Requisition Number: 29321
Required Travel: 0 - 10%
Employment Type: Part Time/Hourly/Non-Exempt
Anticipated Salary Range: $41.50 - $62.25
Security Clearance: Secret
Level of Experience: Mid
This opportunity resides with
Warfare Systems (WS), a business group within HII's Mission Technologies division. Warfare Systems comprises cyber and mission IT; electronic warfare; and C5ISR systems.
HII works within our nation's intelligence and cyber operations communities to defend our interests in cyberspace and anticipate emerging threats. Our capabilities in cybersecurity, network architecture, reverse engineering, software and hardware development uniquely enable us to support sensitive missions for the U.S. military and federal agency partners.
Leadership Mindset at HII - Mission Technologies
Leadership at HII is a mindset, not a title. Through our Leadership Capability Framework, we define how every employee grows, leads, and contributes-regardless of role. It sets the standard for how you can develop yourself and what you can expect from leaders across our organization. We look for candidates who want to grow in alignment with these capabilities:
- Know & Grow Your People - Commit to learning and supporting team success.
- Build Relationships - Communicate openly, collaborate well, and build trust.
- Take Ownership - Deliver on commitments and take pride in your work.
- Customer First - Focus on the mission and those we serve.
- Shape the Future - Bring ideas, curiosity, and continuous improvement.
- Act with Urgency - Take initiative and follow through with purpose.
These capabilities guide how all employees contribute to our shared success across Mission Technologies.
Job Description
Shape the Future of High-Altitude ISR on the Legendary U-2 "Dragon Lady"
Step into one of the most unique engineering roles in aerospace today. We're looking for a driven, forward-thinking
Senior Systems Engineer to lead the full integration of a next-generation surveillance radar onto the iconic U-2 - a platform that has defined high-altitude intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance for decades.
This part-time role puts you at the center of a mission-critical modernization effort, solving technical challenges that sit at the intersection of cutting-edge sensor technology, advanced avionics, and the extreme environment of high-altitude flight. If you thrive on high-stakes engineering, complex interfaces, and making a tangible impact on national security, this is the job that lets you do all of that - and more.
Location: Robins AFB, GA or Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
Schedule: Hybrid, 20-30 hours/week with on-site presence several days per week
Essential Job Responsibilities
- Systems Integration & Architecture: Lead the systems engineering for the radar integration project, including requirements definition, design, verification, testing, and deployment. Understand system architectures that account for hardware, software, and network interfaces, ensuring compliance with a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA).
- Requirements Management: Decompose top-level mission objectives into detailed system and subsystem requirements for the radar, processors, and crew-machine interfaces. Support verification of requirements and perform risk analysis for approval of requirements variances.
- Interface Design & Control: Define and manage the critical data interfaces between the radar system and the U-2's avionics, including MIL-STD-1553, Ethernet, and other communication protocols.
- Hardware & Software Integration: Oversee the physical and electrical integration of the radar sensor, addressing challenges related to power, cooling, and structural mounting on the unique U-2 airframe.
- Verification & Validation (V&V): Develop and execute comprehensive system integration, verification, and validation test plans and procedures. This will occur in both systems integration labs (SIL) and during flight test campaigns.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the primary technical point of contact, working closely with multidisciplinary teams including airframe, flight controls, avionics, electrical, and cybersecurity engineers, as well as test pilots, test engineers and external suppliers.
- Risk Management: Proactively identify, analyze, and mitigate technical risks associated with the integration effort. Conduct trade studies to inform design decisions and ensure optimal system performance.
- Familiarity with airworthiness certification processes and standards (MIL-HDBK-516C).
- Cybersecurity Compliance: Ensure the integrated system adheres to all Department of Defense (DoD) cybersecurity mandates, including the Risk Management Framework (RMF) for certification and accreditation.
Minimum Qualifications
- 5 years relevant experience with Bachelors in related field; 3 years relevant experience with Masters in related field; 0 years experience with PhD or Juris Doctorate in related field; or High School Diploma or equivalent and 9 years relevant experience.
- 3-7 years of experience in systems engineering and integration, preferably within the aerospace and defense industry.
- Proven experience with the integration of avionics, sensors, or other complex mission systems onto military aircraft.
- Strong understanding of aircraft electrical systems, avionics bus architectures (e.g., MIL-STD-1553), and communication protocols.
- Demonstrated experience in developing and managing engineering requirements and executing V&V plans.
- Possess an active Secret security clearance at a minimum, with the ability to obtain a Top Secret/SCI clearance.
Preferred Requirements
- Direct experience with the U-2 platform or other high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) aircraft.
- In-depth knowledge of radar systems, RF theory, digital signal processing, or other airborne sensor technologies.
- Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools (e.g., Cameo, Sparx EA) and simulation environments (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink).
- Experience working in an Agile development environment.
- A Master's degree in a relevant engineering field.
Physical Requirements
Office, industrial, or shipboard environment. Capable of climbing ladders and tolerating confined spaces and extreme temperature variances. Lifting and moving materials may be required.
The listed salary range for this role is intended as a good faith estimate based on the role's location, expectations, and responsibilities. When extending an offer, HII's Mission Technologies division takes a variety of factors into consideration which include, but are not limited to, the role's function and a candidate's education or training, work experience, and key skills.
Meet HII's Mission Technologies Division
Our team of more than 7,000 professionals worldwide delivers all-domain expertise and advanced technologies in service of mission partners across the globe. Mission Technologies is leading the next evolution of national defense - the data evolution - by accelerating a breadth of national security solutions for government and commercial customers. Our capabilities range from C5ISR, AI and Big Data, cyber operations and synthetic training environments to fleet sustainment, environmental remediation and the largest family of unmanned underwater vehicles in every class. Find the role that's right for you. Apply today. We look forward to meeting you.
To learn more about Mission Technologies, click here for a short video: https://vimeo.com/732533072
HII is more than a job - it's an opportunity to build a new future. We offer competitive benefits such as best-in-class medical, dental and vision plan choices; wellness resources; employee assistance programs; Savings Plan Options (401(k)); financial planning tools, life insurance; employee discounts; paid holidays and paid time off; tuition reimbursement; as well as early childhood and post-secondary education scholarships. Bonus/other non-recurrent compensation is occasionally offered for qualified positions, and if applicable to this role will be addressed by the recruiter at the screening phase of application.
Why HII
We build the world's most powerful, survivable naval ships and defense technology solutions that safeguard our seas, sky, land, space and cyber. Our workforce includes skilled tradespeople; artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI/ML) experts; engineers; technologists; scientists; logistics experts; and business administration professionals.
Recognized as one of America's top large company employers, we are a values and ethics driven organization that puts people's safety and well-being first. Regardless of your role or where you serve, at HII, you'll find a supportive and welcoming environment, competitive benefits, and valuable educational and training programs for continual career growth at every stage of your career.
Together we are working to ensure a future where everyone can be free and thrive.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, or veteran status or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.
Do You Need Assistance?
If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to
buildyourcareer@hii-co.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Reasonable accommodations are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only those inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address. Additionally, you may also call
1-844-849-8463 for assistance. Press #3 for HII Mission Technologies.
