WSISS VI Chief Engineer

Description

JOB SUMMARY

The Chief Engineer serves as the senior technical authority for all engineering, software development, systems integration, and test execution performed under a NAVAIR contract. The position provides technical leadership across aircraft weapon system integration work for NAWCWD aircraft IPTs - F/A-18, EA-18G, AV-8B, AH-1, F-35, Unmanned Systems, and successor platforms - spanning weapons integration, avionics, sensors, targeting systems, system hardware and software, test laboratory / simulator / trainer operation, aircraft test instrumentation, and telemetry. The Chief Engineer is the technical peer to the Program Manager: the PM owns contract performance; the Chief Engineer owns engineering outcomes. This role is Direct Key Personnel - billable to the contract at the Senior labor category rate for General and Operations Manager. 

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Leadership & Systems Integration:

• Serve as the senior technical authority for all work performed under the contract; approve technical approach, engineering deliverables, and integration methodology across all task orders.
• Direct weapons, avionics, sensors, targeting systems, system hardware, and software integration for NAWCWD aircraft IPTs and foreign military sales variants.
• Own the engineering rigor of system analysis, research, development, engineering, testing, test-equipment design/fabrication/maintenance, mission simulation, and interoperability assurance across supported platforms.
• Direct investigation, analysis, and documentation of new or modified weapons, sensors, targeting systems, aircraft computers, avionics systems, database architectures, trainers, and related systems - including electronic warfare systems - being considered for integration into supported aircraft.

Software Engineering & Development:

• Direct software engineering and development for aircraft computers, avionics, sensors, targeting systems, weapons systems, test laboratories, simulators, and mission/system support equipment.
• Own Software Quality Assurance (SQA), Software Configuration Management (SCM), and Verification and Validation (V&V) processes program wide.
• Approve the Software Development Plan (CDRL A00D) and all task-order-level software engineering approaches; enforce compliance with agile principles and applications where adopted by IPT direction.

Test, Laboratory & Instrumentation:

• Direct operation, maintenance, repair, and upgrade of test laboratory, simulator, and trainer equipment per task-order-level requirements and specifications.
• Own the technical approach to aircraft test instrumentation, telemetry systems design, development, installation, maintenance, service, setup, and operation including ground-based telemetry systems.
• Approve tradeoff studies for OEM versus third-party maintenance of test laboratory, simulator, and trainer equipment; direct preparation of maintenance procedures and manuals (CDRLs A00F and A00V).
• Ensure legacy computer system support and micro-computer systems integration at NAWCWD comply with RDT&E domain board approvals and Navy RDT&E security policies.

Cybersecurity & Engineering Compliance:

• Direct the engineering organization's compliance with the Cybersecurity Strategy, Security Plan, and Risk Management Framework for DoD IT (DoDI 8510.01).
• Ensure hardware, firmware, software, documentation, and IT services delivered under the contract comply with DoDI 8500.01, DoDI 8510.01, CNSSI 1253, DoDD 8140.01, and DoD 8570.01-M as applicable.
• Oversee criticality analysis, threat assessment, and vulnerability assessments for all task orders involving acquisition program artifacts.
• Direct the qualification, certification, and sustainment of technical staff against DoD 8140.01 Cyberspace Workforce Framework work roles.

Engineering Workforce & Capability Development

• Direct the technical career development framework including certification paths, professional development, conference participation, and professional association membership.
• Set engineering discipline technical standards and enforce them through peer review, design reviews, and independent technical assessments.
• Lead engineering recruitment evaluation - final technical authority on engineering hires across all disciplines.
• Provide guidance and direction to lower-level technical and engineering managers; provide technical support on advanced engineering issues including system architecture decisions, interface control, and cross-platform interoperability.

Customer Technical Relationship

• Represent the prime contractor at the Chief Engineer / Deputy Chief Engineer level to NAWCWD aircraft IPT leadership and Program Support Offices.
• Participate in Integrated Product Team technical working groups, System Design Reviews, Critical Design Reviews, Test Readiness Reviews, and Flight Readiness Reviews as required.
• Own the technical content and technical accuracy of all program reviews, CDRL technical deliverables, and customer-facing engineering reports.

WHY WORK FOR GMRE?

GMRE is a small veteran-owned company who cares about our employees. We offer health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k), vacation, Paid Time Off (PTO), or Paid Sick Leave (PSL) based on state laws, paid holidays, and life insurance to all permanent full-time employees. GMRE’s mission is to provide high-quality engineering and technical services to help our customers grow and succeed. (Relocation assistance may be available) 

GMRE is an equal opportunity employer. GMRE is committed to making employment decisions based on valid requirements, without regard to age 40 and over, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or any other applicable status protected by state or local laws.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. 

Requirements

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES

Meeting the SOW minimum qualifies a candidate for the role. However, the candidates who will be competitive against incumbent alternatives have most or all of the following:

• Preferred Qualifications
• Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or closely related technical discipline.
• Chief Engineer, Senior Systems Engineer, or equivalent engineering leadership role on an aircraft weapons system integration contract at NAWCWD, NAVAIR, or a Department of the Navy laboratory.
• Direct technical experience on one or more supported platforms - F/A-18, EA-18G, AV-8B, AH-1, F-35, or Navy Unmanned Systems - or on comparable aircraft weapon systems integration at the OEM or government laboratory level.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license, INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP or ESEP), or equivalent senior-engineer credential.
• Documented leadership of full systems integration lifecycle - requirements definition through verification, validation, and Integrated Warfighting Capability delivery.
• Experience with Software Development Plans, SQA, SCM, V&V processes, and agile software engineering practice on DoD weapons or avionics programs.
• Experience with aircraft test instrumentation, telemetry systems, or ground-based telemetry at a Major Range and Test Facility Base (MRTFB).
• Active TS/SCI clearance; prior SAP access on aircraft weapons or EW programs.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
• Deep technical command of weapons-platform systems integration - hardware, software, firmware, interfaces, test equipment, and mission simulation.
• Command of DoD acquisition technical review and milestone processes (SDR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR) and the artifacts required at each (ICD, CDD, CPD, SEP, TEMP, RMP).
• Fluency with DoD cybersecurity frameworks - DoDI 8500.01, 8510.01, 8140.01, RMF, CNSSI 1253 - as applied to weapons system engineering deliverables.
• Ability to lead technical working groups across prime, subcontractor, OEM, and government engineering staff - producing technically sound, DCAA-defensible engineering outcomes.
• Technical writing and presentation at the CDR and FRR level; ability to present to Flag Officer, PEO, and MDA audiences.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum Qualifications: Education

• MS/MA Degree in a relevant technical field. 
• Allowable Substitution: a BS or BA degree and an additional four (4) years of experience.

Experience

• Minimum 20 years of combined aviation and management experience. 
• At least 3 years of experience providing guidance and direction to lower-level technical/engineering managers, and providing technical support on advanced engineering issues.

SECURITY CLEARANCE AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Active DoD Secret clearance required at hire; Top Secret/SCI required within 90 days of start.
• SAP access eligibility per task order - the contract supports program areas where the highest clearance level is Special Access Program.
• DoD 8140.01 Cyberspace Workforce qualification at the Chief Engineer / Senior Technical Lead work role level.
• Willingness to submit to counterintelligence or full-scope polygraph if required by task order.
• Driving or renting a car for company business is expected with some frequency. For insurance purposes, a valid driver’s license is required.
• Must be a US Citizen.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assists the daily workflow of the department.
• Assists with constructive and timely performance evaluations.  
• Assists with discipline and termination of employees in accordance with company policy. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Working Conditions
• Primary work at NAWCWD China Lake - remote high-desert location requiring either local residence or documented commute/telework arrangement compatible with on-site engineering presence.
• Regular access to secure compartmented information facilities (SCIFs), flight test ranges, airborne and airfield environments, and classified laboratory environments.
• Physical ability to operate in aircraft maintenance, test ramp, and flight test environments - including heat, noise, and restricted-access working conditions typical of Naval Air Warfare Center installations.
• On-call availability during operational test periods, flight test windows, and security incident response.

TRAVEL REQUIRED

• Position will travel up to 25% of the time out of state and overnight to fulfill contract requirements.