System and Subsystem Engineer

Job Description

Position Title – Principal system and sub system engineer (Emirati Talent)

Reports To: Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Systems Engineer to lead the end-to-end systems engineering of advanced UAV platforms. This role carries technical authority, architectural ownership, and program-level accountability across multiple UAV systems and development phases.

The Principal Systems Engineer will define system architectures, govern system requirements, and ensure seamless integration of avionics, propulsion, communications, autonomy, payloads, and ground systems. In addition to technical leadership, the role is expected to mentor Emirati engineers, institutionalize best practices, and contribute to national capability development in advanced aerospace systems

Key Responsibilities:

Systems Architecture & Design:

• Own and define end-to-end UAV system architectures, covering airborne platforms, payloads, datalinks, GCS, and supporting infrastructure.
• Establish and maintain system-level requirements, interfaces (ICDs), and functional allocations across all subsystems.
• Act as the final technical authority for system trade studies, architectural decisions, and requirement changes.
• Ensure compliance with applicable civil (GCAA, EASA, FAA) and military (MIL-STD / STANAG) standards.
• Govern configuration management, version control, and system baselines across development phases.

Subsystem Integration:

• Lead the integration of hardware, software, mechanical, electrical, and RF subsystems into a coherent and certifiable system.
• Drive alignment between flight control, propulsion, avionics, payloads, autonomy, and communications.
• Ensure system performance, safety margins, SWaP, and reliability targets are met.
• Resolve system-level conflicts and integration risks proactively.

• Provide hands-on technical leadership and mentorship to systems, software, avionics, and mechanical engineers.
• Lead and chair technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR,PRR).
• Establish and institutionalize systems engineering processes, templates, and best practices.
• Support Emirati talent development, knowledge transfer, and long-term national capability growth.

• Define and approve system verification & validation strategies, including lab, ground, and flight testing.
• Oversee development of test plans, procedures, and success criteria aligned with system requirements.
• Lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions for system-level issues uncovered during testing.
• Ensure traceability from requirements → design → test → acceptance

• Lead the systems engineering lifecycle from concept definition through deployment and operational readiness.
• Monitor risks, technical debt, and integration bottlenecks; drive mitigation

• Ensure system deliverables align with program milestones, cost, and schedule constraints.
• Maintain high-quality technical documentation and data packs.

• Act as the primary technical interface with internal leadership, partners, suppliers, and regulatory bodies.
• Represent the system architecture and technical status in executive reviews, customer briefings, and audits.
• Support proposal development, R&D roadmaps, and technology insertion strategies. Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Champion continuous improvement in system design methodology, risk management, and integration efficiency.
• Stay current with emerging UAV technologies, autonomy, AI-enabled systems, and regulatory evolution.
• Drive adoption of modern MBSE, digital engineering, and model-based verification practices.

Project Management & Milestone Tracking:

• Lead the system engineering lifecycle from concept through design, development, testing, and final deployment, ensuring projects stay on time and within

• Monitor project progress, including risks and bottlenecks, and report status updates to key stakeholders.
• Manage documentation and ensure that project deliverables are met at each development phase (concept, PDR, CDR, final deployment).

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in aerospace engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of hands-on engineering experience, with strong focus on UAV systems engineering, flight control systems, autonomy, and sensor fusion.
• Proven experience in system architecture, integration, verification, and flight testing of UAV platforms.
• Deep understanding of UAV subsystems: avionics, flight control, propulsion, sensors, communications, and payloads.
• Strong working knowledge of systems engineering tools (SysML / MBSE, MATLAB/Simulink, DOORS or equivalent).
• Demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary engineering teams and complex technical

• Experience across military and commercial UAV environments.
• High level of technical writing.