Lead 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 is a leading developer of advanced electronics systems for the U.S. Department of Defense and commercial customers. Our team specializes in Open Systems Architecture solutions for the non-kinetic fight, providing customers with cost-effective, modular, and rapidly reconfigurable systems in record time. We deliver sensing and effects solutions for land, air, sea, and space domains, leveraging open standards and rapid prototyping methodologies to bring innovative capabilities to the market. Pacific Defense has built an excellent reputation in the defense industry and is expanding our team to tackle new challenges and opportunities. Join us and accelerate your career!

We are seeking a motivated and experienced Engineering Lead to oversee and develop a talented team of Integration and Test (I&T) engineers to support the integration, verification, and delivery of advanced defense systems. This role combines technical expertise with leadership skills to drive the transition from prototype to production, integration and test planning, and execution of verification and validation (V&V). Ideally the candidate will have a strong background in system-of-systems integration, test planning, and execution in accordance with DoD and program-specific requirements.

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.

• Demonstrated success in developing and optimizing processes that improve execution efficiency and ensure consistent on-time delivery of complex technical projects.
• Proven ability to lead the transition of systems from proof of concept to full-scale production deployment, aligning technical execution with strategic objectives.
• Track record of partnering closely with manufacturing teams to ensure seamless handoff of systems, clear documentation, and production readiness.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks.
• Experience with DoD acquisition lifecycle, system requirements verification, and test program execution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience establishing execution discipline and delivery accountability across cross-functional teams to achieve predictable, high-impact outcomes.
• Experience with test equipment, instrumentation, and scripting tools (e.g., Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB).
• Capability to analyze test data, troubleshoot system-level issues, and drive resolution through cross-functional collaboration.
• Familiarity with environmental and EMI/EMC testing per military standards (e.g., MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, etc).
• 12+ years of experience in integration and test engineering, preferably in the defense or aerospace industry.

Responsibilities

Team Leadership:

• Hire, mentor, and manage a team of system engineers, fostering professional growth and ensuring high morale.

• Build a culture of innovation, ownership, and accountability within the team.

Technical Management:

• Establish execution discipline through effective planning, milestone tracking, and proactive issue resolution to ensure timely delivery of commitments.
• Provide technical guidance on integration and test development of the system and product designs.
• Lead the transition of systems from prototype to production by establishing and refining processes that ensure scalability, repeatability, and production readiness.

Project Execution:

• Oversee multiple projects and system deliveries, ensuring they are completed on time, within scope, and with high quality.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product/program managers, operations/manufacturing, supply chain, to align on objectives and deliverables.

Stakeholder Communication:

• Provide clear and concise updates to stakeholders, including project status, risks and milestones.
• Act as a liaison between the engineering team and other departments to ensure alignment and transparency.

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.