Lead Systems Engineer

The Opportunity: 

This Lead Systems Engineer will have a unique opportunity to develop a product line from a blank page. This engineer will join a motivated team and rapidly iterate and test multiple design candidates before moving to harden the design of the most successful prototype.  The selected prototype will be the basis for several products.

As a Lead Systems Engineer, you will take ownership of developing technical solutions for NAVWAR, EW, PNT/GNSS Threat Simulation, and related technologies. Your role will involve leading research and development efforts to design new features and products, defining and managing system requirements, and overseeing a thorough verification and validation process to ensure compliance. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to deliver robust, high-quality systems. This position reports to the Engineering Director, based in our Rochester, NY office.

Our Technology:

Safran Federal Systems provides Resilient Positioning, Navigation and Timing (R-PNT) solutions and custom engineering services to U.S. Government agencies, defense organizations and their contractors. Safran Federal Systems is authorized to work on the full spectrum of U.S. Government classified and unclassified projects, in addition to supporting strategic partnerships for key defense PNT technologies.

Key Skills and Experience for this Position:

• Experience designing to meet strict security requirements, specifically DoD requirements for handling classified data.  Experience with FIPS 140-2 or 140-3 is also relevant.
• Experience with designing for Tempest
• Experience designing anti-tamper systems. 
• Experience with cybersecurity systems
• Experience RF systems, including electronic warfare (EW) and navigation warfare (NAVWAR)
• Experience with Assured Position, Navigation, and Timing Systems (APNT)
• Experience with design for harsh environmental conditions: shock, vibe, high g systems
• Experience using AI tools to increase productivity

Job Responsibilities:

• Define and manage system requirements and specifications throughout the system lifecycle. 
• Leverage a strong technical background enabling interaction with customers’ systems engineers, hardware/electrical/software engineers, and other technical staff members.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to gather and analyze requirements, ensuring alignment with business goals and regulatory standards. 
• Lead system design reviews, technical assessments, and risk analysis activities. 
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for system design, verification and validation processes. 
• Provide technical guidance and support to project teams throughout the development and deployment phases. 
• Analyze data and use data to verify system requirements and to validate system performance.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, best practices, and regulatory requirements. 
• Provide on-site technical expertise as needed. 
• Provide hands-on, data-driven, troubleshooting and root cause analysis
• Work alongside Applications Engineers to provide product/technical presentations to customers/partners and train customers on the delivered solution. 
• Create streamlined technical documentation for our customized solutions for future utilization (i.e. manuals and interconnect drawings). 
• Generate cost baselines and work breakdown structures to support internal cost and price reviews.
• Assist with the development of new Government and DoD business, directly with the Government and indirectly through large system integrators through a thorough understanding of the factors that are critical to success of the customer’s mission.
• Participate in industry working groups related to inertial and GNSS navigation, and simulation.
• Collaborate on proposals, RFI responses, whitepapers, etc.
• Present technical material at professional conferences and required.

What You Bring to the role:

• A minimum of 6 years of experience in a related role.
• Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering, software engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a related engineering degree. 

• Technical writing skill and experience – academic theses, peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, project reports; ability to support technical writing with high quality graphics/ charts/ schematics.
• Proficiency in technical documentation, including system specifications, design documents, and user manuals.
• Speaking/ Presentation/ Dialogue Skills – white board, small and large group presentations; high degree of comfort speaking senior military and staff personnel; ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical individuals; intuitive ability to pivot from presentation to dialogue as appropriate.
• Demonstrated strong customer focus, ownership, urgency, and drive, with the ability to adapt quickly to new technologies.
• Active security clearance is strongly preferred, ability and willingness to obtain a security clearance upon hire is required.
• Self-motivated, and ability to self-prioritize effectively to achieve goals, comfortable with ambiguity.
• High level of skill communicating effectively across internal and external organizations, both verbally and in writing.

• Experience with programming languages such as Python, C++, or MATLAB, and familiarity with version control systems like Git.
• Skills in requirements management tools (e.g., Jira, Spiraplan, DOORS).
• Technical knowledge of GNSS receivers (e.g., u-blox), GNSS simulators (e.g., BroadSim, GSS9000), and/or CRPAs.
• Experience in performance and vulnerability testing of PNT systems with the ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.
• Ability to be agile and have fun! 

Some of “the Good Stuff”: 

• Annual Bonus Opportunity
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Account
• Paid Time Off
• 401k Retirement Program with Employer Match
• Gym Membership Reimbursement
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Employee Career Development
• Flexible working arrangements
• Excellent culture

About Safran Federal Systems:

Safran Federal Systems has been awarded as a Winner of the USA Today and Rochester Metro Area Top Workplaces 2026 Award.

In 2022, Safran acquired Orolia, now Safran Trusted 4D, the world leader in Resilient PNT. At the intersection of critical infrastructure and national defense, Safran Trusted 4D solutions govern and protect the integrity of systems that shape the world.  In early 2019, Orolia Defense & Security spun off as a separate entity from its parent company Orolia, with the mission of providing resilient Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) solutions and custom engineering services to U.S. Government agencies, U.S. Defense organizations, and their contractors. 

In August of 2019, Safran Federal Systems acquired Talen-X, a U.S. company specializing in advanced GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) Simulation solutions and Interference, Detection, and Mitigation (IDM) technologies. Talen-X's portfolio was an ideal fit and has helped to enhance Safran FS's overall offerings. The acquisition enabled Talen-X's existing resources, operations and capabilities to be scaled and accelerated to better support the warfighter. Read the press release here.

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Safran Federal Systems operates as a proxy-regulated company, Free of Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI). As such, Safran FS Defense & Security is approved to work on the full spectrum of U.S. Government classified and unclassified projects and is positioned to support strategic partnerships in the development of key PNT technologies for the defense market.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Please note this description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.