Sr. Principal Systems Engineer – Airborne PNT

Quest Defense Systems & Solutions, Inc.•Cedar Rapids, IA

7d•$100,000 - $160,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Quest Defense Systems & Solutions is seeking a Sr. Principal Systems Engineer to lead systems architecture, requirements development, integration, and validation for next-generation GPS and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) solutions. The role serves as a technical authority across Airborne PNT product lines, advancing resilient navigation, anti-jam systems, and precision approach technologies for challenging air and maritime environments. This hybrid position combines on-site engineering collaboration and remote analytical work, with access to secure labs and critical hardware. The engineer works with software, RF, hardware, and algorithm teams and engages internal leadership, program management, and government and military stakeholders. The role also provides technical mentorship to systems engineers. The position requires a bachelor's degree in a STEM field and relevant systems engineering experience based on degree level: 8+ years with a bachelor's, 6+ years with a master's, or 4+ years with a PhD. Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret clearance. The advertised pay range is $100,000–$160,000 USD, with the full compensation package based on experience and certifications.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field such as Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
Minimum experience of 8+ years with a bachelor’s degree, 6+ years with a master’s degree, or 4+ years with a PhD.
Demonstrated experience across the full systems engineering lifecycle, including requirements, architecture, design, integration, and test.
Strong understanding of real-time embedded systems and system-level hardware/software interfaces.
Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly in documentation, presentations, and cross-functional discussions.
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret clearance.

Nice To Haves

Experience with airborne certification processes or standards such as DO-178C, DO-254, MIL-STD-882, or MIL-STD-810.
Familiarity with military PNT systems, GPS receivers, anti-jam technologies, A-PNT architectures, or resilient navigation techniques.
Experience with MBSE tools such as Cameo, MagicDraw, MagicGrid, or SysML modeling frameworks.
Proficiency with requirements tools such as DOORS or JAMA and engineering analysis tools such as MATLAB or Python.
Active Secret or Top Secret clearance.
Master’s or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a closely related field.
Experience using generative AI or automation tools to enhance system modeling, analysis, or documentation productivity.

Responsibilities

Lead requirements analysis, decomposition, and derivation of system-level specifications into hardware, software, and interface requirements.
Define and refine architectures for real-time embedded GPS/PNT systems optimized for airborne platforms, advanced receivers, and secure navigation processing chains.
Drive disciplined systems engineering processes, including traceability, configuration management, and audit-ready engineering artifacts.
Develop and execute test plans, integration procedures, and qualification activities to verify system performance under operational and stressed conditions.
Use Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools and methods to improve requirements traceability, behavioral modeling, and system consistency.
Partner with software, RF, hardware, and algorithm engineering teams to resolve multidisciplinary challenges and conduct trade studies.
Provide technical guidance and mentorship to systems engineers across experience levels.
Prepare and present technical briefings to internal leadership, program management, and government and military stakeholders.