Job Description

Responsibilities for this Position

SDA - Sr Principal Systems Engineer (RF Comms)

ID: 2025-65724
USA-AZ-Scottsdale
Required Clearance: TS/SCI, obtainable within reasonable time based on requirements
Posted Date: 3/12/2025
Category: Engineering-Systems
Employment Type: Full Time
Hiring Company: General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc.

Basic Qualifications

Requires a Bachelors degree in Systems Engineering, or a related Science, Engineering or Mathematics field. Also requires 10+ years of job-related experience, or a Master's degree plus 8 years of job-related experience. Agile experience preferred.

CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Department of Defense Top Secret security clearance is preferred at the time of hire. Candidates must be able to obtain a Secret clearance within a reasonable amount of time from the date of hire. Applicants selected will be subject to a U.S. Government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship is required.

Responsibilities for this Position

ROLE AND POSITION OBJECTIVES:

Ready to be a leader with the company that is committed to pushing the limits of truly advanced technologies? At General Dynamics Mission Systems, we create the products and services that help our service members, intelligence analysts and first responders keep our nation safe. The work we do is so advanced, its often classified. If you want to put your talent in the spotlight, its waiting for you right now, right here.

We apply advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, AR/VR, Cloud Native and Quantum Physics to solve our customers missions in cyber, RF, undersea, interstellar and everything in between.

As a Principal Systems Engineer of our technical staff, youll apply advanced principles of engineering and management to solve complex problems in the development of technology. As a leader, youll oversee and manage design and development processes as they relate to the engineering of products utilizing principles and technology of physics, mathematics, engineering, and related physical sciences. Its engineering that sets the standard for the world. Are you ready?

Learn more about the SDA Program -

What you bring to the table:

• A Bachelors degree in engineering or a related technical field and is required plus a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience; or Master's degree in engineering or a related technical field plus a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience
• Complex ground RF system design (satellite, radio, or cellular network)
• RF and modem communications system link budget design
• Deployment of system, and in-field testing of RF networks
• Software or hardware system design for high-speed data applications including protocols at the network layer and transport layers of large networks
• Error budget analysis in either the RF or latency of large complex systems
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills
• Recognized as an expert in your field
• Ability to ability to anticipate technology, process, and skill needs

Preferred Experience:

• Satellite communications knowledge
• Ground to Satellite communication knowledge
• Ground operations experience
• Performs requirements analysis, requirements definition, requirements management, functional analysis, performance analysis, system design, detail trade studies, systems integration and test (verification), validation and interface definition studies of subsystem or system elements under the supervision of the lead systems engineer
• Performs technical planning, cost and risk analyses, and supportability and effectiveness analyses for subsystems and system elements
• Performs customer requirements analysis, develops system requirements and defines allocations to lower levels (elements and components)
• Performs detailed technical analyses for a subsystem or system elements
• Develops and evaluates systems, networks and information systems to ensure designs meet applicable governmental security specifications
• May provide system accreditation/certification evaluation and test support to ensure all technical security features (e.g., identification, authentication, access control, labeling, and auditing) of the system are considered and function properly
• May develop system security documentation on both new and fielded information systems
• Participates in Modeling and Simulation
• Researches and analyzes data, such as vendor products, COTS components, GFE/CFE, specifications, and manuals to determine feasibility of design or application
• Supports the generation of technical engineering products by using the appropriate standards, processes, procedures, and tools throughout the system development life cycle
• May provide leadership and/or direction to lower level employees
• Independently determines proposed approach to solutions
• Contributes to the completion of major programs and projects
• Plans and executes project tasks for activities described above
• Creative, innovative responsibilities requiring advanced decision-making skills
• Defines processes for technical platforms, system specifications, input/output and working parameters for hardware and/or software compatibility
• Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions
• Designs a complete and complex framework, system or product
• Identifies, analyzes and resolves system design weaknesses
• Regular contact with senior levels of internal working groups
• Contact with Deputy Program Managers Engineering (DPME) and other professionals within the Engineering department and with project teams across the company
• Coordinating external interfaces and ICDs
• Multi-level security domain expertise (and cross-domain)
• Quickly (with a more agile light-weight approach) decomposing requirements to a level that can avoid requirements bloat (and communicate/track impacts)
• People that may have a working relationship with related people from Iridium, SDA, Northrup, York, and Lockheed
• System-level networking person that can face off with the GFE WAN provider and coordinate detailed network design
• Someone that can understand what is in scope and what is out of scope and manage that complexity
• People with agile program experience

What sets you apart:

• Creative thinker with demonstrated success leading the systems development life cycle
• Collaborative team player eager to provide technical leadership and position others for success
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and influence management skills, with notable record of securing buy-in on concepts and ideas
• Experienced in the art of negotiation with ability to meet challenging customer requirements with win-win solutions
• Commitment to ongoing professional development for yourself and others

Our Commitment to You:

• An exciting career path with opportunities for continuous learning and development.
• Research oriented work, alongside award winning teams developing practical solutions for our nations security
• Flexible schedules with every other Friday off work, if desired (9/80 schedule)
• Competitive benefits, including 401k matching, flex time off, paid parental leave, healthcare benefits, health & wellness programs, employee resource and social groups, and more
• See more at gdmissionsystems.com/careers/why-work-for-us/benefits

Workplace Options:
This position is On-Site or Hybrid/Flex.
While on-site, you will be a part of the Scottsdale location.

#LI-Hybrid

#SDAGround

#SDAGroundIN

Salary Note

This estimate represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors (geographic location, etc.). Actual pay may vary. This job posting will remain open until the position is filled.

Combined Salary Range

USD $178,916.00 - USD $198,485.00 /Yr.

Company Overview

General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of 12,000+ top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defense and scientific arenas. Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency. We offer highly competitive benefits and pride ourselves in being a great place to work with a shared sense of purpose. You will also enjoy a flexible work environment where contributions are recognized and rewarded. If who we are and what we do resonates with you, we invite you to join our high-performance team!

Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans

PI265482568

Job Tags

Full time, Flexible hours,

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