Software Project Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

WORK LOCATION: Ann Arbor MI, Chantilly VA or Remote US (Eastern Time Zone)

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

SALARY RANGE: The anticipated salary range for this role is $127,000 to $165,000 annually. This range reflects a good faith estimate based on the targeted level for the role and typical compensation benchmarks across U.S. locations. Actual compensation may vary depending on the selected candidate’s qualifications, experience, geographical location, and internal alignment. 

SUMMARY

The Software Project Engineer provides program-level technical coordination across multiple engineering teams and major subsystems. This role leads the integration strategy for complex engineering efforts, ensuring all disciplines (hardware, software, systems, avionics, test, and manufacturing) remain synchronized toward key program milestones and deliverables. 

The Software Project Engineer PE drives the sequencing, communication structure, and integration readiness required for multi-phase product development. They identify cross-team impacts early, maintain forward-looking plans, and ensure engineering execution is organized, predictable, and aligned with the program’s technical objectives. This role also mentors the broader Project Engineering team and acts as a technical counterpart to program leadership. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

The following job functions are a basic requirement but are not limited to and may be assigned other duties: 

• Lead technical integration across multiple subsystems or entire vehicle-level engineering efforts. 

• Develop and maintain the engineering execution plan, including multi-workstream schedules, integration checkpoints, build / release and milestone readiness tracking criteria. 

• Ensure cross-functional alignment by running structured coordination cadences across hardware, software, systems, avionics, test, and manufacturing. 

• Own technical readiness for engineering reviews (CoDR, PDR, CDR, TRR), ensuring all disciplines meet entry/exit criteria. 

• Serve as the primary engineering integration counterpart to Program Management, providing visibility into progress, constraints, required decisions and software delivery risk across integration, regression, configuration and schedule. 

• Coordinate engineering deliverables that span multiple IPTs or disciplines, ensuring consistency and preventing disconnects. 

• Influence requirement interpretation, design impacts, and verification planning alongside systems engineering. 

• Plan and coordinate system-level integration events, prototype builds, lab testing, flight test preparation and production release activities.
• Identify roadblocks and bottlenecks to project execution and determine a course of action to eliminate or avoid them.
• Develop and implement recovery plans for off-schedule and unanticipated events 

• Drive structured communication practices across all teams, ensuring predictable updates, clear next steps, and documentation continuity for software releases and configuration / change documentation.  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

The following are a non-exhaustive list of qualifications for the position: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Project Management, Technical Management, Systems Engineering or a related analytical field required. 

• 7–10 years of experience in in delivering software initiatives through project engineering, technical program coordination or engineering operations. 

• Demonstrated capability leading complex, multi-disciplinary engineering efforts, major product subsystems or software programs with significant integration scope. 

• Aerospace, UAS, robotics, or high-integration hardware / software industry experience

• Deep understanding of software and system engineering lifecycles, design reviews and verification processes. 

• Ability to interpret system architectures, interface definitions, and technical requirements across domains. 

• Expertise building and maintaining multi-layered schedules and integration sequences. 

• Strong competency leading cross-functional meetings and producing structured technical documentation. 

• Experience coordinating software integration activities, lab integration, system-level testing or flight test readiness. 

• High-level communication and stakeholder management skills, especially with senior engineers and leadership teams. 

• Strong analytical thinking and ability to foresee integration issues before they manifest. 

• Exceptional organizational discipline, able to wrangle ambiguity into structured plans. 

• Able to influence without authority and facilitate agreement across functions. 

• Demonstrated leadership within engineering execution; capable of mentoring and uplifting the broader PE team. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Masters degree in engineering, systems engineering, or project management, computer science or other related discipline. 

• Training or certification in systems engineering or project management (PMP/CAPM/INCOSE ASEP). 

• Experience coordinating across multiple development sites or distributed engineering teams. 

• Background supporting system-level verification campaigns, flight test phases, or major integration events that include software and system readiness

• Experience supporting customer-facing technical integration meetings. 

• Familiarity with requirements management tools (DOORS, Jama, JIRA Align). 

• Experience with PLM/PDM systems, configuration control, and engineering change management. 

• Ability to synthesize verification data, requirements flowdown, interface definitions and software impacts. 

• Strong ability to communicate upward to directors, CTO-level leadership, and external partners. 

• Highly adept at modeling “how information should flow” across complex programs. 

• Ability to maintain composure and structure in high-uncertainty or fast-moving environments. 

REDWIRE DEFENSE TECH BENEFITS

• Matching 401(k)
• Paid PTO
• Paid holidays
• Medical, vision, and dental insurance
• Group Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• HSA and FSA Options
• Critical Care Plan
• Accident Care Plan

CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

This position may require access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). To comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants will be asked to provide specific documentation to verify a US person’s status under the ITAR and the EAR.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The work environment may involve a standard office setting while also incorporating elements of a production area. Employees will use standard office equipment, including computers, and must demonstrate stamina to sit or stand while maintaining attention to detail despite potential interruptions. The role may require occasional activities such as walking, climbing, stooping, crouching, and bending. Vision is necessary for reading printed materials and a computer screen, while hearing and speech are essential for effective communication both in person and over the telephone. Additionally, the position may necessitate travel by air or automobile. Employees may be required to use personal protective equipment, including safety glasses, safety shoes, and shop coats, to ensure safety in the production environment. Employees may be able to lift up to 30 pounds as needed.

REDWIRE DEFENSE TECH IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Redwire Defense Tech is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Human Resources. Continued employment remains on an “At-Will” basis.