Principal Chief Engineer & System Architect
Job Description
About the Role
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Build and lead a cross-product integration, test, and verification capability for complex hardware/software/UAS systems. Own the integration and verification approach, test architecture, evidence quality, and escalation of unresolved defects. Work with Chief Engineers, who remain accountable for product technical integrity and readiness recommendations.
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Key Responsibilities
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Integration and Verification Strategy:
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- Lead risk-based system integration, verification, and validation planning across 2–3 active product lines.
- Translate system requirements, critical interfaces, failure modes, and operational scenarios into executable test coverage and acceptance criteria.
- Coordinate integration sequencing, test readiness, qualification evidence, and verification traceability with Chief Engineers and functional teams.
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Test Engineering and Infrastructure:
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- Build or strengthen SIL/HIL, automated regression, bench/lab integration, instrumentation, data capture, and representative field/flight-test practices as appropriate.
- Establish repeatable test procedures, defect tracking, reproducibility standards, and configuration control for test articles and environments.
- Lead test engineering personnel and coordinate distributed functional test contributors without duplicating all existing testing teams.
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Reliability and Independent Evidence:
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- Report objective verification results, open anomalies, residual risks, and coverage gaps; escalate unresolved concerns independently of schedule pressure.
- Drive failure analysis, root-cause investigation, corrective-action verification, and prevention of recurring integration escapes.
- Develop metrics for late-found defects, verification coverage, regression effectiveness, test reliability, and time to close critical anomalies.
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Required Qualifications
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- 10+ years in integration, test engineering, verification/validation, or systems test for complex hardware/software products.
- Experience leading test engineers or multidisciplinary integration/test teams and building test capability.
- Demonstrated ownership of test strategy and evidence for integrated systems through field or operational deployment.
- Practical knowledge of HIL/SIL, instrumentation, automation, test design, requirements traceability, defect management, and root-cause analysis.
- Ability to provide objective technical findings and escalate verification gaps constructively to engineering leadership.
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Preferred Qualifications
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- UAS, aerospace, autonomy, embedded systems, defense, or robotics verification experience.
- Experience with ground/flight testing, qualification, safety-critical interfaces, and operationally representative environments.
- Experience building test infrastructure at a startup.
- Familiarity with FMEA, fault trees, environmental/EMI qualification, and manufacturing acceptance testing.
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What Success Looks Like
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- 30 days: map test assets, coverage gaps, recurring failures, and critical integration dependencies.
- 90 days: risk-based verification plan for each product and an agreed test readiness/evidence standard.
- 6 months: more repeatable integration tests, measurable coverage of critical interfaces, and faster defect diagnosis.
- 12 months: fewer late-stage defects and recurring failures; objective, auditable readiness evidence for major milestones.
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Work Environment
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- Based at our Headquarters in San Diego, CA
- This role requires an on-site presence
- We welcome candidates who are local or open to relocating; relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer package where appropriate.
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Compensation
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US Salary Range: $212,000 - $247,000 USD
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The posted salary range reflects an estimate based on a variety of compensation factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, education, certifications, specialized skills, geographic location, and business needs. Actual compensation may vary, and this range is subject to change as our compensation structure or market conditions evolve.
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