Director Flight Simulation Jobs in Massachusetts

Who We Are
Textron Systems is part of Textron, a $14 billion, multi-industry company employing 35,000 talented makers, thinkers, creators and doers worldwide. We make things that fly, hover, zoom and launch. Things that move people. Protect soldiers. Power industries. We serve customers in industries spanning aerospace and defense, specialized vehicles, turf care and fuel systems.

This role is in Textron System's Weapon Systems business area. Visit TextronSystems.com & Lycoming.com to read more about who we are and the products we make!

About This Role

We believe people should love what they do. In this role you will be responsible for:

• Apply advanced technical principles, theories, and concepts to architect, lead, and execute the integration of UAS platforms with mission-critical subsystems-including automated target recognition (ATR), navigation and control algorithms, communication systems, and diverse payloads.
• Work on complex technical problems and develop highly innovative solutions that enable seamless interoperability across hardware, software, autonomy, and mission-system components.
• Lead end-to-end integration activities that bring together third-party sensors, autonomy modules, onboard computing, and communication links to transform baseline UAS into complete mission-ready systems.
• Oversee the development and integration of advanced mission payloads, including EO/IR and AI-enabled perception systems, ensuring compatibility with onboard processing, data pathways, and vehicle command-and-control.
• Direct the implementation and tuning of navigation, guidance, and control algorithms, resilient navigation approaches, and closed-loop system validation.
• Manage system-level communications integration, ensuring robust data links, network interoperability, and compliance with operational and security requirements.
• Establish and refine integration processes, technical standards, and system verification strategies for complex UAS mission architectures.
• Lead simulation-based system validation, including high-fidelity modeling of autonomy, sensor performance, communication networks, and mission workflows to reduce risk prior to flight testing.
• Oversee test planning and execution across laboratory, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), field-test, and flight-test environments to validate integrated system performance under realistic operational conditions.
• Conduct sophisticated diagnostics and root-cause analyses across mechanical, electrical, software, and algorithmic domains to rapidly resolve integration challenges.
• Provide technical leadership in cross-functional design reviews and ensure alignment of mission requirements, system architecture, and verification plans across all UAS subsystems.
• Mentor engineering staff, guide technical development roadmaps, and serve as a senior technical liaison with customers, leadership, and multidisciplinary partners.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Robotics, Mechatronics, Aerospace Engineering, or related field; 18 years of experience in UAS system integration, mission-system development, and validation
• M.S. in Robotics, Mechatronics, Aerospace Engineering, or related field; 20 years of experience in UAS system integration, mission-system development, and validation preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise applying advanced engineering principles to develop highly innovative solutions for complex unmanned system integration challenges.
• Proven leadership in integrating UAS with advanced subsystems such as ATR systems, onboard AI/ML modules, navigation and control algorithms, communication architectures, and mission payloads.
• Extensive experience with embedded systems, onboard computing, middleware, and hardware/software co-design for mission-critical UAS applications.
• Strong proficiency in autonomy frameworks (ROS/ROS2, PX4, ArduPilot), including customization, tuning, and algorithm integration.
• Deep understanding of modeling, simulation, virtual testing, and hardware-in-the-loop validation methods for autonomy, sensor processing, and mission execution.
• Significant experience managing flight-test operations, system evaluations, data analysis, and verification/validation across multi-sensor, multi-domain UAS configurations.
• Ability to influence technical direction, drive architectural decisions, and communicate complex system interactions to executive stakeholders, customers, and engineering teams.
• Possesses or has ability to obtain a Secret level security clearance.

How We Care
At Textron Systems, our talented people make us successful. Our Company is committed to offering employees opportunities to grow and develop. Our benefits and compensation packages are designed to help our talented employees excel and achieve their goals, so they can make a difference every day in and outside of the workplace. Below are just a few examples!
- Flexible Work Schedules
- Education Assistance
- Career Development & Training Opportunities
- Wellness Program (including Fitness Reimbursement)
- Medical, Dental, Vision & 401(K) with Company Funding
- Paid Parental Leave

Are you a Military Veteran?
Textron's products and services are trusted everyday by those who protect our country.  We are dedicated to hiring these Veterans and aim to translate their skills to make an impact on our Company.