Systems Project Engineer Quick Reaction Capabilities QRC

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.

We are seeking an experienced and driven Senior Systems / Project Engineer to join our Agile Mission Systems Quick Reaction Capabilities (QRC) team. This team rapidly delivers new capabilities to the field in response to urgent customer needs. We are looking for high-performing engineers who take full ownership, work with urgency, and are comfortable driving both technical and project outcomes.

Under limited direction, the Senior Systems / Project Engineer in the QRC group provides end-to-end project and technical leadership for capabilities that span software and hardware updates on GA-ASI Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and associated ground systems.

In this role, you will:

• Manage hardware/software development and system integration and test efforts.
• Oversee hardware design and integration.
• Support fielded systems and lead issue investigations.

To be effective, you must develop and maintain a strong understanding of the full unmanned aircraft system, including core avionics systems, aircraft flight controls, ground control station (GCS) architecture, datalinks, propulsion and fuel systems, video systems, communication systems, and various payloads. This role requires strong attention to detail and the ability to understand lower-level technical aspects (such as software behavior, interfaces, and hardware design details) while also stepping back to manage the overall project execution and present clear, high-level summaries to customers and internal leadership.

This position is ideal for a hands-on systems engineer and project leader who:

• Takes ownership of technical solutions, budgets, schedules, and outcomes.
• Can challenge and guide functional engineering disciplines using a solid understanding of the details.
• Can translate complex, system-wide technical information into concise, mission-focused updates for customers and stakeholders.
• Thrives in a fast-paced QRC environment with evolving requirements and aggressive timelines.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as the primary Systems / Project Engineer for QRC efforts from concept through development, integration, test, and field support/sustainment.
• Develop and maintain a working understanding of the full UAS (aircraft, GCS, datalinks, propulsion/fuel, video, communications, payloads) and cross-system impacts and dependencies.
• Manage software development and release cycles, including requirements definition, prioritization, coordination with software teams, integration/regression testing, and delivery to the field.
• Lead HMI feature development for ground and/or airborne systems, ensuring user needs and operational workflows are captured, implemented, and validated.
• Oversee hardware design and integration, coordinating with electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing engineering to ensure designs meet component and system-level requirements.
• Support fielded systems, including coordination and occasional participation in field activities, troubleshooting, and issue resolution; act as an engineering point of contact for field and customer support teams.
• Lead technical investigations for issues and anomalies: reproduce problems, drive root cause analysis and corrective actions, and verify fixes across the full system.
• Own systems engineering activities from requirements and architecture development through integration, verification, and validation, including requirements traceability and system analysis/trade studies to balance performance, cost, schedule, and mission objectives.
• Maintain/develop sufficient low-level technical understanding (software/hardware interfaces, message formats, HMI behaviors, control logic) to effectively guide and challenge functional engineering teams.
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans, schedules, and engineering cost estimates; track progress, manage risks and dependencies, and drive actions to keep efforts on track.
• Coordinate and lead integration and test activities (lab, ground, and flight as applicable), including test planning, procedure development, execution oversight, and results review.
• Prepare and deliver clear, concise technical and project status briefings for customers, program management, and senior leadership.
• Support or lead business development and proposal efforts for QRC capabilities, contributing to technical scope, engineering estimates, and schedules.
• Perform other duties as assigned or required.

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