Principal Engineering Technician – SAOC SIL Operations

Sierra Nevada Corporation•Miamisburg, OH

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Sierra Nevada Corporation is seeking a hands-on Principal Engineering Technician to support operations within the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) Systems Integration Laboratory (SIL). The position supports system design, installation, integration, safety, maintenance, daily operations, calibration, configuration management, and troubleshooting. Engineering technicians are the primary hands-on personnel for SIL systems and equipment, working alongside systems, software, mechanical, electrical, cyber, and network engineering teams. The technician coordinates and assigns work to a small team of junior engineering technicians and reports to the SIL Operations Manager. As a senior technical expert, the Principal Engineering Technician provides expert-level troubleshooting and maintenance direction, leads advanced calibration and testing, interprets complex data, establishes laboratory procedures and standards, coordinates competing priorities, and advises the SIL Operations Manager on staffing, tooling, spares, maintenance, safety, and system readiness. The role is primarily performed in a systems integration laboratory, equipment room, control room, or related secure technical environment in or near Vandalia, though it will initially begin in an office environment in Miamisburg. Work may require extended or irregular hours, shifts or weekends, overtime, on-call support, schedule changes, and travel as required. The position requires compliance with controlled-access, classified-work-area, information-protection, and restricted-device requirements. The role requires an active Secret security clearance at hire and the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearance and required program access. U.S. citizenship is required because the position needs an active U.S. security clearance for employment. SNC offers medical, dental, and vision plans, a 401(k) with a 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, three weeks of paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and other benefits.

Requirements

Associate's degree in a related field and 7 or more years of technician or related experience; alternatively, 9 or more years of related experience in lieu of the degree. A higher-level relevant degree may substitute for experience.
Relevant experience may include systems integration, engineering laboratories, test operations, maintenance, field service, aerospace/defense systems, or a related technical field.
Ability to understand and interpret complex technical schematics, diagrams, blueprints, manuals, publications, wiring diagrams, cable drawings, and technical specifications.
Comprehensive working knowledge of standard laboratory test equipment, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, oscilloscopes, other measurement equipment, hand tools, and power tools.
Expertise in advanced system maintenance and troubleshooting across hardware, software, networking, power, RF, and system interfaces.
Working familiarity with Windows and Linux operating systems; Ethernet and IP networking; AC/DC power systems; UPS systems; batteries; grounding and bonding; and RF systems across applicable frequency bands.
Experience with assembly, connectors, crimping, cable installation, equipment configuration, technical procedures, calibration, configuration management, change control, equipment inventories, or controlled technical documentation.
Ability to lead, assign, coordinate, and review work performed by junior technicians.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to analyze technical data and provide clear recommendations.
Ability to work independently and effectively with multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Active Secret security clearance at the time of hire and ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI clearance and required program access.
U.S. citizenship is required for the position because it requires an active U.S. security clearance for employment.
Ability to lift up to 30 pounds regularly and safely move tools, test equipment, cables, and hardware.
Ability to remain on one's feet for much of the work shift while monitoring systems and performing installation, maintenance, integration, and troubleshooting.
Manual dexterity to handle, install, and assemble small components, cables, connectors, fasteners, test equipment, and electronic hardware.
Ability to sit at a workstation or console, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, climb short ladders or steps, and access equipment racks, cabinets, cable trays, raised floors, and instrumentation.
Ability to wear required personal protective equipment, including safety footwear, eye and hearing protection, gloves, electrical PPE, and electrostatic-discharge controls.
Ability to follow applicable safety procedures and work around occasional hazardous conditions, energized electrical equipment, batteries, UPS systems, RF equipment, equipment noise, alarms, dust, vibration, and temperature variation.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with FCC requirements and an FCC General Radio Operator License (GROL).
Basic skills with avionics installation tooling, wiring installation and repair, connectorization, crimping, and soldering techniques.
Previous experience in a manufacturing, aerospace, defense, Department of Defense, U.S. military, or other mission-focused technical environment.
Experience with 3-D CAD software or similar technical design and documentation tools.
Prior lead-role experience mentoring, training, guiding, and inspecting the work of subordinate technicians.
Master's degree in a related technical field.
Experience supporting strategic research and development or advanced integration projects.
Experience with calibration databases, asset-management systems, maintenance-management systems, ticketing systems, or configuration-management tools.
Familiarity with cybersecurity practices applicable to operational systems and classified or controlled-access facilities.

Responsibilities

Oversee complex technical projects and daily SIL operations in coordination with the SIL Operations Manager.
Operate, install, integrate, maintain, configure, and troubleshoot complex laboratory systems and equipment.
Assign and coordinate daily work for junior engineering technicians; mentor, train, guide, and inspect their work.
Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, maintenance procedures, work instructions, checklists, and safety documentation.
Perform system checkout, equipment configuration, hardware and software updates, and operational readiness activities.
Troubleshoot hardware, software, networking, power, RF, and system-interface issues using a structured, evidence-based approach.
Lead and coordinate calibration and testing; maintain calibration status, records, due dates, traceability, and out-of-tolerance actions.
Use laboratory test and measurement equipment, including spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, oscilloscopes, signal generators, power meters, and cable testers.
Support AC/DC power distribution, UPS systems, batteries, grounding and bonding, and safe equipment power-up and power-down procedures.
Support RF systems and equipment, including transmitters, receivers, antennas, signal paths, RF distribution, coaxial and waveguide components, and connectors.
Maintain configuration baselines, equipment inventories, serial numbers, software and firmware records, maintenance documentation, and discrepancy reports.
Analyze and interpret complex test and maintenance data and provide technical recommendations to operations and engineering leadership.
Coordinate technical support and troubleshooting with systems, software, mechanical, electrical, cyber, network, and other technical teams.
Ensure compliance with applicable safety, quality, security, configuration-management, and technical standards.
Participate in integration events, readiness reviews, anomaly resolution, technical reviews, and customer or program meetings.
Recommend improvements to tooling, spares, procedures, maintenance practices, technician training, and system readiness.
Follow applicable electrical, RF, lockout/tagout, hazardous-energy, ESD, environmental, health, and safety procedures.
Travel as required and comply with controlled-access, classified-work-area, information-protection, and restricted-device requirements.