ISR Systems Engineer bridges engineering and operations

The ISR Systems Engineer bridges engineering and operations, translating mission needs into deployable airborne capability. In this role, your will lead systems design for the rapid adaptation, integration, and lifecycle engineering of airborne ISR mission systems onto operational aircraft platforms. You will support aircraft mission system modifications, integration efforts, flight test activities, and sustainment engineering while working alongside operators, maintainers, and cross-functional engineering teams. You will be successful if you can translate ISR mission needs into innovative, safe and compliant systems solutions delivering reliable, high-performance ISR capability directly supporting real-world operations.

What You’ll Do

• Translate operational ISR requirements into systems design, specifications, and installation packages.
• Perform requirements decomposition, traceability, and verification across mission systems.
• Conduct engineering trade studies for sensor payloads, communications architectures, and integration strategies.
• Develop system artifacts including CONOPS, architecture diagrams, and integration drawings.
• Design and develop architecture for sensors, mission computers, data links, and communication systems.
• Define aircraft modification requirements including electrical load analysis, cooling, structural provisions, and RF/antenna placement.
• Plan and execute lab, ground, and flight test activities for ISR systems validation and verification.
• Support airworthiness and certification efforts (FAA and/or military standards, STC processes).
• Analyze test data and iterate system performance improvements.
• Configure and troubleshoot TCP/IP-based mission networks (routing, subnetting, VLANs, secure transport.)
• Build and validate software images to support integration and test activities.
• Execute software loads, firmware updates, and baseline configuration management.
• Support full lifecycle engineering from concept through modification, deployment, and sustainment.
• Manage technical risk, configuration control, and lifecycle planning.
• Ensure compliance with airworthiness, safety, cybersecurity, and operational security standards.

• Minimum 8 years of experience supporting airborne ISR mission systems with integration or aircraft modification experience
• Strong understanding of RF signal paths, IP networking, and mission system interdependencies
• Experience reading and interpreting schematics, wiring diagrams, and integration drawings
• Hands-on experience with ISR system integration, troubleshooting, and test
• Experience with ISR sensors, communications systems, or data architectures.
• Familiarity with certification processes (e.g., Part 21).
• Experience in defense or government environments.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems, Electrical, Aerospace, or related engineering discipline
• PMP or equivalent
• Microsoft Project certifications
• Proficient in Microsoft 365, project management principles, quality management systems (e.g., AS9100), and safety protocols.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.

• Valid Driver’s License., * Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must be a US citizen. Clearance required at time of hire: Active Confidential / Secret clearance required at time of hire, and the ability to maintain it throughout employment.

• Eligible clearance required: This position requires eligibility to obtain a Top Secret clearance. Candidates will be subject to a background investigation in accordance with federal requirements.
• Position may require passing a government-administered background check.
• Role may require adherence to export control regulations (ITAR/EAR).
• Employment is contingent on meeting all clearance and adjudication requirements., AS 9100, Aerospace and Defense, Analysis Skills, Antenna, Background Investigation, Bridge Building, Change Control, Civil Engineering, Communication Systems, Communications Architecture, Computer Firmware, Concept of Operations (CONOPS), Configuration Management, Cross-Functional, Data Analysis, Disability Insurance, Driver’s License, Electrical Wiring, Electricity, Electronic Warfare, Employee Assistance Plan, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Finance, Firefighting, Government, Health Plan, IP (Internet Protocol), Identify Issues, Insurance, Integration Testing, Internet Security, Legal, Life Insurance, Maintain Compliance, Microsoft Certifications, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Word, Military/DoD Standards, Network Routing, Operations Security (OPSEC), Performance Management, Project Management Professional (PMP), Project/Program Management, Quality Management, Radio Frequency, Regulatory Compliance, Requirements Management, Risk Management, Safety Compliance, Schematics, Simulation, Software Administration, Software Validation, Subnetting, System Integration (SI), System Operations, System Validation, Systems Engineering, TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), Technical Leadership, Test Data, Testing, Traceability, Trade Studies, United States Citizen, VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network), Validation Testing, Wheel/Front-End Loader, Willing to Travel

• Comprehensive medical plan options
• HSA/FSA accounts
• Dental and vision coverage
• 6% employer 401(k) match
• Fully paid parental leave for all new parents
• Generous PTO

• Life and disability insurance Long-term and Short-term disability coverage

• AD&D Coverage
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Subsided gym membership / plans through Wellhub

Work Authorization / Security Clearance, This is a full-time non-exempt position with typical working hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hours and work shifts may change in accordance with department and business needs. Work Environment

This job operates in an office setting located at Metrea, 4751 Jim Walter Blvd, Hangar 7B, Tampa, FL 33607. Travel

There may be significant CONUS travel requirements (25-50%).

Metrea delivers effects-as-a-service to national security partners across five domains and more than a dozen mission areas. These include airborne ISR, electronic warfare, secure communications, aerial refueling, special air missions, aerial firefighting, and advanced simulation. We own the whole stack: designing, building, and operating turnkey capabilities that give our partners decisive, asymmetric advantage against rapidly evolving threats.

Our operating model is built around three interlocking pillars. The Support Groups provide a global shared-service - spanning people, finance, platform, operations, legal, and engagement. This frees up our Core Groups, who develop and own mission capabilities end-to-end, to focus entirely on delivery. The Market Groups apply a regional lens, ensuring that our agile and adaptable capabilities remain aligned to the wicked problems that matter most to our partners across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific.

At the heart of our model is a simple but powerful idea: be a true partner with skin in the game. Our partners need effects, not just equipment. By owning the full stack - from the lab to the field - we are able to drive a continuous cycle of innovation that keeps our partners ahead. It’s a fast-moving, intellectually demanding environment where talented people are given real responsibility, work on problems that matter, and contribute to an enterprise that is growing quickly and deliberately.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, with facilities across the United States, the United Kingdom, as well as Continental Europe and Asia-Pacific.