Systems Engineer, Space Systems

General Atomics; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 171,000; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics (GA) Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) seeks a Systems Engineer for its Herndon, VA office. The role spans from system architecture to integration, with emphasis on spacecraft payload and advanced electrical and cyber capabilities for national security customers.

Responsibilities include leading technical initiatives, coordinating with DoD and IC stakeholders, and guiding deployment, testing, and documentation while maintaining strict confidentiality.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering or a related field with progressive experience.
• Demonstrates detailed and extensive technical expertise with ability to plan, schedule, and coordinate workloads.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to interface with departments, customers, and government representatives.
• Real-world experience with system architecture, requirements tracking, budgets, and system-level analyses.

Responsibilities

• Formulates long-term plans for solution development, documentation, and deployment across compliance and safety standards.
• Evaluates integration of the engineering solution within the environment and ensures documentation, testing, and maintenance are completed.
• Represents the company as a prime technical contact on contracts and projects; coordinates with external personnel and internal teams.
• Determines technical objectives for advanced engineering problems and guides deployment and testing.
• Maintains confidentiality of sensitive information and ensures safety in operations.

Skills

Systems engineering

Orbital dynamics

Project leadership

Communication skills

Lead cross-functional teams

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree in Engineering

PhD in Engineering

Tools

Spacecraft modelling tools

Requirements tracking tools

Job description

Job Summary

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world's leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs and manufactures first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS' expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions support critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide. We have an exciting opportunity for a Systems Engineer in our Herndon, VA office which is part of our Electromagnetic Systems group. The Herndon team provides innovative, cutting-edge, security solutions for the United States Government. Our employees provide a multi-disciplinary, sometimes non-traditional, approach to generate innovative solutions to incredibly challenging technical problems in the national security arena. Our areas of expertise are in spacecraft payload and system development (especially in the confines of implementing very large amounts of functionality in extremely small, power-constrained environments); unique system development; ground control and operational software development; embedded software development; and unique cyber capabilities. Key customers include the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. With limited direction, this position exercises considerable latitude in determining technical objectives for the review, research, design, development, and/or solution(s) for a designated engineering system(s) or project(s)/program(s). May function in an advisory or project leadership role providing direction to experienced professional staff.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Formulates plans, typically long term, for solution(s) development, documentation, and deployment, as well as meeting various compliance, reporting, and safety standards.
• Evaluates the integration of the engineering solution within the overall engineering environment; and ensures that appropriate documentation, testing, maintenance, and engineering updates completed.
• Communicates with engineering professionals, solution users, and management throughout the solution development cycle, represents the company as a prime technical contact on contracts and/or projects, interacts with senior external personnel on technical matters requiring coordination between the organizations, and participates in the development of new or expansion of existing business.
• Determines technical objectives for solution(s) to advanced technical engineering problems.
• Represents the organization as a prime technical contact within and engineering team for assigned project(s)/program(s).
• Formulates plans and guides the development and implementation of engineering solution(s) including deployment, resource requirements, testing, documentation, integration and compliance and safety.
• Plans and coordinates the maintenance of engineering solutions including, documentation, reporting, publishing, and making technical and other presentations to ensure viability of the solution(s) in an evolving environment.
• Maintains the strict confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Responsible for observing all laws, regulations and other applicable obligations wherever and whenever business is conducted on behalf of the Company.
• Expected to work in a safe manner in accordance with established operating procedures and practices.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; six or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, four or more years of experience with a masters degree, or two or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
• Demonstrates a detailed and extensive technical expertise and application of engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice with the ability to organize, plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones with some experience in project leadership.
• Must possess the ability to understand new concepts quickly and apply them accurately throughout an evolving environment; strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills to effectively interface with other departments, customers, government representatives, and/or professionals; the capability of representing the organization as a prime technical contact; and, the ability to provide leadership and guidance to less experienced professionals.
• Real-world experience with system architecture, requirements tracking, developing and tracking system budgets, and performing system-level analyses in support of trade studies.
• Experience with orbital dynamics, attitude control systems, orbital visualization, and other spacecraft modelling tools.
• Understanding of principles for spacecraft design, build, test, and operation.
• Experience with CONOPS design and mission modeling.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills are required enabling an effective leadership interface with other departments, all levels of management, professional and support staff, customers, potential customers, and government representatives.
• Customer focused, formulates plans based on the development of innovative new designs in resolving advanced technical engineering problems.
• Must be able to work on a self-initiated basis and in a team environment.
• Able to work extended hours as required.
• US Citizenship is required as is the ability to maintain a Top Secret Security Clearance.

Job Type

Full-Time Salary

Salary Range

99,500 - 170,750