Project Engineer - Flight Software (Contract)

AIRBUS U.S. Space & Defense, Inc.•Merritt Island, FL

2d•Remote

About The Position

This position offers fully remote opportunities for candidates across the United States. Preferred work location: Merritt Island, FL. Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc offers advanced solutions to meet the most complex U.S. defense, security, space, and intelligence requirements. Celebrating over 50 years in the US, we remain a trusted government partner, leveraging world-class satellite, laser communication, rotor and fixed wing solutions to help our national security, defense and space focused customers meet their missions. Airbus U.S. looks to employ a commitment driven team, dedicated to enabling our customer's mission success. We are committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment and a welcoming and engaging staff. With competitive compensation and superior employee benefits, as well as a commitment to fostering individual career growth, Airbus U.S. is the place where top talent wants to work. We are seeking a high-performing Project Engineer to lead the development, testing, and delivery of mission-critical flight software for an advanced US Government satellite program. In this customer-facing role, you will manage the day-to-day execution of a multidisciplinary engineering team within a matrixed organization. You will hold primary responsibility for schedule adherence, cost tracking, labor utilization, and technical performance metrics, ensuring all deliverables meet strict customer standards.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Minimum of 5–7 years of engineering experience in the aerospace and defense industry, with at least 2 years in a project engineering or technical lead role.
Proven track record working on software development projects, ideally involving real-time embedded systems or satellite flight software.
Proficiency with scheduling tools (e.g., MS Project) and Earned Value Management System (EVMS) concepts.
Demonstrated ability to influence and drive results across cross-functional, matrixed engineering teams without direct reporting authority.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills for high-visibility customer briefings and executive-level internal reporting.
US Citizenship required.

Responsibilities

Lead the end-to-end engineering lifecycle for satellite flight software from initial design through final delivery and integration.
Track labor utilization, manage project costs, and analyze performance metrics against the baseline budget.
Develop, maintain, and own the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) for all software development and testing milestones.
Provide clear technical direction to a matrixed engineering team, including software developers, systems engineers, GNC specialists, and functional validation testers.
Serve as a primary technical point of contact for US Government customers, leading technical reviews, status updates, and milestone presentations.
Identify, mitigate, and track technical, schedule, and cost risks, escalating critical blockers to the Flight Software IPT leader.
Ensure all software development processes align with AS9100, CMMI, and program-specific mission assurance standards.