Senior Systems Engineer

Due to the classified nature of our work, U.S. citizenship is required. Candidate must meet the eligibility to obtain and maintain a DoD Top Secret / SCI Security Clearance.

Location: Sunnyvale, CA

About Us

Pacific Defense develops advanced electronics systems for the U.S. Department of Defense and commercial customers. Specializing in Open Systems Architecture solutions for electromagnetic spectrum warfare, we deliver modular, rapidly reconfigurable systems in less than half the time of traditional contractors. Our expertise spans Radar, EW, SIGINT, and Communications, combined with a go-fast execution model leveraging Open Standards like SOSA, CMOSS, and MORA. With facilities across the country and a diverse team, we drive innovation in signal processing, algorithm development, cognitive systems, and systems integration. Join us to advance your career and tackle national defense challenges.

Who are we looking for?

Pacific Defense is seeking Senior Systems Engineer with the ability to work primarily the back end of programs including integration and test, Environmental testing including EMI, and preparing the products systems for final acceptance. This role is for a multi-discipline System Engineer with experience in Communications, Navigation, Networking, and Electronic Warfare domains.

Requirements

• Passion for both program startup through final acceptance (paper to scope) with emphasis on the back-end execution including being a Test Architect.
• Demonstrated ability to take systems from proof-of-concept through to full-scale production deployment.
• Ideal candidates will have experience to support/lead the Integration and Test efforts from initial power on through verification/validation/acceptance.
• Familiarity with program startup including Requirement generation, allocation, and verification.
• Skills needed for Integration and Test include using test equipment, reading/understanding technical documents including schematics, flow diagrams, and other design documentation.
• Experience with Environmental Testing to various MIL-STDs including MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461 and others.
• Experience with Electronic Warfare (comms and/or non-comms), PNT, and Communications waveforms.
• Be a voice into the direction of product maturation and scaling to full rate production.
• Work across the company to solve problems and improve the development of company products and systems.

Required Skills

• Willingness to help establish processes and procedures where there are none in a growing small company atmosphere.
• Proven experience transitioning prototype systems into production-ready solutions.
• Expertise in EW System verification using standard test equipment and special purpose subsystems.
• Experience with Test Automation software.
• Attention to detail and a self-starter.
• Experience with hardware architecture, specification, design, integration, and testing.
• A passion for hands on testing of complex electronic equipment.
• Understanding of hardware engineering, electrical engineering, electronics, and computer architecture.
• Understanding of General-Purpose Graphical Processing Units (GPGPUs), General Purposes Processors, and Firmware devices.
• Understanding of Open Systems standards and experience using them (SOSA, CMOSS, MORA, VICTORY).
• Experience developing and following processes to ensure quality and predictability of hardware development.
• Critical thinker, with the ability to communicate with peers, subordinates and leadership.
• Competitive spirit accepting of challenges with a willingness to learn and recover from mistakes.
• Strong desire to work at a smaller company free of many of the “big company” roadblocks.
• Strong written and oral communication skills with experience presenting technical material.

Preferred Experience

• 5+ years of experience
• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, or other relevant technical field or relevant military experience.

Benefits

Pacific Defense provides competitive salaries and immediately vested 401K match. We provide 100% coverage options for the employee, and 75% coverage for dependents’ medical, dental, vision, and life insurance premiums, as well as a flexible spending account for incidental health care expenses. We offer paid time off and federal holidays to spend time with family, pursue outside interests, or just get some extra rest.

Pacific Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.