Draper · 1 day ago
Principal Systems Architect
Cambridge, MA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$95K/yr - $238K/yr
7+ years expDraper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA, tackling important national challenges. The Principal Systems Architect will apply systems-thinking and advanced methodologies to develop solutions for complex system- and enterprise-level problems across various domains such as missile defense systems and autonomous vehicles.
Defense & Space
No H1B
Security Clearance RequiredU.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Work with senior leaders across Draper to analyze and capture customer and stakeholder needs, understand and evaluate relevant technology options, and apply advanced decision-making strategies to develop innovative system solutions
Maintain strong external presence in the Digital Engineering world as a thought leader and innovative thinker, understand external trends and map back to Draper needs and new business development
Conceptualize and lead the development of the appropriate solution for each project depending on the lifecycle needs, with a 'Product Owner' hat
Bridge the knowledge gaps and across Draper. Build and promote cross functional teams to meet customer and internal needs
Lead complex assignments with minimal management direction and evolving task priorities. Mentor technical staff and development teams to successfully work to deadlines, often while successfully managing to multiple competing priorities
Independently drive solutions to complex problems - develop requirements, propose ways forward when customer requirements are unclear or incomplete, and adapt appropriately to changes in requirements
Sustained record of successful task leadership. Identifies risks and develops and executes mitigation strategies for them
Lead medium-sized teams (5-10 people). Reliably aligns team towards program goals and builds trust within the team
Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Systems Engineering
Provide insight and suggest design modifications based on analysis outcomes, and to apply analysis techniques across a range of technical challenges and disciplines
Identify program/system-level technical risks and develop and execute mitigation strategies
Develop, document, and teach best practices to less experienced engineers
Demonstrate strong organization, planning, and time management skills to achieve program goals
Actively mentors. Recognizes strengths and weaknesses in others and provides thoughtful constructive feedback
Performs other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field
7-10+ years experience as systems engineer or related role
Highly-organized, capable of approaching problems with a system-level perspective
Strong oral and written communication skills
Practical experience with simulation-based performance analysis
Practical experience with the systems engineering process
Roles may require proficiency with modeling and simulation, computer language coding, descriptive modeling (e.g. SysML), STPA, and/or other engineering analysis tools
Knowledge of GN&C, avionics architectures, fault tolerance, cyber/security, comms/encryption, threat modeling or other technologies may be required as defined in the summary
Sustained record of successful task leadership
Identifies risks and develops and executes mitigation strategies for them
Lead medium-sized teams (5-10 people)
Reliably aligns team towards program goals and builds trust within the team
Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Systems Engineering
Provide insight and suggest design modifications based on analysis outcomes, and to apply analysis techniques across a range of technical challenges and disciplines
Identify program/system-level technical risks and develop and execute mitigation strategies
Develop, document, and teach best practices to less experienced engineers
Demonstrate strong organization, planning, and time management skills to achieve program goals
Actively mentors. Recognizes strengths and weaknesses in others and provides thoughtful constructive feedback
Independently drive solutions to complex problems - develop requirements, propose ways forward when customer requirements are unclear or incomplete, and adapt appropriately to changes in requirements
Preferred
Masters degree or higher preferred
Experience with methodologies for Trade space exploration and analysis of alternatives under uncertainty
Experience in data visualization and story boarding
Solid understanding of data-driven algorithmic disciplines such as Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Numerical optimization, Statistical and Probabilistic modeling etc. for systems with underlying physics and sparse multidimensional data
A passion to build quick turn-around prototypes, demonstrate proof-of-concept, and drive to productization
Prior experience in technical leadership, stakeholder engagement and management
Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with other leading national experts in science and technology from academia, national laboratories, and industry who may have ongoing competing priorities and viewpoints
Ability to create and present senior level communications for internal and external customers
Experience in leading or involvement in organizational transformations
Expertise with INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook, Department of Defense Acquisition Framework, or other government or industry Systems Engineering standards
Experience modeling DoD weapons, navigation, or communications systems
Experience with new business development, generating white papers and new proposal content
Benefits
Workplace flexibility
Employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga
Health and finance workshops
Off site social events
Discounts to local museums and cultural activities
Company
Draper
We Engineer Solutions for the Nation’s Toughest Problems As an independent nonprofit engineering innovation company, Draper provides engineering services directly to government, industry, and academia.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Jerry Wohletz
President and Chief Executive Officer
Brenan McCarragher
Chief Technology Officer
Recent News
Business Journals
2024-03-28
2024-02-28
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