Project Engineer I

Joint Task Force Sierra (JTF Sierra) is SNC’s rapid-innovation, defense startup-minded cell within IAS, focused on scouting technology gaps, rapidly developing minimum-viable prototypes, demonstrating early operational relevance, and transitioning successful concepts to IAS business units for scaling and delivering to market.

As a Project Engineer I within JTF Sierra, you will play a critical role in coordinating, executing, and shaping multiple fast-moving prototype efforts. This role blends project engineering fundamentals with JTF’s unique operating model – requiring autonomy, agility, technical curiosity, strong communication skills, and a bias for rapid action. You will help translate high-level concepts into executable tasks, coordinate cross-functional engineering efforts, manage technical risks, and support preparation for high-visibility demonstrations in collaboration with internal program leaders, SMEs, and external partners.

The ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance), Aviation, and Security (IAS) business area is a leader in ISR and aviation, it is a leading prime manned and unmanned aircraft systems integrator for innovative, high-performance ISR and aviation systems. Its end-to-end Command, Control, Computers, Communications and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities encompass design, integration, test, certification, ground/flight training and complete logistics support. IAS tailors solutions to customer cost, performance, and schedule requirements and designs to consistently exceed expectations – with an unrivaled record of on time and on (or under) budget deliveries.

JTF Sierra Culture, Mindset & Leadership Expectations

• Extreme ownership and initiative in loosely defined environments
• Comfort making decisions with incomplete information
• High emotional intelligence and strong communications skills across functions and organizational levels
• Ability to “fail fast,” iterate quickly, and pivot when needed
• Demonstrate a bias towards action, iteration, and rapid learning
• Uphold high-integrity, mission-first mindset – maintaining confidentiality and championing solution-focused outcomes even over personal preferences in approach
• Contribute to building team morale and mentorship; model professionalism, curiosity, and resilience, personal excellence and accountability
• Ability to maintain strong morale for yourself and teammates through ambiguity and rapid change

Responsibilities

Project Coordination & Planning

• Assist in developing, maintaining, and adapting project plans, sprint boards, prototype roadmaps, schedules, and budgets alongside Project Managers and the Senior Project Engineer
• Support definition of requirements, definition of success, and prototype objectives as they evolve through rapid development cycles
• Coordinate parallel tasking across diverse technical domains and ensure alignment with JTF leadership direction

Technical Execution & Support

• Provide hands-on technical support across multiple prototype efforts, even outside your core discipline
• Assist in evaluating technical solution options (make/buy/partner) and gathering data needed for technology gap analyses and development roadmaps
• Help turn high-level mission or business objectives into concrete engineering requirements & tasking

Rapid Prototyping & Demonstration

• Support fast, iterative builds of minimum-viable prototypes, favoring learning and early customer insight over perfection
• Work closely with engineering staff to develop prototypes, data, and plans for internal and external demonstrations
• Help document lessons learned, iteration needs, and next steps following demos and/or technical showcases

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work daily with Program Management, Senior Project Engineer, Business Development, Technology Directors, product SMEs, and external partners to drive project success
• Support identification and coordination of “borrowed” internal resources and external partners to maintain prototype momentum
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, quality, IT/Cyber, and lab staff to remove blocks and keep work moving

Documentation, Reporting, and Compliance

• Maintain accurate and disciplined project documentation – design notes, technical decisions & trade studies, requirements, risks, test & demo plans, sprint planning & updates, and meeting minutes
• Provide succinct, informative status updates highlighting achievements, blockers, risks, and resource needs to internal leadership stakeholders
• Work within JTF’s compliance-aware environments, establishing & documenting required exceptions required for prototyping with Cyber/Lab/IT teams
• Maintain technical task traceability in JIRA (or similar tools), ensuring task ownership, updates, and archiving are consistently performed

Risk & Issue Management

• Identify technical and programmatic risks early, document potential impacts, and assist with mitigation planning
• Surface blockers quickly and creatively help unblock progress, even with incomplete information

Stakeholder & Partner Engagement

• Communicate clearly and appropriately for varied audiences – including technical teams, non-technical stakeholders, executives, and external collaborators
• Synthesize data from diverse sources into actionable insights for JTF leadership
• Help build and maintain relationships across SNC business units and with external partners

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field.
• 8+ years' experience in engineering roles.
• Higher level relevant degree may substitute for experience.
• Knowledge of engineering principles and practice.
• Experience working in multi-disciplinary design and development team.
• Basic understanding of requirements management, system design, and integration.
• Ability to communicate clearly with technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to operate autonomously in a fast-paced, ambiguous, multi-effort environment
• Ability to work in office with occasional travel to customer or field sites
• Ability to obtain/maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• 2-4 years of relevant technical or project engineering experience
• Demonstrated experience in rapid prototyping environments, agile development, or innovation cells
• Familiarity with project management tools such as MS Project or JIRA
• Experience coordinating cross-functional engineering teams or technical SMEs
• Experience preparing project estimates, technical proposals, or contributing to program cost/schedule/staffing evaluations
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, schematics, part lists, and test procedures
• Prior experience leading or coordinating small technical teams, even informally
• Systems engineering familiarity or INCOSE certification
• Aerospace and/or Defense background

Essential Functions:

• Occasional travel to customer or field locations may be required.
• Ability to work primarily in an office or hybrid environment.
• Ability to lift up to 10 pounds occasionally.
• Prolonged periods of working on a computer.
• Hand and finger dexterity for computer use.
• Capability to work in potentially hazardous environments when visiting project sites.

This posting will be open for application for a minimum of 5 days and may be extended based on business needs.

Estimated Starting Salary Range: $143,487.14 - $197,294.82. Compensation varies depending on a wide array of factors, such as candidates' key skills, relevant work experience, and education/training/certifications. The disclosed range estimate may be adjusted for any applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.

SNC offers annual incentive pay based upon performance that is commensurate with the level of the position.

SNC offers a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance. The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination include, but are not limited to, allegiance to the U.S., foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations and illegal drug use.Learn more about the background check process for Security Clearances.

SNC is a global leader in aerospace and national security committed to moving the American Dream forward. We’re known and respected for our mission and execution focus, agility, and disruptive and rapid innovation. We provide leading edge technologies and transformative solutions that support our nation’s most critical security needs. If you are mission-focused, thrive in collaborative environments, and want to make our country stronger with state-of-the-art technologies that safeguard freedom, join our team!

SNC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an environment free of discrimination.  Employment decisions are made based on merit without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.