Sr. Principal Systems Engineer – Airborne PNT

BAE Systems•Cedar Rapids, IA

7d•$120,874 - $205,486•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to join our high-impact team dedicated to the development of military GPS and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) products for the airborne and maritime market spaces. In this role, you will be a key technical driver in the development of next-generation navigation solutions supporting programs such as the Maritime and Aviation Receiver Card (MAVRC) and Joint Precision Approach and Landing Systems (JPALS), as well as have the opportunity to work on the advancement of cutting-edge anti-jam technologies like DIGAR™. You will apply deep systems engineering rigor to ensure our products are technologically superior, reliable, and developed through a disciplined process that ensures mission success in the most challenging environments. You will operate across the full Systems Engineering V-Model—from initial concept and architecture to integration and qualification. This role requires a professional who can bridge the gap between high-level operational requirements and detailed technical specifications for real-time embedded systems, ensuring that every requirement is traceable, verifiable, and aligned with customer needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field (Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or related).
8+ years with a BS
6+ years with an MS
4+ years with a PhD
Proven experience across the full product development lifecycle (Requirements, Architecture, Design, Integration and Test).
Experience with real-time embedded systems and a solid understanding of system-level interfaces and hardware/software interaction.
Expertise in documenting and communicating complex technical designs, results, and reports to diverse stakeholders.
Ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Secret security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with airborne product requirements and development processes used for certification (e.g., DO-178C and DO-254).
Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools such as Cameo, MagicDraw, or SysML.
Specific experience with military GPS, anti-jam (AJ) technology, or PNT (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing) solutions.
Experience with requirements management tools (e.g., DOORS) and modeling/analysis tools (e.g., MATLAB, Python).
Currently hold an active US Government Secret or Top Secret security clearance.
Master's or PhD in Electrical or Systems Engineering.
Proven experience leveraging generative AI tools to enhance and automate engineering tasks.

Responsibilities

Lead the analysis, decomposition, and derivation of system-level requirements into detailed software, hardware, and interface specifications.
Implement and drive a disciplined product development process, ensuring high-quality engineering artifacts and robust configuration management.
Contribute to the architectural design of real-time embedded GPS receivers, focusing on performance, reliability, and seamless integration into complex airborne platforms.
Develop comprehensive system test plans, procedures, and reports. Lead system integration and verification activities in a lab environment to validate that the product meets all performance and operational requirements.
Utilize and promote Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) techniques to improve requirements traceability, system modeling, and design communication.
Partner with cross-functional teams—including software, RF, and hardware engineers—to resolve complex technical challenges and perform trade studies.
Serve as a technical mentor to junior and mid-level engineers, promoting best practices in systems engineering and professional development.
Prepare and deliver technical presentations to internal leadership and external government/military customers.