Chief Engineer (ON-SITE)
About the role
BAE Systems is seeking an experienced and energetic Chief Engineer (CE), also referred to as Sr. Staff Systems Engineer or Technical Director, to lead the engineering team in the CEMA Business Area. The CE serves as the hands‑on technical lead of a program, acting as the system architect, technical manager, and system coordinator/leader, ensuring that systems, products, and services are viable, fit for purpose, and meet customer needs, requirements, and mission objectives.
Responsibilities
- Lead system architecture design, optimization activities, trades and analyses.
- Ensure system design and implementation meet technical requirements, customer/mission needs, and stay within allocated engineering cost and schedule.
- Confirm designs are realizable, maintainable, supportable, and testable.
- Drive technical risk and opportunity definition, identification, mitigation, and realization.
- Serve as the primary technical interface to the customer, Program Management Office, and executive leadership.
- Understand requirements, missions, use cases, and constraints.
- Manage technical risks and issues, including impact assessment, mitigation, minimization, and closure plans.
- Perform all work onsite full‑time at a BAE Systems facility.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 12+ years of progressive experience in design, development, and integration of complex hardware‑/software‑based systems (e.g., RF, embedded, communications, or control systems).
- Active U.S. Government security clearance (or ability to obtain TS).
- Proven success leading technical teams and overseeing full‑life‑cycle development and test activities.
- Experience leading development of complex RF or electronic warfare (EW) systems.
- Ability to develop system architectures from concept through implementation.
- Experience capturing, documenting, and translating requirements for RF‑related systems.
- Strong communication skills with experience presenting technical information to multi‑tiered audiences, including upper management and customers.
Preferred Qualifications
- Senior engineering leadership experience (e.g., Chief Engineer, Program Lead).
- Expertise in one or more technology areas: RF transceivers, electronic warfare, radar, communications, missile/defense systems, or high‑performance RF platforms.
- Root Cause and Corrective Action training or equivalent experience.
- Familiarity with model‑based systems engineering tools such as DOORS and MagicDraw.
- Experience coordinating multi‑discipline software/firmware regression testing and hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) validation.
Pay
Full‑Time Salary Range: $149,603 – $254,317. This range is based on market pay structures; individual salaries are determined by factors such as business considerations, local market conditions, internal equity, and candidate qualifications.
Benefits
- Health, dental, and vision insurance.
- Health savings accounts.
- 401(k) savings plan.
- Disability and life/accident insurance.
- Employee assistance program and legal plan.
- Discounts on home, auto, and pet insurance.
- Paid time off, paid holidays, and additional leave (parental, military, bereavement, sick leave).
- Company recognition program with monetary or non‑monetary awards.
- Other incentives based on position level or job specifics.
About BAE Systems Electronic Systems
BAE Systems, Inc. is a defense, aerospace, and security company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with more than 40,000 employees worldwide. The company delivers a full range of products and services across air, land, maritime, space, and cyber domains, including advanced electronics, intelligence solutions, and dedicated customer support. Its culture is performance‑driven and values‑led, emphasizing curiosity, creativity, and collaboration to develop breakthrough technologies that defend national security and make a lasting impact on communities and the planet.