Systems Architect Engineer 4 (VA) - 29420

Huntington Ingalls Industries; Virginia Beach (VA); On-site; USD 118,372 - 169,104; Full time

Job summary

HII Unmanned Systems is seeking a Perception Architect to design and integrate sensor perception across maritime platforms, including REMUS and ROMULUS. You will craft architectures for AI/ML pipelines, sensor fusion, and edge deployments to meet mission requirements.

Responsibilities include developing interfaces for autonomous sensors, collaborating with customers to capture requirements, and maturing system designs through simulation and field testing.

Qualifications

• Minimum 9 years relevant experience with a Bachelor’s degree; 7 years with a Master’s; 4 years with a PhD; or 13 years with a high school diploma or equivalent.
• MS or PhD in Computer Engineering, Robotic Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent, or 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Prior experience with software development.
• Prior experience with autonomous platforms.
• Understanding of multiple sensor modalities and underlying physics (e.g., EO, IR, lidar, radar, sonar, acoustics).
• Understanding of detection, classification, and identification phenomenology.
• Experience training and deploying ML algorithms (Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow).
• Experience with estimation, tracking, and fusion algorithms.

Responsibilities

• Architect and adapt cutting‑edge AI/ML algorithms running on the Odyssey perception autonomy stack.
• Architect real‑time tracking and sensor fusion systems.
• Create interfacing software to autonomously control sensors.
• Interact with customers to understand their use cases and requirements.
• Drive execution of simulation tooling to exercise perception pipelines.
• Build and optimize AI/ML pipelines on edge hardware.
• Participate in field testing and rapid hardware iteration.

Skills

ML algorithms

Sensor fusion

Real-time systems

Autonomous platforms

Edge computing

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

System architecture

Education

MS/PhD in Computer Engineering/Robotics/CS or equivalent

Bachelor’s degree + 9+ years experience

High school diploma + 13+ years experience

Tools

Odyssey perception autonomy stack

Real-time systems toolkit

Job description

Position Overview

HII Unmanned Systems is seeking a Perception Architect to join the Maritime Autonomy/AI Team. The role involves architecting, developing, integrating, and maintaining sensor perception capabilities deployed across HII’s range of maritime platforms, including the REMUS and ROMULUS platforms.

Responsibilities

• Architect and adapt cutting‑edge AI/ML algorithms running on the Odyssey perception autonomy stack.
• Architect real‑time tracking and sensor fusion systems.
• Create interfacing software to autonomously control sensors.
• Interact with customers to understand their use cases and requirements.
• Drive execution of simulation tooling to exercise perception pipelines.
• Build and optimize AI/ML pipelines on edge hardware.
• Participate in field testing and rapid hardware iteration.

What You Will Be Doing

Design and develop system architectures, define key capabilities and performance requirements, and establish total systems design and technology maturity constraints in accordance with mission requirements. Develop system element architecture, design and interface definitions, and operational concepts. Create models and architectural guidelines for current and future system development.

Qualifications

• Minimum 9 years relevant experience with a Bachelor’s degree; 7 years with a Master’s; 4 years with a PhD; or 13 years with a high school diploma or equivalent.
• MS or PhD in Computer Engineering, Robotic Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent, or 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Prior experience with software development.
• Prior experience with autonomous platforms.
• Understanding of multiple sensor modalities and underlying physics (e.g., EO, IR, lidar, radar, sonar, acoustics).
• Understanding of detection, classification, and identification phenomenology.
• Experience training and deploying ML algorithms (Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow).
• Experience with estimation, tracking, and fusion algorithms.

Bonus Points For

• Strong tracking and sensor fusion background.
• Experience with maritime platforms.
• Current U.S. SECRET security clearance.

Physical Requirements

May require working in an office, industrial, shipboard, or laboratory environment. Capable of climbing ladders and tolerating confined spaces and extreme temperature variations.

Salary Range

$118,372.00–$169,104.00

Benefits

Competitive benefits including best‑in‑class medical, dental, and vision plans; wellness resources; employee assistance programs; 401(k) savings plan; financial planning tools; life insurance; employee discounts; paid holidays; paid time off; tuition reimbursement; early childhood and post‑secondary education scholarships. Non‑recurring compensation may be offered for qualified positions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.

Reasonable Accommodations

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e‑mail to [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.