Engineer IV

Company

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

Job Summary

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft and tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high-resolution surveillance systems.

Highlights Working For GA-ASI:

• This position is eligible for the Individual Compensation Program (ICP) bonus.
• This position is eligible for a hybrid work environment (up to 1 day/week remote work from home) pending project needs.
• Outstanding benefits including: 401(k) (with company match), company pension, on site cafeterias, gyms and outdoor recreation centers, Employee Recreation Association (ERA) which gives unlimited access to events and amusement parks such as San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.
• Outstanding work environment: team-centric, value and respect all contributors, great growth potential within GA-ASI project engineering and GA-ASI as a whole.

We have an exciting opportunity located in Poway, CA for a mid-level Project Engineer working on the MQ-9B Payloads UAS Engineering Team. 

In this position, you will work with cross-functional teams to develop, integrate, and test payloads sub-systems onto the MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAS for domestic and international customers.  MQ-9B SeaGuardian is a highly versatile and modular intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft. The team supports a wide array of payloads including multi-domain radars, signals intelligence capabilities, EO/IR, and more. 

This position will report to the MQ-9B Payloads engineering supervisor and be part of the larger MQ-9B SeaGuardian Project Engineering team.  Under general supervision with limited review, this position is responsible for determining and developing effective approaches for resolving a wide range of difficult engineering problems.  The candidate will represent the company as a technical subject matter expert on projects, interact with key suppliers, and lead execution of program activities.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Take technical ownership of MQ-9B payloads throughout integration, testing, and production.
• Coordinate prototype and low-rate production for new payload assemblies and support aircraft integration & system test through demonstration.
• Define payload development milestones, lead technical design reviews, and manage engineering risks.
• Work at the intersection of hardware and software to develop and maintain a robust system architecture.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and program managers to secure resources needed to meet project goals.
• Support remote troubleshooting and operations of deployed payloads.
• Conduct hands-on, in-field testing.
• Develop procedures for in-field payload software loading, network configuration, and product testing.
• Create and execute payload verification and validation plans for end-to-end system performance.
• 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.

Travel Percentage Required

0% – 25%

Clearance Level

Secret

Clearance Required?

Desired

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. 
• Must have a complete understanding of engineering concepts, principles, codes, and theory; experience demonstrating a broad application of those concepts; and, expanding knowledge of principles, concepts, theory, and practices in related technical specialties.
• Must possess the ability to understand new concepts quickly; apply them accurately throughout an evolving environment; organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases; and, determine the appropriate approach at the task level or, with assistance, at the project level to provide solutions to a range of complex problems.
• Must have excellent communication, computer, documentation, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Able to perform complex tasks in one engineering area; and, lead a team of less experienced professional employees on semi-routine tasks.
• Able to work extended hours as required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven experience in senior role leading system design and development from concept through testing and delivery.
• Background in rapid prototyping, early-stage customer deployment, and troubleshooting.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams through design trade-offs while meeting program deadlines.
• Experience engaging with mechanical, electrical, software, and system test teams.
• Willingness to travel for test execution, supplier meetings, and customer site support as needed.
• Strong organizational skills with keen attention to detail, along with excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
• Basic understanding of aerodynamics, sensor navigation data, and networking.
• Basic proficiency with navigating Linux and command line interface (CLI) based systems.

US Citizenship Required?

Yes