EO​/IR Payload Integration Project Engineer

Job Summary

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable, remotely piloted aircraft, tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high-resolution surveillance systems.

Agile Mission Systems (AMS) at GA-ASI in San Diego, CA is a growing center of excellence where innovation meets mission impact. We bring together high-performing technical experts and future leaders to develop, integrate, and field cutting‑edge mission systems that meet the evolving needs of warfighters and decision‑makers. You’ll work alongside a multidisciplinary team to drive strategic objectives, develop customer‑facing relationships, and architect solutions that bring complex systems of systems together—delivering real‑world mission outcomes.

The Payload Integration group addresses challenging problems by developing, integrating, fielding, supporting, and advancing mature technologies into payload solutions for GA‑ASI platforms. Current payloads include Multi‑Mode Radars, EO/IR systems, Advanced IRST, Electronic Warfare systems, Countermeasures, and Signal Intelligence sensors to deliver cutting‑edge solutions to our customers.

This is an exciting opportunity for an engineer with a passion for innovation, a deep understanding of gimbal‑stabilized EO/IR technologies, and the technical expertise to enhance and expand turreted multi‑sensor optical payloads into new mission sets. This role focuses on the integration and mission expansion of gimbal‑stabilized, turreted multi‑sensor EO/IR payloads. Qualified candidates will bring hands‑on expertise with optical platforms incorporating high‑resolution EO cameras, IR sensors, laser rangefinders, and laser designators optimized for precision targeting, long‑range surveillance, and real‑time intelligence collection.

• Integrate, optimize, and support gimbal‑stabilized and turreted multi‑sensor EO/IR payloads onto airborne platforms, ensuring seamless hardware and software performance.
• Demonstrated ability to develop expertise and become the subject‑matter expert and technological champion in the relevant capabilities.
• Understanding of hardware and software management in addition to manufacturing principles to maintain a strategic product portfolio.
• Implementing and maintaining cybersecurity standards for sensitive optical and sensor systems.
• Lead diverse multi‑function engineering teams, meeting critical program milestones, and successfully executing programs within the defined cost and schedule.
• Represent the face of engineering for this payload, ensuring consistent/appropriate messaging as well as cross‑communication between internal and external stakeholders.
• Support engineering estimates and proposals during business development and shaping activities.
• Develop program plans, estimates, schedules and execute programs to ensure programmatic and technical success.
• Perform system analysis, trade studies, author technical white papers, and generate customer technical data packages.
• Complete, document, and present System Requirements Reviews (SRR), Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR), and Critical Design Reviews (CDR) and other technical reviews.
• Support mission architecture implementations and designs and CONOP development.
• Support payload compatibility and enhancement for open architecture initiatives (OMS, FACE, CESMO, etc.), Autonomy & Artificial Intelligence, fusion, track management, and other interoperability capabilities.
• Support the development of test plans and manage the integration, verification and validation of new capabilities and technologies.
• Support development of business/strategic objectives and system concept‑of‑operations.

• 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; six or more years of experience with a bachelor's degree, four or more years of experience with a master's degree, or two or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
• Operational or Test…