Systems Engineer 3

PDS Defense, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 178,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Direct deposit

401(k)

Paid holidays

Short-term disability

Skills training

Employee referral bonus

Affordable medical coverage plan

DailyPay

Job summary

PDS Defense, Inc. in San Diego, CA is seeking a Systems Engineer 3 to support airworthiness certification efforts across multiple air vehicle platforms.

The role focuses on developing plans, bases of certification, and means of compliance to meet program needs throughout the product lifecycle. The successful candidate will have DoD Secret clearance eligibility, strong experience in airworthiness, and the ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative team environment with cross-disciplinary

Qualifications

• Requires a STEM Bachelor’s degree minimum; advanced degrees preferred for higher seniority.
• Experience leading airworthiness planning and Basis of Certification.
• Familiarity with UAS/RPAS airworthiness authorizations and type certifications is a plus.
• Ability to obtain DoD Secret clearance within a reasonable time frame.

Responsibilities

• Develop airworthiness plans, bases of certification, and means of compliance for complex systems.
• Coordinate with IPT/REs and internal disciplines across design, fabrication, test, and operation.
• Translate customer requirements into criteria and derived requirements throughout the product lifecycle.
• Maintain Type Design Data and airworthiness evidence for certification programs.

Skills

MIL-HDBK-516D familiarity

DoD Secret clearance eligibility

Education

Bachelor of Science in STEM with 5+ years experience

Master of Science with 3+ years experience

PhD with 1 year experience

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Word

SharePoint

Job description

Engineering

Systems Engineer 3 San Diego, CA Posted: 10/20/2026

Job Description

Job ID#: 226835

Job Category: Engineering

Position Type: Associate - W2

Duration: 52

Shift: 1

PDS Defense, Inc. is seeking a Systems Engineer 3, in San Diego, CA. Job ID#226835

Pay Rate: $129 - $134/hr

Job Description:

The Principal Airworthiness Engineer will be working within the Airworthiness Engineering Directorate supporting certification efforts on various air vehicle platforms. The selected candidate will ensure the logical and systematic realization of customer airworthiness certification objectives into system solutions to meet program needs throughout the product lifecycle (e.g. Flight Releases, Type Certification, continued airworthiness, and operation of airspace integration). The successful candidate will thrive in a fast-paced work environment with high expectations, significantly diverse assignments, and collaborative/team settings across all levels.

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Performs technical airworthiness planning and verification support including development and negotiation of airworthiness plans, bases of certification, means of compliance, and other certification activities for complex total systems with IPT/REs as well as customer counterparts.
• Reviews and coordinates with other airworthiness engineers as well as internal engineering disciplines performed across the total system to include design, fabrication, test, installation, operation, maintenance and disposal.
• Performs functional and process analyses, requirements allocation and definition studies to translate customer requirements into criteria and derived requirements. Ensures the logical and systematic realization of customer airworthiness certification objectives into system solutions to meet program needs throughout the product lifecycle (e.g. Flight releases, Type certification, continued airworthiness, operations, and airspace integration).
• Responsible for managing and maintaining Type Design Data and airworthiness evidence in support of a Military Type Certification and Air System Continued & Continuing Airworthiness as a member of the technical AW staff in a System Design Responsible company.

The selected candidate should thrive in a fast-paced work environment with high expectations, significantly diverse assignments, collaborative/team settings across all levels.

Basic Qualifications:

• Principal: Bachelor of Science in a STEM discipline with 5 years of related experience; OR Master of Science with 3 years of related experience; OR Ph.D. with 1 year of related experience
• Familiarity of MIL-HDBK-516D
• Work experience leading the development of Airworthiness plans, a Basis of Certification, and related activities
• Work experience with UAS/RPAS airworthiness authorizations and type certifications
• Ability to obtain a DoD Secret clearance within a reasonable amount of time, as determined by business needs

Preferred Qualifications:

• Military aircraft development or modification experience
• Ability to initiate Airworthiness Certification process improvement initiatives
• DoD and Civil Airworthiness Experience
• Work experience and familiarity with UAS/RPAS
• Design and Systems Engineering experience in one or more of the following areas: Structures, Flight Technology, Air Vehicle Subsystems, Avionics, Mission Payload Integration, System Safety, Flight Test, Configuration Management
• Experience with USAF Airworthiness Policy Directives, Instructions, and Airworthiness Bulletins (AWB)
• Control Account Management (CAM) and Earned Value Management System (EVMS) experience including Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) planning and tracking, Earned Value reporting, variance analysis, and Estimate at Complete (EAC) forecasting.
• Interactions with airworthiness authorities US DoD, or civil authorities
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Powerpoint, Word and SharePoint
• A current active U.S. Government in-scope DoD Secret security clearance or higher and the ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access (PAR/SAP).

Benefits offered to vary by the contract.

Benefits offered to vary by the contract. Depending on your temporary assignment, benefits may include direct deposit, free career counseling services, 401(k), select paid holidays, short-term disability insurance, skills training, employee referral bonus, affordable medical coverage plan, and DailyPay (in some locations). For a full description of benefits available to you, be sure to talk with your recruiter.

• direct deposit
• free career counseling services
• 401(k)
• select paid holidays
• short-term disability insurance
• skills training
• employee referral bonus
• affordable medical coverage plan
• DailyPay (in some locations)

Job Requirements

Minimum Security Clearance: Secret

Military connected talent encouraged to apply.

VEVRAA Federal Contractor / Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals / Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visit http://www.tadpgs.com/candidate-privacy/ or https://pdsdefense.com/candidate-privacy/

• The California Fair Chance Act
• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance
• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

VEVRAA Federal Contractor / Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals / Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled