What are the responsibilities and job description for the Principal Seeker Systems Engineer position at Brightpath Associates LLC?
Position Overview
We are seeking a Principal Seeker Systems Engineer to join our expanding team. This role will lead the design, integration, and testing of advanced seeker subsystems used across applications such as hypersonic munitions, interceptors, and man-portable systems. The position requires defining system architectures, guiding technical execution, and ensuring solutions meet both performance and customer requirements.
The ideal candidate will partner with senior leadership to shape system-level strategy and innovation while mentoring engineers to strengthen overall team capability. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge technologies that support national security initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the design, integration, and validation of seeker systems
- Define and develop system architectures aligned with technical, cost, and schedule objectives
- Manage system requirements, ensuring alignment with customer specifications and mission needs
- Plan and execute system-level verification and validation activities, including test plans, procedures, and analysis
- Direct system modeling, simulation, and trade studies to evaluate performance and feasibility
- Oversee system integration efforts and resolve complex hardware and software issues
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering team members
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (hardware, software, and program management) to deliver integrated solutions
- Support proposal development with technical expertise and solution design input
- Drive continuous improvement of systems engineering processes and tools
- Represent the organization in technical discussions with customers, stakeholders, and government agencies
- Stay current with emerging technologies and incorporate advancements into system designs
Qualifications & Experience
- 10 years of systems engineering experience, including integration and testing of complex systems
- Direct experience in seeker system development required; AESA and/or EO/IR experience preferred
- Strong background in system architecture, design, and full lifecycle development
- Expertise in requirements development, verification & validation (V&V), and systems lifecycle management
- Proficiency in modeling, simulation, and performance analysis
- Experience with system-level testing, debugging, and troubleshooting across hardware and software
- Familiarity with communication protocols such as Ethernet, RS-232, and RS-485
- Experience supporting DoD or government programs preferred
- Proven leadership in mentoring teams and driving technical excellence
- Hands-on experience with tools such as MATLAB/Simulink and test instrumentation (e.g., network/spectrum analyzers)
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related field
- Master’s or Ph.D. preferred