UAS Integration Engineer

About the position

We have an opening for a UAS Integration Engineer to support the Flight Test Group. The Flight Test Group is a fast-paced, cross-disciplinary team that specializes in rapid development of reliable in-field deployable assets. You will be well-rounded with a broad range of knowledge and experience but also have specific experience with small, unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) and their applications. Your disciplinary background will include good mechanical design skills and intuition, knowledge and experience with DC electronics circuit design, and prior experience with software development and maintenance activities. Your primary role will be to support, develop, maintain, and expand ongoing sUAS development efforts (hardware, electrical, and software) as a member of the Flight Test Group, but your relevant skills may also be leveraged to support other Flight Test development efforts. This position is in the Defense Technologies Engineering Division (DTED), within the Engineering Directorate. DTED provides support to the Strategic Deterrence (SD) Program. Depending on your assignment, this position may offer a hybrid schedule, blending in-person and virtual presence. You may have the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week.

Responsibilities

• Conduct systems integration work to incorporate COTS and custom subsystems into Flight Test sUAS to enhance capabilities and increase system robustness and mission flexibility, following standard techniques and methodologies.
• Contribute to the mechanical, electrical, and software design and development of sUAS airframes, power systems, sensor payloads, communication boxes, and supporting equipment, using defined practices, principles, and concepts.
• Conduct test & evaluation activities including flight tests, demos, subsystem tests, etc., and provide solutions to operational problems of limited complexity.
• Contribute to and/or generate system documentation, procedures, specifications, and other technical documents for use by Flight Test and other supporting personnel.
• Assist in coordinating the procurement, fabrication, and manufacturing of sUAS-related mechanical and electrical components.
• Collaborate with other members of the Flight Test group to understand how sUAS capabilities can be leveraged to enhance various aspects of Flight Test operations.
• Provide engineering support to the Flight Test group for relevant engineering problems and other areas of research and development.
• Support Flight Test in-field deployments in domestic and foreign locations which are nominally 2 weeks in duration, and up to several times per year.
• Collect, interpret, and provide data processing support for the Flight Test group analysts.
• Participate in technical presentations and provide technical support to Flight Test group customers.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related technical discipline, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Familiarity with and fundamental knowledge of sUAS systems and their popular open-source implementations and utilities (ArduPilot, PX4, MAVLink, Pixhawk, etc.) as well as an understanding of DC electronics fundamentals that include mechanical, circuit, and PCB design skills, and experience with PCB, 3D, and CAD software, mechanical drawings, GD&T, and design for manufacturing concepts.
• Operational experience and demonstrated ability to interact, contribute, maintain, and debug code bases written in Python, C++, Arduino, and MATLAB, including experience using git-based version control.
• Experience conducting sUAS flight test experiments in lab/research settings as well as demonstrations out in the field.
• Ability to work productively in a variety of work environments including office settings, workshops, mobile trailers, and in remote outdoor field environments.
• Sufficient verbal and written communication skills to collaborate effectively in a team environment and present and explain technical information.
• Ability to travel up to 2 weeks several times per year, and up to 4 weeks once per year.

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Proficiency working within Linux Debian-based operating systems and experience with static network design and standard communication protocols (UDP, TCP, SCP, FTP, TELNET, etc.).
• Prior experience using popular robotics and simulation tools such as ROS, Gazebo, AirSim, etc., as well as experience developing basic GUI and web applications.
• Experience interfacing with differential and RTK-GPS and familiarity with RF systems design.
• Multirotor UAS piloting ability with Part 107 remote-pilot certification.

Benefits

• Flexible Benefits Package
• 401(k)
• Relocation Assistance
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)