Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline; advanced degree preferred.
15+ years of mission systems engineering experience with direct USAF mission operations involvement.
Experience translating operational CONOPS/TTPs into engineering requirements.
Strong understanding of mission planning and C2 interoperability in USAF operations.
Direct experience with unmanned aircraft system (UAS) mission operations.
Responsibilities
Own the mission systems architecture for the MMA platform, focusing on payload/sensor employment and mission execution logic.
Translate USAF CONOPS and TTPs into actionable mission systems requirements.
Define mission system interfaces with avionics and command-and-control networks.
Lead mission-level trade studies balancing operational effectiveness with cost and producibility.
Serve as the primary interface to USAF operational stakeholders to ensure design reflects real-world needs.
Participate in mission utility analysis and operational reviews to validate system design.
Identify gaps between requirements and operational needs, driving resolution through systems engineering.
Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company.
401k with 50% company match up to 6% of pay, FSA, HSA, and life insurance.
Free daily lunch while onsite, fully-stocked kitchen, and unlimited PTO.
Competitive base salaries with generous pre-IPO stock option grants and relocation assistance.
Growing team with 500+ employees across 5 global offices.
Full Job Description
Role Overview:We are seeking an experienced Principal Mission Systems Engineer who will own the mission systems architecture and operational employment concept for the Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) program, ensuring the platform is designed not just to fly, but to execute real U.S. Air Force (USAF) mission sets as operators actually employ them. This role translates USAF Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), tactics/techniques/procedures (TTPs), and mission planning/employment workflows into concrete mission systems requirements, driving design decisions across payload integration, sensor-to-shooter/sensor-to-decision chains, mission planning, and command-and-control (C2) interoperability. The ideal candidate brings direct experience with USAF mission operations - either as a former operator, mission systems engineer supporting operational units, or developer working closely with operational USAF customers - and can credibly bridge the gap between operational requirements and engineering design decisions.Responsibilities:
Own the mission systems architecture for the MMA platform, including payload/sensor employment, mission planning, mission execution logic, and data/information flow supporting the operational mission.
Translate USAF CONOPS, TTPs, and operational employment concepts into traceable mission systems requirements and architecture decisions.
Define mission system interfaces with onboard avionics, the Ground Control Station (GCS), payload/sensor subsystems, and relevant command-and-control (C2) networks.
Lead mission-level trade studies (e.g., sensor coverage, mission endurance, payload employment timing, autonomy/automation level) balancing operational effectiveness against cost, weight, and producibility constraints inherent to a modular, mass-producible platform.
Serve as the engineering team's primary interface to USAF operational stakeholders (e.g., operational units, Air Combat Command or relevant MAJCOM representatives, government mission systems leads) to ensure design decisions reflect real-world employment needs.
Participate in or lead mission utility analysis, wargaming, and operational employment reviews to validate that system design supports intended mission outcomes.
Develop and maintain mission threads/vignettes used to drive requirements, test planning, and design verification across the program.
Identify gaps between stated requirements and actual operational employment needs, and drive resolution through the systems engineering/requirements management process.
Define mission planning system requirements and workflows consistent with USAF mission planning practices and tools.
Ensure mission systems architecture supports interoperability with relevant USAF/joint C2 systems, data standards, and tactical data links as applicable to the program's operational concept.
Partner with the Avionics/GCS engineering team (who own the onboard avionics and Ground Control Station architecture) to ensure mission systems requirements are correctly reflected in air-ground interface design and GCS operator workflows.
Support development of mission-level cybersecurity and information assurance requirements consistent with operational employment environments.
Define the mission systems verification approach, including mission-level test scenarios, mission thread verification, and operationally representative test conditions.
Support developmental test (DT) and operational test (OT) planning, ensuring test events adequately exercise real mission employment conditions.
Partner with USAF test organizations and operational evaluators to plan and execute mission systems verification activities.
Analyze test results against mission effectiveness criteria and drive design changes where mission performance gaps are identified.
Serve as the senior technical authority for mission systems on the program, representing the discipline at Preliminary Design Review (PDR), Critical Design Review (CDR), and government technical interchange meetings.
Partner with Systems Engineering, Avionics, Structures/Mechanical, Software, Program Management, and the government customer to align mission systems maturity with program schedule and cost targets.
Identify and manage mission systems risks, including operational employment risk, interoperability risk, and mission performance risk relative to stated requirements.
Minimum Requirements:
Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline; advanced degree preferred.
15+ years of mission systems engineering experience, with direct, hands-on experience with USAF mission operations (e.g., prior USAF operational experience, mission systems engineering supporting operational USAF units, or sustained program experience working closely with operational USAF customers).
Demonstrated experience translating operational CONOPS/TTPs into engineering requirements and design decisions.
Strong understanding of mission planning, sensor/payload employment concepts, and command-and-control (C2) interoperability as applied to USAF operations.
Experience supporting developmental and/or operational test planning and execution with operational stakeholders.
Direct experience with unmanned aircraft system (UAS) mission operations, including remotely piloted or autonomous mission employment concepts.
Preferred Requirements:
Former USAF operator background (e.g., pilot, sensor operator, intelligence/mission planning career field) is strongly preferred.
Familiarity with relevant USAF/joint tactical data links and C2 systems.
Experience supporting DOW/DoD proposal efforts, including mission utility analysis and CONOPS development.
Experience with modular, attritable, low-cost, or mass-producible aircraft programs and the mission employment considerations unique to "mass" operational concepts (e.g., distributed operations, attrition tolerance,
Ability to obtain/maintain Secret/Top Secret/SCI clearance
Why CHAOS?
Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company
Additional benefits: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more
Our Perks: Free daily lunch while you're working onsite, fully-stocked kitchen, unlimited PTO, casual dress code
Compensation Components: Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonuses
Team Growth: 500+ employees and counting across 5 global offices
Salary Range: $198,000 - $300,000
The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations.
