Principal Integration Engineer – Defense Programs

Mar 2

Location:
Dayton, OH

Reports To:

CEO

Employment Type:

Full-Time Clearance:
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance required

The Principal Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Integration Engineer serves as the senior technical authority responsible for the integration of a third-party designed unmanned aircraft system into company production, test, and delivery into operational environments in support of U.S. Department of War programs.

This role is initially focused on direct technical execution combined with oversight of integration activities, ensuring successful transition of manufacturing, integration, test, and acceptance processes from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to the company’s facility. As programs mature and production capability scales, the position is expected to evolve toward a predominantly leadership-focused role, emphasizing technical oversight, team leadership, and strategic integration planning.

The role acts as the primary engineering interface with the OEM that retains design authority and is accountable for duplicating full system capability at the company’s site while maintaining configuration control, airworthiness, and mission readiness.

• Serve as the Principal Engineer and technical authority for UAS system integration and manufacturing transition activities.
• Establish system integration strategies, technical standards, and best practices to support scalable production and long-term sustainment.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to a multidisciplinary integration team, with responsibility transitioning from direct execution to oversight as capability matures.

• Act as the primary technical point of contact with the OEM holding aircraft design authority.
• Lead technical interchange meetings, design reviews, and configuration control discussions with the OEM.
• Manage engineering data exchange, interpretation of design intent, and resolution of technical issues within design authority constraints.
• Coordinate and evaluate engineering changes, deviations, and concessions with OEM and government stakeholders.

• Lead the transition of aircraft manufacturing, integration, test, and acceptance processes from the OEM’s facility to the company’s site.
• Define and execute plans to duplicate full aircraft build, integration, test, and delivery capability, including tooling, procedures, test equipment, workforce training, and quality processes.
• Establish scalable integration and production workflows supporting increased build rates and program growth.
• Support first article builds, production ramp-up, and ongoing sustainment activities.

• Direct and initially perform system integration of air vehicle structures, avionics, propulsion, payloads, communications, autonomy software, and ground control systems.
• Develop and maintain system architectures, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), integration plans, and verification artifacts.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action for complex integration, test, or production issues, transitioning toward technical oversight as the organization scales.

• Lead planning and oversight of laboratory, ground, and flight test activities.
• Serve as a senior technical authority in support of military airworthiness, certification, and acceptance processes.
• Participate in and lead test readiness, flight readiness, and production readiness reviews.
• Advise program leadership on technical risk, cost, schedule, and integration strategy.
• Represent the company as the senior UAS integration authority in engagements with government customers, prime contractors, DCMA, and airworthiness authorities.
• Lead and support formal program reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and PRR.

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related engineering discipline…