Systems Engineer Senior - sUAS Autonomy

Serve as the lead technical authority for a pivotal U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) autonomy program. We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Systems Engineer to lead the systems engineering of a common autonomy architecture and drive its technical integration into a variety of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). As the chief technical counterpart to the Program Manager, you will be responsible for the design, integration, and validation of the Framework of Autonomous Networked Tactical Open Modules (FANTOM) architecture.

This is a hands-on engineering role at the center of a fast-paced, innovative ecosystem. You will translate strategic goals into technical reality, ensuring that cutting-edge autonomy software is successfully deployed on platforms used by Special Operations Forces (SOF) within the Assured Airborne Engagement (A2E) program and beyond.

Core Responsibilities:

Autonomy Architecture & Systems Engineering

• Lead the systems engineering lifecycle for the FANTOM autonomy architecture, including requirements analysis, system design, and the development of a technical roadmap.
• Define and maintain the open architecture standards, system specifications, and Interface Control Documents (ICDs) to ensure modularity and interoperability.
• Serve as the primary technical authority, making critical design decisions and ensuring the architectural integrity of the system as it evolves.

Hands-On sUAS Integration

• Lead the hands-on technical integration of FANTOM autonomy software services onto multiple sUAS platforms.
• Develop and execute detailed integration plans, troubleshoot complex hardware and software interface issues, and conduct testing in both lab and field environments.
• Collaborate directly with platform vendors and government teams to ensure successful and resilient integration.

System Validation & Test Oversight

• Design and implement comprehensive test and evaluation strategies to perform Verification and Validation (V&V) of the autonomy system at every stage of integration.
• Provide technical oversight for testing activities, analyze performance data, and ensure all system requirements and safety standards are met.
• Work with the Autonomy Test Lead to mature simulation environments and hardware-in-the-loop testbeds.

Technical Collaboration & Mentorship

• Serve as the primary technical liaison between the program office and engineering teams at partner organizations, including GTRI, AFRL, and various industry vendors.
• Translate high-level operational requirements into concrete technical tasks for the development and integration teams.
• Provide technical mentorship to other engineers, conduct peer reviews of designs and software, and foster a culture of technical excellence.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• 18 years of experience in systems engineering, integration, and/or software development for complex aerospace or defense systems.
• Strong, demonstrated understanding of the full systems engineering lifecycle (e.g., requirements decomposition, system design, integration, V&V).
• Experience working with agile development methodologies in a hardware/software integration environment.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively to both engineering teams and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience with government/DoD acquisition programs and engineering processes.

Desired Qualifications:

• A Master's degree in a relevant technical field and 10 years of experience in systems engineering, integration, and/or software development for complex aerospace or defense systems.
• Direct experience with autonomy architectures, robotics (e.g., ROS), or unmanned systems (UxS).
• Proven experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools and practices.
• Hands-on experience with sUAS platforms, C2 systems (e.g., ATAK), and their associated software/hardware interfaces.
• Familiarity with data communication technologies related to encryption, RF radios, and wide/local area networking solutions.
• Knowledge of open architectures and standards (e.g., OMS/UCI).
• Experience with C++, Python, DevOps/MLOps pipelines, and simulation environments.

#LI-BH1

#MTSI

#MTSIJobs