Engineer III @ General Atomics

Job Summary

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft, tactical reconnaissance radars, and advanced high-resolution surveillance systems.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Advanced Systems Integration Engineer to join our System Integration Lab (SIL) organization in Poway, CA. This position plays a critical role in the design, development, integration, and sustainment of sophisticated System Integration Lab environments supporting multiple aircraft platforms, advanced programs, and engineering test organizations.

This is a highly technical, hands-on engineering position requiring approximately 50% direct laboratory engagement and 50% engineering project ownership, technical leadership, and coordination. The successful candidate will work directly alongside SIL engineers, technicians, and test personnel to design, build, configure, integrate, troubleshoot, and maintain complex hardware and electrical test environments.

The position requires strong engineering fundamentals and practical experience with hardware integration, avionics systems, electrical architecture, power distribution, cable and interconnect design, signal routing, data buses, networking, and Line Replaceable Units (LRUs). The engineer will take ownership of hardware integration activities from initial requirements and design through fabrication, installation, system verification, and test execution.

In addition to hands-on technical responsibilities, this individual will lead and coordinate engineering projects, establish technical approaches, manage integration activities, resolve complex engineering issues, and collaborate with program management and cross-functional engineering organizations to deliver reliable, mission-ready laboratory capabilities.

The ideal candidate is a technically versatile, self-motivated engineer who enjoys working directly with complex hardware, solving challenging system integration problems, and taking ownership of projects from concept through completion. This position requires someone equally comfortable working at the engineering design level, troubleshooting hardware in the lab, and coordinating multidisciplinary engineering efforts.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• This role will collaborate closely with SIL engineers, technicians, planners, program personnel, and cross-functional engineering organizations to perform the following:
• Hands-On Engineering & Laboratory Integration (Approximately 50%)
• Lead and execute hands-on electrical, electronic, and hardware integration activities within complex System Integration Lab environments.
• Design, build, configure, integrate, and maintain avionics racks, electrical assemblies, simulator interfaces, power distribution systems, and test equipment.
• Develop, review, and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, cable interconnect drawings, rack layouts, and hardware interface documentation using applicable engineering design tools.
• Perform and support cable design, fabrication, electrical installation, continuity testing, and hardware verification.
• Integrate and troubleshoot complex avionics systems, LRUs, power systems, data buses, signal interfaces, network connections, and hardware/software interactions.
• Work directly with technicians and test teams to support hardware fabrication, rack assembly, system installation, configuration, integration, and test execution.
• Identify, isolate, and resolve complex electrical, hardware, and system-level integration issues.
• Develop and execute hardware verification, integration checkout, and test readiness activities.
• Support laboratory modifications, upgrades, reconfigurations, and new system installations across multiple programs and platforms.
• Maintain hardware configuration integrity, technical documentation, and laboratory readiness.
• Provide direct technical support during integration and test events, including troubleshooting and resolution of time-critical hardware issues.
• Lead electrical and systems integration projects from initial requirements development through design, implementation, verification, and delivery.
• Establish technical approaches, integration plans, project schedules, resource requirements, and execution strategies.
• Coordinate engineering activities across hardware, software, systems engineering, test, program management, and support organizations.
• Provide technical direction and guidance to engineers and technicians supporting assigned projects.
• Develop innovative engineering solutions to unusual, complex, and interdisciplinary hardware and system integration challenges.
• Identify technical risks, resolve integration constraints, and drive corrective actions to maintain project execution and schedule commitments.
• Support development of engineering estimates, material requirements, equipment procurements, and capital investment requests.
• Ensure technical designs and laboratory configurations meet program requirements, engineering standards, and applicable safety requirements.
• Communicate project status, technical risks, resource constraints, and execution plans to engineering and program leadership.
• Identify opportunities to improve laboratory processes, engineering efficiency, hardware utilization, and test execution.
• Mentor and support the technical development of junior engineers and laboratory personnel.
• Establish and maintain technical standards, engineering best practices, and repeatable integration processes across the SIL organization.
• Other duties as assigned or required.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; four or more years of experience with a bachelors degree or two or more years of experience with a masters degree. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
• Must have a thorough understanding of engineering concepts, principles, and theory; experience demonstrating a broad application of those concepts; and expanding knowledge of principles, concepts, theory, and practices in related technical specialties.
• Must possess the ability to develop and communicate new concepts; apply them accurately throughout an evolving environment; organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases; and determine the appropriate approach at the task level or, with assistance, at the project level to provide solutions to a range of complex problems.
• Must have strong communication, computer, documentation, presentation, and interpersonal skills, ability to work independently and as part of a team; able to perform complex tasks in one or more engineering areas; capable of representing the organization as a prime technical contact and lead a team of moderately experienced professional employees on SIL projects.
• Able to work extended hours as required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain DoD Security Clearance is required.