CCE Systems Engineer

Specialty Systems, Inc. is seeking a motivated and experienced CCE Systems Engineer to support a NAVAIR-led U.S. Marine Corps MQ-9 program located at Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in Patuxent River, MD. The selected candidate will provide technical leadership supporting the integration, testing, sustainment, and certification of the MQ-9 Common Control Environment (CCE) and associated Ground Control Station (GCS) capabilities.

In this role, you will work closely with government engineers, operational stakeholders, and industry partners to support mission-critical unmanned aviation systems directly impacting Marine Corps operations. The ideal candidate will possess strong systems engineering experience supporting software-intensive defense programs, along with a collaborative mindset and the ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering efforts in a fast-paced acquisition environment.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute to advanced unmanned aviation capabilities while supporting engineering activities across the full system lifecycle, including requirements development, integration, testing, certification, and sustainment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Leadership

• Serve as the Lead Systems Engineer supporting MQ-9 Common Control Environment (CCE) capabilities for Marine Corps operations.
• Lead system engineering activities including requirements flowdown, architecture development, interface management, and technical trade studies.
• Serve as a technical point of contact for NAVAIR, USMC stakeholders, and platform integrators.
• Ensure alignment between CCE software, ground control systems, mission systems, communications/data links, and aircraft interfaces.

Systems Engineering & Integration

• Support systems engineering activities across the full lifecycle including:
• Requirements analysis and allocation
• Architecture development
• Interface Control Documents (ICDs)
• Verification & Validation (V&V)
• Support integration and testing activities including lab integration, SIL/HIL testing, flight testing, and operational evaluations.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation supporting certification, airworthiness, and program technical reviews.
• Analyze system performance, technical risks, and interface requirements to support mission effectiveness and system interoperability.
• Support development of technical manuals, training materials, and sustainment documentation.

Team & Program Support

• Lead and mentor multidisciplinary engineering teams supporting systems, software, integration, and test activities.
• Coordinate engineering priorities and technical deliverables to support program schedules and mission objectives.
• Participate in design reviews, technical interchange meetings, test readiness reviews, and customer briefings.
• Collaborate closely with program managers, engineers, test teams, and subcontractors to ensure successful program execution.

• Must be a US Citizen.
• Active Secret clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain Top Secret/SCI.
• Bachelor’s degree in systems engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline
• 10+ years of experience in systems engineering or software intensive defense programs
• Hands on experience with unmanned systems, ground control stations, or avionics control software
• Prior experience leading engineering teams (technical lead, IPT lead, or manager)
• Strong understanding of:

o Requirements management (DOORS or equivalent)

o Interface definition and control

o V model systems engineering practices

• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary technical teams
• Comfortable making technical decisions in a fast moving acquisition environment
• Strong communication skills with both engineers and senior government stakeholders
• Mission focused, collaborative, and customer oriented mindset

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering
• Certification in Systems Engineering
• Experience with NAVAIR Systems Engineering Technical Review (SETR) process.
• Familiarity with DoD aviation development, production, sustainment, and/or testing
• Knowledge of U.S. Government, DoD, and/or USN correspondence development practices, along with the ability to write formal engineering reports and construct briefing materials using MS Office tools (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
• Direct experience with MQ 9, Predator class UAS, or similar Group 4/5 UAS platforms
• Familiarity with Common Control Environment (CCE) or equivalent UAS control software
• NAVAIR, USMC, or USAF acquisition program experience with knowledge of:

o Open systems architectures (MOSA)

o Agile/DevSecOps

• Prior experience supporting PMA 266 or Marine Corps aviation programs
• Active TS/SCI or SCI eligible clearance