Autonomous Systems Project Engineer- Launched Effects

Integration Innovation • Huntsville, AL

2d

About The Position

Integration Innovation, Inc. (i3) is seeking an Autonomous Systems Project Engineer to lead the development, integration, and flight-testing of next-generation uncrewed Launched Effects platforms. The role carries technical accountability across vendor platforms, covering rapid prototyping, hardware-in-the-loop verification, flight demonstrations, and low-rate production. The position focuses on autonomous systems, edge AI compute, dynamic networking, and sensor-to-shooter integration, with an emphasis on hands-on engineering, rapid iteration, and delivering operational capability.

The engineer leads integration of autonomous technologies and modular payloads, applies open-architecture principles, manages vendor technical baselines and delivery milestones, and supports rapid acquisition and contracting activities. The role also leads anomaly investigations and communicates technical findings, risks, and trade-offs to program leadership and senior military stakeholders.

The position requires regular work at i3's stated schedule of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Additional hours may occasionally be required. Regular and punctual attendance is required. The work has physical demands that include regularly talking or hearing; frequently standing, walking, handling or feeling, and reaching; occasionally sitting, climbing or balancing, and stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling; and lifting or moving up to 10 pounds, with occasional lifting or moving up to 25 pounds.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, Systems, or a related field; additional years of experience may substitute for the degree.
• At least five years of related experience.
• Demonstrated technical literacy in uncrewed systems, autonomous flight dynamics, robotics, edge computing, or embedded systems.
• Proven ability to identify complex engineering risks, isolate root causes, and lead multidisciplinary Integrated Product Teams through resolution.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance.
• Strong understanding of program and product integration principles and the relationship among cost, schedule, technical performance, and operational requirements.
• Ability to maintain a program-level perspective while understanding and coordinating detailed technical activities and dependencies.
• Sound judgment and ability to analyze complex technical and programmatic information and develop practical recommendations.
• Initiative, attention to detail, organization, and accountability; ability to work independently, anticipate customer needs, and turn general guidance into actionable tasks and coordinated execution plans.
• Effective leadership, collaboration, interpersonal, facilitation, and stakeholder-coordination skills across government and contractor organizations.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including communicating complex information clearly to technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Ability to track concurrent activities, manage deadlines, and respond to changing program priorities.
• Commitment to teamwork, responsive customer support, continuous improvement, and successful mission delivery.
• Ability to meet the position's physical demands, including lifting or moving up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 25 pounds.
• Regular and punctual attendance.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Group 1–3 UAS, loitering munitions, cruise missiles, or precision-guided aerial delivery systems.
• Direct experience integrating kinetic warheads, electronic warfare systems, EO/IR sensors, tactical datalinks such as MANET or Link 16, or Software Defined Radios.
• Working familiarity with OTAs, Section 804 Middle Tier of Acquisition, Commercial Solutions Openings, or rapid defense innovation organizations such as DIU, RCCTO, or DARPA.
• Experience with defense open standards such as OMS, UCI, FACE, or SOSA and payload plug-and-play standards.

Responsibilities

• Drive hands-on technical execution across vendor platforms from concept through range testing, prioritizing iterative hardware builds and flight demonstrations.
• Lead integration of edge AI compute, collaborative swarming algorithms, automated target recognition, and GPS-denied navigation into uncrewed airframes.
• Integrate modular payloads including electronic warfare systems, RF sensors, EO/IR optics, and kinetic effects.
• Enforce Modular Open Systems Approach standards and challenge legacy standards or requirements when commercial technologies, open APIs, or advanced manufacturing can deliver capability more effectively.
• Monitor and manage vendor technical baselines, test schedules, and delivery milestones; identify design vulnerabilities, component obsolescence, and schedule drift, and hold industry partners accountable.
• Develop technical requirements for Statements of Work, Performance Work Statements, and Contract Requirements Packages using rapid acquisition vehicles such as OTAs and MTA.
• Lead failure analysis and anomaly investigations following ground discrepancies and flight anomalies.
• Translate flight telemetry, engineering data, and risk-trade analyses into concise briefings and white papers for Program Managers and General Officers.
• Lead multidisciplinary Integrated Product Teams through engineering risk identification, root-cause analysis, and resolution.
• Coordinate technical activities and dependencies while managing cost, schedule, technical performance, and operational requirements.

Benefits

• The company is 100% team member-owned, and the posting states that employee contributions shape their ownership stake in the business.
• The company describes a culture of employee engagement, transparent leadership, and communication and notes that it has earned ten Best Places to Work awards.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level