FAST Labs - Product Line Discipline Lead Hardware Systems Engineer

Job Description
See what you’re missing. Our employees work on the world’s most advanced electronics – from detecting threats for F-35 pilots to illuminating the night for soldiers. Spanning air, land, sea, and space, we are developing the technology of tomorrow, delivered today. Drawing strength from our differences, we’re innovating for the future. And you can, too.

Our flexible work environment provides you a chance to change the world without giving up your personal life. We put our customers first – exemplified by our mission: “We Protect Those Who Protect Us®.” Sound like a team you want to be a part of? Come build your career with BAE Systems.

Through research programs funded by science and technology Research and Development (R&D) organizations within the U.S. Department of War (DoW), the research and development team in FAST Labs™ collaborate across the enterprise. On this team, you’ll have the opportunity to create and develop advanced technology capabilities in the areas of advanced electronics, autonomy, cyber, electronic warfare, and sensors and processing.

We are looking for a strong product line facing hardware systems chief engineer in the FAST Labs Business Area. As a member of the engineering team facing the Sensing Technologies (ST) product line you will have the opportunity to team with science leads, program engineering managers and functional managers to solve some of our customers’ hardest problems.

In this role you will be the senior technical leader for the hardware systems discipline for the ST product line. You will be the product‑line’s engineering partner for bid and proposal work, provide hardware‑engineering technical‑architecture expertise, drive program‑level hardware execution, and serve as the primary liaison that aligns staffing resources with product‑line needs.

• Define, evaluate, and/or champion the hardware system architectures for all ST programs
• Ensure designs follow best‑practice engineering methods
• Provide hardware‑engineering input for new‑business capture – influence technical baselines, develop cost estimates, identify technical risks, and suggest mitigation strategies
• Serve as the hardware subject‑matter expert on proposal teams, helping shape technical scopes and pricing models
• Partner with Product Engineering Management (PEM), Functional Managers (FMs), and Business‑Area Discipline Leads(BADLs) to identify, prioritize, and fill staffing requirements for the ST product line
• Ensure all hardware R&D activities adhere to an appropriate level or research and development processes and are well matched to the scope of the efforts
• Drive agile process refinements, capture lessons learned, and champion “One‑Team” culture across the product line

Because of the need for consistent, in-person collaboration and/or the requirement to perform all work onsite due to the nature of this role, it will be performed full-time on site. This means work will be conducted on location at a BAE Systems facility 100% of the time.

Required Education, Experience, & Skills

• Typically, a bachelor’s degree in an Engineering discipline with 12 years of related experience; OR a master’s degree with 10 years of experience; OR a PhD degree with 8 years of experience
• Active Secret DoW clearance with ability to obtain Top Secret clearance
• Previous experience in project hardware engineering leadership role and functional management
• Demonstrated ability to develop, lead and motivate technical teams
• Demonstrated ability to integrate and coordinate with other functions and customers
• Desire to continuously improve, innovate, learn, and exemplify strong thought leadership
• Experience with System integration and test
• Previous experience leading engineering teams

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills

• Experience with modern engineering techniques, such as Model Based Engineering, Agile, Digital Engineering, etc.
• Expertise in one or more of these key areas:
  • Experience with RF design (antennas, LNAs, mixers, ADCs, RFFE)
  • Spectrum management, modulation/demodulation, and RF signal characterization
  • Ability to map algorithms to low‑latency, high‑throughput hardware pipelines
  • Knowledge of heterogeneous computing (GPU, FPGA, ASIC, neuromorphic chips)
  • Design, integration, and calibration of EO/IR cameras, hyperspectral imagers, LIDAR, etc.
  • Understanding of optics, detector physics, radiometry, and image quality metrics
  • Knowledge of Laser system hardware components, subsystems, building blocks and architectures.
• 2 years of engineering management or project leadership experience
• Active Top Secret DoD clearance

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $153377 - $260743

Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20 hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.


About BAE Systems Electronic Systems
BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it’s what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts – defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team—making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you’ll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference. Electronic Systems (ES) is the global innovator behind BAE Systems’ game-changing defense and commercial electronics. Exploiting every electron, we push the limits of what is possible, giving our customers the edge and our employees opportunities to change the world. Our products and capabilities can be found everywhere – from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of space. At our core are more than 14,000 highly talented Electronic Systems employees with the brightest minds in the industry, we make an impact – for our customers and the communities we serve.

This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.

Salary : $153,377 - $260,743