Sr. Director of Space Systems
Herndon, Virginia
Overview
General Atomics pioneers technologies with the potential to change the world. Behind a talented global team of engineers, GA delivers safe, sustainable, and economical solutions to meet growing global demands. Our Engineers have an opportunity to work on first of a kind product lines within an incredible, dynamic environment.
Engineering positions typically require a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience. Candidates from mechanical, electrical, and aerospace engineering backgrounds must know the fundamentals of engineering system developments, requirements, testing, and integration before getting to the final stages of customer interface and project management.
Schedule: Full-Time Salary
Job Level: Management
Travel: 0 - 25
Success Profile
What makes a successful Sr. Director of Space Systems at General Atomics? Check out the top traits we’re looking for and see if you have the right mix.
- Analytical
- Collaborative
- Inventive
- Problem Solver
- Team Player
- Creative
Job Summary General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world’s leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Satellite Systems Engineer within the CSS team in Herndon, VA. CSS provides innovative, cutting-edge, security solutions for the United States Government. Our employees provide a multi-disciplinary, sometimes non-traditional, approach to generate innovative solutions to incredibly challenging technical problems in the national security arena. Our areas of expertise are in spacecraft payload and system development (especially in the confines of implementing very large amounts of functionality in extremely small, power-constrained environments); unique system development; ground control and operational software development; embedded software development; and unique cyber capabilities. Key customers include the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community.
This position reports to the Vice President, CSS and exercises considerable latitude in determining technical objectives for the review, research, design, development, and/or solution to advanced technical engineering problem(s) related to space and ground systems.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead the technical team in the satellite subsystem overall development and integration planning, and organization.
- Lead the satellite system and subsystem test configuration and procedure development, review, and execution.
- Lead the technical team in solving hardware/software interface problems, define input/output parameters, and ensure integration of the entire system or subsystem.
- Liaise with all levels of program and engineering staff on design, integration and test matters and support other teams/disciplines as necessary.
- Formulate and maintain plans as execution occurs.
- Implement and support quality management in the execution of a program.
- Apply technical knowledge to determine and set technical objectives to analyze, investigate and resolve advanced engineering problems; including future applications, and engineering developments.
- Perform mission and system design on missions from bid generation through launch and operations.
- Prepare and lead the review of technical response to bids, presentation materials and reports.
- Liaise with customer and supplier staff, government representatives and other professionals.
- Performs other duties as assigned or required.
Job Qualifications:
- Typically requires a Masters or PhD in engineering or a related technical field as well as fifteen or more years of progressively complex engineering experience with at least eleven of those years having management responsibilities. May substitute equivalent experience in lieu of education.
- Demonstrates detailed and extensive technical expertise and application of engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice as well as comprehensive project management and leadership skills including organizing, planning, scheduling, and coordinating workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones. Majority of professional experience should cover all aspects of the satellite system life cycle.
- Must possess the ability to resolve unusually complex management and technical problems and be a technical expert in one or more areas of engineering.
- Strong communication, leadership, presentation, and interpersonal skills are required to enable an effective interface with other departments, all levels of management, professional and support staff, customers, potential customers, and government representatives.
- A Professional Engineering License, and original work(s) published in professional engineering journals are desirable.
- Demonstrated experience in organization, planning and technical leadership, including risk identification, assessment, and mitigation.
- Must be able to work extended hours as required and be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and workloads.
- US citizenship is required.
- Currently holds or has the ability to obtain a Top Secret DoD Security Clearance.
Salary:$194,890 - $362,928
Benefits
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Healthcare
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Pension, 401(k)/Retirement Plans
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Competitive Pay
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Multiple product lines means a variety of work
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Paid Time Off

“The company is growing, has a very good reputation and had open positions in my area of expertise (aircraft design/design methodology development).”– Peter, Senior Staff Engineer

“We don't ascribe to quotas; we do ascribe to securing the BEST talent to enrich our culture toward healthy diversification and active/viable community service. We are STEM advocates.”– Debra, CSSBB: Staff Engineer

“Every day is different, with different problems to solve and many programs to support. I am a problem solver and have always been motivated by the tough questions.”– Scott, Laser Scientist

“I work in the Components Engineering and Obsolescence Management Dept. Our efforts are saving General Atomics several millions of dollars by proactively leading and informing the company of all these decisions which significantly impact production, sustainment and new designs.”– John, Staff Engineer
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