Principal Systems Engineer GNC and Interfaces

Overview

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees tackle national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions in areas such as military defense, space exploration, biomedical engineering, and more. Their multidisciplinary teams work in a collaborative environment that inspires cross‑fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation.

The GN&C System Architecture group is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to develop and manage requirements and interface specifications for guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) systems in mission domains such as strategic defense systems, hypersonic and space systems, precision guided munitions, and autonomous air/sea vehicles. This role applies systems engineering methods within a model‑based systems engineering (MBSE) and/or digital engineering framework.

• Coordinate, schedule, and participate in requirements assessments.
• Conduct requirements engineering, scheduling, reliability, development, and evaluation, maintainability, and analysis for training.
• Lead assessment efforts in conducting both formal and informal evaluations and analysis.
• Independently drive solutions to complex problems – develop requirements, propose ways forward when customer requirements are unclear or incomplete, and adapt to changes.
• Maintain a sustained record of successful task leadership; identify risks and execute mitigation strategies.
• Lead medium‑sized teams, aligning them toward program goals and building trust.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in systems engineering.
• Provide insights and suggest design modifications based on analysis outcomes, applying analysis techniques across technical challenges.
• Identify program/system‑level technical risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Document, teach, and promote best practices to less experienced engineers.
• Demonstrate strong organization, planning, and time‑management skills to achieve program goals.
• Mentor, recognize strengths and weaknesses, and provide constructive feedback.

• Highly organized, capable of approaching problems with a system‑level perspective.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Practical experience with the systems engineering process.
• Familiarity with model‑based systems engineering (MBSE) and/or digital engineering (DE) tools/methods.
• Proficiency with modeling/simulation, computer coding languages, SysML, STPA, DOORS, and other engineering analysis tools.
• Knowledge of GN&C, avionics architectures, fault tolerance, cyber/security, communications/encryption, or related technologies as required.

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, mathematics, or a related field.
• Master’s degree preferred.

10+ years in systems engineering with an emphasis on requirements engineering.

• Elicit stakeholder needs and define concept of operations.
• Define system context to bound problem space.
• Work with subject‑matter experts to define requirements and interface specifications.
• Define expectations for verification and validation of requirements and interfaces.
• Analyze requirements and interfaces to define architectures and system designs.
• Maintain traceability with higher‑ and lower‑level specifications.
• Lead a culture of MBSE by establishing best practices and standards.
• Lead a team developing and managing one or more requirements & interface specifications.
• Present details of requirements & interfaces to internal and external stakeholders.

US base salary range: $95,000.00 - $. Salary determined by role, location, experience, and other factors. Draper supports work‑life balance with flexible options, clubs, workshops, events, and discounts to local activities.

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper provides reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request accommodations, contact

Cambridge, Massachusetts  (US Base)

Applicants must obtain and maintain a government security clearance.