Advanced Programs Mission Management & Control Architect

Job Summary

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft and tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high‑resolution surveillance systems. The Advanced Programs group has an exciting opportunity in San Diego, CA (Poway, CA) for a Mission Management & Control Architect to support our next‑generation advanced unmanned aircraft system (UAS) programs.

As a Senior Architect, the candidate will be responsible for the end‑to‑end technical architecture, design, and integration of the UAS ground segment—including ground control stations (GCS), mission planning systems, operator interfaces, data exploitation systems, communications interfaces, and enterprise connectivity.

The role leads the definition of requirements, interfaces, software/hardware partitioning, cybersecurity posture, resiliency, and scalability of the ground control and mission management function while ensuring seamless integration with airborne platforms, datalinks, satellite communications, and external command‑and‑control networks. The architect serves as the technical authority for the ground segment across development, test, deployment, and sustainment.

• Lead the architecture and design of the UAS ground control segment, including fixed, mobile, and deployable GCS configurations.
• Define system‑of‑systems architecture linking airborne vehicles, payloads, datalinks, operators, and enterprise networks.
• Develop architectural artifacts including CONOPS, logical/physical architectures, interface control documents (ICDs), and trade studies.
• Establish modular, open‑systems designs compliant with MOSA, OMS/UCI, FACE, and government interoperability frameworks.
• Drive partitioning between hardware, software, and network functions to meet performance, security, and growth objectives.
• Translate mission needs and operational CONOPS into technical requirements for the ground segment.
• Flow down requirements to subsystems and software components.
• Manage ground segment allocations for latency, bandwidth, reliability, cybersecurity, and human‑machine interface (HMI).
• Lead cross‑domain interface definition with air vehicle, payload, communications, and enterprise teams.
• Drive operator‑centric GCS designs emphasizing usability, workload management, and mission effectiveness.
• Define crew station concepts, displays, controls, automation, and autonomy interfaces.
• Ensure compliance with human factors and safety standards.
• Lead integration of GCS hardware, mission software, simulators, and datalink interfaces.
• Support SIL/HIL labs, distributed test environments, and operational demonstrations.
• Define upgrade paths, spiral development strategies, and technology insertion plans.
• Serve as primary technical interface to customers, program leadership, and external partners for ground segment matters.
• Support proposals, technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR), and customer briefings.

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows: 18+ years with a bachelor’s degree, 16+ years with a master’s degree, or 13+ years with a PhD. Equivalent engineering experience may be substituted.
• Degree in aerospace/aeronautical, electrical, mechanical, or systems engineering is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience architecting complex distributed systems or C4
  
  ISR platforms.
• Strong background in systems engineering and architecture frameworks (MBSE/SysML preferred).
• Experience with tactical datalinks, SATCOM, LOS/BLOS communications, and networked systems.
• Knowledge of government interoperability standards (e.g., OMS/UCI, FACE, STANAGs).
• Experience with cybersecurity architectures and RMF.
• Experience leading an engineering team or project.
• Ability to understand new concepts quickly and apply them accurately throughout an evolving environment.
• Excellent written, presentation, and verbal communication skills. Able to distill complex engineering topics into concise presentation materials and present effectively to…