Staff Project Engineer

Job Description

We are seeking a Staff Project Engineer to lead the technical execution of complex, multi-disciplinary engineering programs spanning software, FPGA, hardware, and manufacturing. This engineer will develop and manage integrated project schedules, coordinate cross-functional dependencies, identify and mitigate execution risks, and drive programs from concept through development, testing, and manufacturing release. The ideal candidate brings a strong software or systems engineering background, experience leading hardware-software programs in high-ambiguity environments, and expertise with waterfall or stage-gate planning, technical risk management, and tools such as MS Project or Smartsheet.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Build and maintain the integrated program schedule for assigned programs, translating requirements and architecture into a sequenced task and dependency network across software, FPGA, hardware, and manufacturing workstreams, including programs with significant ambiguity or no established planning precedent.
• Identify, track, and manage cross-team and cross-discipline dependencies, ensuring downstream work is not blocked, and upstream work is sequenced to unblock it.
• Own the risk and issue register for program technical execution: identify schedule risk early, drive mitigation plans, and escalate before problems become program-level surprises.
• Partner with Software, FPGA, and Hardware Tech Leads, including Senior and Staff-level leads, to translate architecture and design decisions into actionable, estimated, and sequenced engineering tasks and milestones, and influence their approach where current practice falls short.
• Track progress against plan at the team and individual task level; identify slipping work early and drive re-planning, re-sequencing, or reallocation with the responsible leads.
• Manage third-party and subcontractor deliverables: define delivery expectations and acceptance criteria, track schedule commitments, and hold external partners accountable to dates and quality.
• Serve as the primary technical execution point of contact between Software Engineering, FPGA/Hardware Engineering, Manufacturing/Test, and Program Management for assigned programs.
• Drive program-level coordination and milestone reviews focused on schedule health, blockers, and cross-team dependencies.
• Support the transition from development and test into manufacturing release, ensuring engineering deliverables (documentation, test results, build artifacts) meet manufacturing entry criteria on schedule.
• Report program technical status, schedule health, risks, and forecasts to engineering leadership and Program Management on a regular cadence.
• Define and improve program execution practices (estimation quality, dependency capture, definition of done, escalation thresholds) across Software, FPGA, and Hardware engineering, and mentor Project Engineers working on individual programs.
• Use modern planning tools and agentic AI tools to build lightweight automation and dashboards that accelerate schedule tracking, dependency visualization, and status reporting.

Skills and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in software engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a closely related field. Master’s degree or PMP (or equivalent program/technical management certification) a plus
• 10+ years of professional engineering experience in complex, multi-disciplinary system development, including 4+ years driving technical execution or program schedule for hardware-software programs
• Experience in satellite communications, RF/modem systems, embedded or FPGA development, or hardware-software integration programs.
• Experience in a regulated defense/aerospace manufacturing environment (ITAR, DFARS, AS9100) and familiarity with hardware-to-manufacturing release processes.
• Prior experience as a software engineer or technical lead before transitioning into program or technical execution roles.
• Experience with planning and tracking tools suited to waterfall or stage-gate program environments (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet) and demonstrated ability to build lightweight automation or dashboards, including with AI/agentic tools, to accelerate execution tracking.
• Experience using AI coding or agent tools to build internal tooling such as schedule trackers, dependency visualizers, or status report generators.
• Strong technical background in software or systems engineering, enough to evaluate technical estimates, architecture trade-offs, and integration risk. Hands-on coding is not a primary job function.
• Demonstrated experience driving complex, multi-disciplinary engineering programs to schedule under heavy ambiguity: sequencing dependencies, managing risk, and holding cross-functional teams accountable to dates without an established playbook to follow.
• Proven ability to manage external subcontractors or vendors against schedule and quality commitments.

We are a company committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments where people can bring their full, authentic selves to work every day. We are an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer that believes everyone matters. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, genetic factors, age, disability, protected veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to [email protected].