autonomy systems.

• Provide technical leadership during system integration, test, and validation of training capabilities across simulation, live, and blended training environments.

• Develop and maintain system models supporting requirements decomposition, system behaviors, interface definitions, and verification strategies for simulation systems.

• Support trade studies, technology assessments, and system‑level design decisions for simulation fidelity, performance, interoperability, and scalability.

• Ensure system architecture aligns with compliance requirements including safety, cybersecurity, interoperability standards, and DoD training system specifications.

• Mentor engineering staff in MBSE best practices, digital model governance, and effective model‑based design processes.

• Participate in customer engagements, technical interchange meetings, design reviews, and program planning activities.

• Selects the appropriate technologies and tools that best meet system requirements, considering IRAD, future scalability, sustainability, and cost

• Creates the product line roadmap in compliance with the technology roadmap, reference architectures and functional product roadmaps

• Has awareness and helps coordinate new technology investment and insertion into product line based on customer needs

• Identifies technical risks and implement mitigation strategies to ensure simulator reliability and operator safety.

• Stays current with emerging simulation technologies, industry standards, and best practices; recommend and implement process improvements.

• Represents CAE USA at industry technical forums and customer oral presentations.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Computer or Computer Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

• Extensive experience (typically 8+ years) in systems engineering for military aircraft, CCA, mission systems, or advanced simulation/training systems.

• Development experience with Autonomous Government Reference Architecture (A-GRA) and Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) mission and/or flight autonomy

• Strong proficiency in MBSE practices and tools (such as Cameo/MagicDraw, Rhapsody, SysML).

• Proven ability to lead architecture development for complex, multidisciplinary systems.

• Experience with aircraft system integration, avionics interfaces, or mission system architectures.

• Strong understanding of systems engineering processes, interface control, verification and validation, and configuration management.

• Familiarity with DoD acquisition processes, MILSTDs, and training system standards (e.g., AR/VR training environments, DIS/HLA protocols).

• Familiarity with aircraft communication standards (UDP/TCP, MILSTD1553, ARINC)

Preferred Skills

• Master's degree in Systems Engineering or related discipline

• Experience with enterprise-wide MBSE application on a military aircraft program

• Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) or equivalent (e.g., INCOSE)

• Experience architecting highfidelity flight or mission simulation systems.

• Knowledge of digital engineering ecosystems, model traceability, and integrated digital threads.

• Familiarity with synthetic environments, constructive simulations, or distributed mission operations.

• Active Secret clearance

Security Responsibilities

Mustcomplywithall company security and data protection / usage policies and procedures. Personally responsible for proper marking and handling of all information and materials, in any form. Shall not divulge any information, or afford access, to other employees not having a need-to-know. Shall not divulge information outside company without management approval. All government and proprietary information will be accessed and stored electronically on company provided resources.

• Incumbent must be eligible for DoD Personal Security Clearance.

• Due to U.S. Government contract requirements, only U.S. citizens are eligible for this role.

Work Environment

• Duties performed in an office environment and manufacturing facility.

• Must be able to work overtime on andoff-shiftsasrequired.

• The employee is on call 24x7 for the resolution of problems and issues.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Ability to sit for extended periods of time

• Ability to stand for extended periods of time

• Ability to lift 25 lbs. to various heights

Salary

The actual compensation rate is subject to the evaluation of the following factors (but not limited to): the candidate's work experience, qualifications, skills, internal equity, and market.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover orcontain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for their job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

CAE USA Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to any protected characteristic, including disability and protected veteran status, as defined under federal, state, or local laws.

About CAE

At CAE, our mission is clear: to help make the world a safer place. For nearly 80 years, we've driven innovation in simulation, training, and mission readiness to support critical operations worldwide. By leveraging advanced technologies, we empower our customers to operate smarter, faster, and more sustainably. Join a purpose-driven organization where bold ideas are encouraged, collaboration drives progress, and your growth fuels our shared success.

Position Type Regular

Equal Opportunity Employer

Data Privacy

Privacy Statement | CAE

CAE is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.At CAE, everyone is welcome to contribute to our success.

As part of our process, we may use AIsupported tools to help review applications, with human decisionmaking at every step. CAE thanks all applicants for their interest. However, only those whose background and experience match the requirements of the role will be contacted.