UAS Senior Systems Engineer

This position offers FULLY REMOTE opportunities for candidates across the United States. Preferred location: Huntsville, Alabama

Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc offers advanced solutions to meet the most complex U.S. defense, security, space, and intelligence requirements. Celebrating over 50 years in the US, we remain a trusted government partner, leveraging world-class satellite, laser communication, rotor and fixed wing solutions to help our national security, defense and space focused customers meet their missions.

Airbus U.S. looks to employ a commitment driven team, dedicated to enabling our customer's mission success. We are committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment and a welcoming and engaging staff. With competitive compensation and superior employee benefits, as well as a commitment to fostering individual career growth, Airbus U.S. is the place where top talent wants to work.

Position Summary:

Lead or support the development and integration of a variety of payloads onto high altitude Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD) customers. Lead or support the UAS payload and engineering program execution through the full project lifecycle, from requirement development, architecture development and trades, specification development, requirements verification, compliance assessment, and operations.

Primary Responsibilities

UAS Systems Engineering - 80%

• Use Systems Engineering processes and principals to lead or support the integration of US Government (and other) payloads onto the Zephyr high altitude UAS.
  • Plan payload integration projects, provide overall payload system guidance to internal and external payload teams and the customer.
  • Oversee the mechanical, thermal, aerodynamic, communications, electrical, RF, ground support system, and software integration of payloads to the airframe including development of new systems to support payloads.
  • Communicate with US government and industrial partners to interface payloads onto the Zephyr high altitude UAV.
  • Manage engineering risks and prioritize risk mitigations.
  • Manage system and subsystem budgets.
  • Lead the development of subsystem level requirements and requirement flow-down to the various components and parts as necessary.
    • Work with engineering teams, subcontractors, vendors and suppliers to develop subsystems that meet requirements.
  • Conduct system level trade studies.
• Oversee development of required system and subsystem documentation for the full project lifecycle. Specifically, Interface Control Documents (ICD).
• Oversee completion of engineering gates such as the Systems Requirements Review (SRR), Preliminary Design Review (PDR), Critical Design Review (CDR), Test Review Boards (TRB), Flight Readiness Review (FRR).
• Develop and conduct system integration test plans; generate test reports.
• Provide on-site engineering support for engineering tests, final payload integration, and flight-testing activities including defect reporting and tracking.
• Act as subject matter expert (SME) for all things related to Zephyr high altitude UAS payload support subsystems.

Training & Development - 10%

• Assist with the creation engineering guidelines, processes, and procedures.
• Develop and mentor junior engineers in the areas of payloads, Zephyr, and system engineering principals.

Research & Planning - 10%

• Research new UAS technologies that apply to the US Government customer base.
• Propose application of new technology for Airbus provided payloads to increase their applicability to the US Government.
• Develop upstream requirements for the Zephyr UAS in support of future payload capabilities.
• Support payload technical proposal development.

Additional Responsibilities:

Other duties as assigned.

Qualified Experience / Skills / Training:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field or combination of education and experience.

Experience:

• 9+ years of relevant experience (w/ Bachelors), 7+ years w/ Masters, or 5+ years with a PhD.
• The ideal candidate will have 2+ years of experience focused on integration of avionics or payloads onto UAV/satellites.

Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities:

• The selected engineer shall be capable of working with and leading a multidisciplinary team and working without supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to lead engineering projects to achieve project goals.
• Prior experience of integration and test activities on remotely piloted systems (Satellite or UAV).
• The engineer shall have a well-rounded experience with and knowledge of many different engineering disciplines related to remotely piloted systems and payloads. Examples include structural, thermal, aerodynamic, serial/RF communications, electrical, RF, networking, software, GNC, flight test, and satcom.
• The engineer shall have a well-rounded experience with and knowledge of many different engineering test devices, tools, and procedures. Examples include multi-meters, oscilloscopes, thermistors/thermocouples, power supplies, spectrum analyzers, environmental chambers, thermal vacuum chambers, torque wrenches, load cells, and strain gauges.
• The engineer shall have a well-rounded experience with and knowledge of many different engineering software tools. Examples include CAD, Simulation Tools, and Excel.
• The selected engineer must have good attention to detail using methodical engineering, test, and fault-finding approaches.
• Capable of producing all levels of engineering documentation with particular emphasis on Requirements, ICDs, Test Plans, and Test Results.
• Ability to build and maintain strategic relationships with key partners and customers.
• Ability to work in a team and demonstrate good interpersonal skills.

Communication Skills (Spoken, Written, Influencing, Proficiency in Other Languages):

• Excellent verbal and technical writing skills.
• Ability to quickly ingest highly technical knowledge via verbal and written communication.

Travel Required:

• Up to 30% domestic and international.
• Occasionally, up to 3-week international deployments.

Eligibility:

• US citizenship is required.

Clearance:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Government security clearance mandatory.
• TS/SCI eligibility strongly preferred.

Decision Making, Complexity:

• A high degree of independent decision-making working directly with payload OEMs, customers, subject matter experts and taking on responsibility for the critical path component of a contract.
• Responsible for determining export classification and when working with the Trade/Compliance team is fundamental to being able to perform in this role.
• Culturally aware, working across US and European teams driving for consensus without authority.

Nature of Contacts:

Involved Communication on a frequent basis with internal and external parties.

Physical Requirements:

The position requires lifting and carrying equipment up to 30 pounds. This position requires speaking, hearing, and vision. This position requires fine manual dexterity when working with small aircraft components. This position requires frequent travel activities to partners, suppliers, and test sites.

Equal Opportunity:

Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc. is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an 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, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc. is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

As a leader in our field, Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc. provides relocation assistance for qualified positions and a comprehensive compensation and benefits package.

As a matter of policy, Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc. does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered.

Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc. does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Employment with Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc. is at will, meaning either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice.

Company Website: www.airbusus.com