Senior Systems Engineer (SSE)

Pono Aina Management LLC is currently seeking a Senior Systems Engineer (SSE) to join their team. This senior technical role provides high-level systems engineering expertise, airworthiness oversight, and system safety support for the Royal Australian Air Force’s F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler fleets. The position serves as a key technical advisor to the Australian Liaison Office, ensuring that all platform configurations, modifications, and upgrades meet rigorous Australian and U.S. airworthiness and safety standards. The successful candidate will work closely with NAVAIR, Boeing, and other stakeholders in a complex, binational defence engineering environment., * Provide senior-level systems engineering support across airworthiness, system integration, configuration management, and technical risk areas

• Support the Australian Aircraft Structural Integrity Program (ASIP), System Safety Program, and overall Sustainment Program
• Conduct and support hazard identification, risk assessment, and risk mitigation activities for the RAAF fleet configuration
• Track and evaluate NAVAIR Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs), Technical Directives (TDs), and other technical documentation for systems impacts
• Liaise with NAVAIR, Boeing, and other CONUS stakeholders on technical, safety, and integration matters
• Develop high-quality briefing materials, engineering reports, and presentations for senior Australian and U.S. stakeholders
• Independently represent the RAAF in technical forums, working groups, and program reviews
• Advise on platform integration activities and future capability insertions from a systems engineering perspective
• Contribute to the identification and management of technical risks affecting fleet safety, availability, and capability

• U.S. or Australian Citizenship
• Current or ability to obtain a U.S. SECRET clearance (or Australian AGSVA equivalent)
• Significant experience in the operation, maintenance, acquisition, or sustainment of tactical military aircraft (F/A-18 experience highly preferred)
• Strong project management and coordination skills in a defence program setting

Important Requirements:

• Tertiary qualifications in Engineering, Project Management, Aviation, or a related technical field
• Demonstrated understanding of U.S. DoD and USN acquisition processes
• Experience with spiral development or incremental capability upgrade programs
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (especially Project, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams)

Physical Requirements:

• Work is performed in an office environment and requires the ability to operate standard office equipment and keyboards. Requires the ability to walk short distances.
• Exerting up to 15 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
• Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. the worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading.

Hui Huliau is a nonprofit Native Hawaiian Organization (NHO) and community service organization whose business activities principally benefit Native Hawaiians. As an NHO we operate under U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) regulations and own small businesses that participate in the SBA 8(a) Business Development Program for minority owned companies. Our small businesses provide a variety of contracted services to the U. S. Military, U. S. Civilian agencies, and commercial customers at locations worldwide.

Profits from Hui Huliau’s for-profit subsidiaries help sustain important education, social, economic, and cultural preservation programs that serve Native Hawaiians in the Waianae community. The Waianae Coast on the western side of the island of Oahu has the highest per capita percentage of Native Hawaiians in the world and the highest poverty and unemployment rate in the State of Hawaii.

Our mission to strengthen our communities, make a positive impact on the lives we touch, and provide a brighter future for the Native Hawaiian people through education, economic opportunities, and the preservation of the Hawaiian language and culture. Hui Huliau employees help us achieve this mission by providing outstanding service to our customers.