Infrastructure / Hardware Integration Project Engineer II

The ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance), Aviation, and Security (IAS) business area is a leader in ISR and aviation, it is a leading prime manned and unmanned aircraft systems integrator for innovative, high-performance ISR and aviation systems. Its end-to-end Command, Control, Computers, Communications and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities encompass design, integration, test, certification, ground/flight training and complete logistics support. IAS tailors solutions to customer cost, performance, and schedule requirements and designs to consistently exceed expectations – with an unrivaled record of on time and on (or under) budget deliveries.

Are you looking to use your engineering capabilities, project management and collective skills in your next position? We could use your expertise on our team! As the Infrastructure / Hardware Integration Project Engineer II, you will be responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of complex hardware integration efforts within multi-disciplinary engineering programs. This role serves as the primary technical interface between hardware engineering teams, system architects, and external customers — ensuring that infrastructure requirements are properly defined, tracked, and realized through rigorous integration processes. The Infrastructure / Hardware Integration Project Engineer owns the full lifecycle from requirements decomposition through hardware verification and validation, maintaining schedule, cost, and technical baseline integrity throughout. This role requires a strong technical background, project management skills, and the ability to interface with both internal teams and external customers to ensure successful project execution.

Project Management

• Develop, maintain, and manage detailed project plans, WBS, schedules, and budgets for hardware integration activities.

• Track performance against baseline using earned value management (EVM) concepts and report variances with corrective action plans.

• Coordinate multi-disciplinary team efforts across mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineering disciplines.

Technical Oversight

• Lead hardware integration planning including rack/stack architecture, cabling, power, cooling, and physical interconnect design.

• Define and maintain hardware interface control documents (ICDs), integration procedures, and test plans.

• Conduct integration readiness reviews (IRRs) and support hardware acceptance testing and system verification events.

• Oversee endpoints buildouts, server/compute infrastructure, networking gear, and embedded hardware bring-up activities.

• Ensure hardware configurations are controlled and documented per configuration management (CM) processes.

Customer Interface

• Act as the primary technical liaison with external customers for all hardware integration matters.

• Present integration status, technical findings, and risk posture at program reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, etc.).

• Capture and flow down customer hardware requirements into actionable engineering tasks.

Status Reporting

• Prepare comprehensive status reports, including progress updates, risk assessments, and mitigation strategies.

• Maintain accurate artifact traceability from requirements through test results.

Issue Resolution

• Identify hardware integration issues early; develop resolution plans, workarounds, and escalation paths.

• Own the program Hardware Risk Register — maintain risk identification, probability/consequence scoring, and mitigation planning.

• Execute contingency strategies when hardware failures, supply chain delays, or scope changes arise.

Continuous Improvement

• Proactively seek opportunities for process improvements and implement best practices in project management.

• Champion hardware integration best practices and lab operational standards across the team.

• Lead lessons-learned reviews post-integration events and institutionalize improvements.

Risk Management

• Develop and manage risk identification, documentation, and mitigation planning.

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or closely related field.

• 10+ years of progressive engineering experience, including 2+ years in a technical lead or project lead role.

• Hands-on experience with physical hardware integration — including servers, embedded systems, networking equipment, and/or lab infrastructure build-out.

• Demonstrated experience creating and managing integration procedures, ICD documentation, and hardware verification test plans.

• Proficiency with project scheduling tools (e.g. MS Project, Primavera, or equivalent) and tracking project cost/schedule baselines.

• Experience managing hardware requirements using formal requirements management tools (e.g. DOORS, Jama, or similar).

• Familiarity with configuration management processes and hardware baseline control (e.g. ECO/ECN processes).

• Strong communication skills — ability to brief technical content clearly to both engineering teams and non-technical customers.

• Experience working within a formal systems engineering lifecycle (Milestone reviews: SRR/PDR/CDR/TRR/FCA/PCA).

• Experience working in multi-disciplinary design and development team.

• Detailed understanding of requirements management, system design, and integration.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• 4–6 years of project leadership or program management experience in an engineering-intensive environment.

• Experience in the Aerospace & Defense industry with hardware development programs.

• Knowledge of rack-mount server platforms, high-density compute clusters, GPU infrastructure, or ruggedized electronics.

• Experience with power/thermal analysis for infrastructure environments (data center or deployed compute).

• INCOSE CSEP/ASEP certification or PMP certification.

• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, schematics, wire harness diagrams, and parts lists.

• Active DoD TS clearance with SCI Eligibility.

• Experience with trade study development, AoA (Analysis of Alternatives), and hardware selection decisions.

• Experience with advanced project management tools and methodologies.

• In-depth knowledge of industry standards and regulations.

•  Experience leading a multi-disciplinary design and development team and communicating with program management and customers.

• Familiarity with preparation and development of project estimates, technical proposals, and program cost and schedule management.

• Past history of leading baseline definition and maturation in a complex development setting, including the use of highly integrated trade studies and analysis of alternative.

• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and schematics, parts lists, specifications, instructions and test procedure.

Essential Functions:

• Occasional travel to customer or field locations may be required.

• Ability to work primarily in an office or hybrid environment.

• Ability to lift up to 10 pounds occasionally.

• Prolonged periods of working on a computer.

• Hand and finger dexterity for computer use.

• Capability to work in potentially hazardous environments when visiting project sites.

This posting will be open for application for a minimum of 5 days and may be extended based on business needs.

Estimated Starting Salary Range: $165,010.21 - $226,889.04. Compensation varies depending on a wide array of factors, such as candidates' key skills, relevant work experience, and education/training/certifications. The disclosed range estimate may be adjusted for any applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.

SNC offers annual incentive pay based upon performance that is commensurate with the level of the position.

SNC offers a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This position requires current/active Top Secret with SCI eligibility U.S. Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. Citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance. The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination include, but are not limited to, allegiance to the U.S., foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations and illegal drug use.

Learn more about the background check process for Security Clearances.

SNC is a global leader in aerospace and national security committed to moving the American Dream forward. We’re known and respected for our mission and execution focus, agility, and disruptive and rapid innovation. We provide leading edge technologies and transformative solutions that support our nation’s most critical security needs. If you are mission-focused, thrive in collaborative environments, and want to make our country stronger with state-of-the-art technologies that safeguard freedom, join our team!

SNC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an environment free of discrimination. Employment decisions are made based on merit without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.