Principal EO/IR Systems Engineer

Accountabilities

• • Design and develop EO/IR system architectures, including hardware/software integration, testing, certification, and requirements analysis.
  • Decompose, derive, allocate, tailor, document, and trace requirements from the system level through component-level architectures.
  • Conduct architecture trade studies, performance analyses, technology readiness assessments, and evaluations of current and emerging supplier technologies.
  • Apply model-based systems engineering (MBSE) practices to capture system requirements, interfaces, behaviors, structures, and parametric relationships.
  • Develop and maintain supplier documentation, performance-based specifications, statements of work, evaluation criteria, and technical assessment materials.
  • Provide technical management and oversight of strategic suppliers and partners throughout acquisition, acceptance, qualification, integration, and testing.
  • Review supplier development documentation and participate in technical interchange meetings, design reviews, and technical evaluations.
  • Plan and execute laboratory, ground, and flight testing to verify and validate subsystem requirements, troubleshoot hardware, and support final system sell-off.
  • Collaborate with mission planning and engineering teams to integrate solutions aligned with platform and mission objectives.
  • Lead technical discussions with customers, management, suppliers, and cross-functional teams while proactively identifying risks, issues, dependencies, and opportunities.
  • Apply strong technical leadership and systems thinking to understand how engineering decisions affect broader program objectives and adjacent teams.

  Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with at least 5 years of related professional or military engineering experience; alternatively, a Master’s degree with 3 years of relevant experience or a Ph.D. with 1 year of relevant experience.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of EO/IR phenomenology and experience working with electro-optical or infrared systems.
  • Proven experience decomposing, deriving, allocating, and tracing technical requirements across system and component levels.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with technical, programmatic, customer, and supplier stakeholders.
  • Experience working collaboratively within multidisciplinary engineering teams and navigating complex technical environments.
  • Strong problem-solving, troubleshooting, analytical, and decision-making capabilities, with the ability to quickly assimilate new concepts and work independently.
  • Experience with EO/IR system or atmospheric modeling, laboratory testing, hardware/software verification, or concept development is highly desirable.
  • Familiarity with MBSE and SysML tools such as Cameo, as well as collaboration platforms such as Jira and Confluence, is preferred.
  • Experience with Agile development, engineering activity scheduling, technical proposal development, and supplier/subcontract management is advantageous.
  • Experience developing supplier specifications and evaluation criteria, conducting technical assessments, and supporting supplier design reviews is preferred.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance and any required program access; U.S. citizenship is required for positions requiring government clearance.
  • Willingness to work on-site in Melbourne, Florida, and travel approximately 10% of the time.

  Benefits

  • Salary: $98,400–$147,600 annual base salary, with actual compensation determined by experience, education, skills, responsibilities, and market conditions.
  • Additional compensation: Certain positions may offer overtime, shift differentials, and discretionary performance-based bonuses.
  • Work schedule: 9/80 schedule, providing every other Friday off.
  • Paid time off: Vacation/personal PTO and company-paid holidays.
  • Healthcare: Health insurance coverage, along with life and disability insurance options.
  • Retirement: Savings plan and additional retirement benefits.
  • Relocation: Relocation assistance may be available for eligible candidates.
  • Career development: Opportunity to work on advanced aerospace technologies alongside multidisciplinary engineering and scientific teams.
  • Work environment: On-site professional environment in Melbourne, Florida, with opportunities to contribute to technically complex and mission-critical programs.