Principal Systems Engineer

Sierra Nevada Corporation•Miamisburg, OH

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Are you a bold thinker? We dream big at SNC—advocating the exploration of space, keeping service members safe and creating the systems that keep our world united and sustain our way of living. Join our team! As a Principal Systems Engineer, you will demonstrate mastery in requirements engineering, systems integration, Verification & Validation (V&V), and Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). You will guide strategic system and decision analysis, technical planning, and risk management initiatives. You will manage critical project components, applying extensive expertise in architecture/design development, technical monitoring, and lifecycle management. Your role requires exceptional leadership, communication, and collaboration skills to drive innovation, mentor senior engineers, and achieve strategic objectives. This position serves as the Modeling Simulation and Analysis (MS&A) IPT technical lead for SAOC. In addition to meeting all standard SAOC Principal Systems Engineer qualifications, this role provides technical leadership across all modeling, simulation, emulation, and VV&A activities needed to support requirements verification, integration, operational test, and major program milestones through PDR and beyond. The ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance), Aviation, and Security (IAS) business area is a leader in ISR and aviation, it is a leading prime manned and unmanned aircraft systems integrator for innovative, high-performance ISR and aviation systems. Its end-to-end Command, Control, Computers, Communications and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities encompass design, integration, test, certification, ground/flight training and complete logistics support. IAS tailors solutions to customer cost, performance, and schedule requirements and designs to consistently exceed expectations – with an unrivaled record of on time and on (or under) budget deliveries.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field; Master's degree preferred.
14+ years of experience in systems engineering or related field.
Higher level relevant degree may substitute for experience.
Expert‑level proficiency with systems modeling, simulation, and analysis (MS&A) tools.
Extensive leadership experience in systems engineering, including leading technical work across multi‑disciplinary teams.
Demonstrated knowledge of multiple engineering principles and practices, with progressive experience supporting complex aerospace or defense systems.
Demonstrated ability to review, guide, and integrate complex MS&A activities into system/subsystem development, SIL integration, and verification workflows.
Ability to coordinate MS&A activities across multiple IPTs, ensuring alignment with requirements verification and operational testing needs.
Ability to work on a computer for extended periods.
Hand/finger dexterity for system modeling and documentation.
Ability to work in a hybrid environment with occasional travel.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret U.S. Security Clearance.
U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment.

Nice To Haves

Master’s or PhD in a technical discipline.
Experience with MIL‑STD‑3022 or equivalent DoD M&S VV&A documentation standards on a defense program.
Engineering‑level RF Communications MS&A experience supporting a defense acquisition program.
Engineering‑level Survivability / HEMP / Cyber M&S experience.

Responsibilities

Provide firm technical leadership across the team.
Review MS&A trade studies supporting system and subsystem requirements.
Review MS&A and emulation used to support system and subsystem integration and verification testing within the SIL.
Provide technical guidance for new model development and modifications to existing models to support requirements verification.
Provide technical direction and review of all M&S requirements documentation.
Coordinate MS&A activities across all relevant IPTs to support requirements verification and operational test.
Review and provide technical feedback on all M&S Verification & Validation (V&V) plans and reports (fully simulated, SIL, and SubK).
Review and contribute to all M&S Accreditation Reports.
Author MS&A Accreditation Plans.