The Role
Leads navigation engineering support for unmanned aircraft systems, coordinating across development, production, sustainment, training, and test teams. Manages navigation requirements, architecture, engineering changes, technical directives, capability upgrades, lifecycle development, and technical reviews. Oversees navigation technologies including GPS/INS, PBN, SAASM, M-Code, A-PNT, and NAVWAR, while coordinating roadmap planning, obsolescence, reliability, Jira tracking, ground control integration, and flight testing.
Summary Generated by Built In
Overview
AMERICAN SYSTEMS is an employee-owned federal government contractor supporting national priority programs through our strategic solutions in the areas of Information Technology, Engineering & Analysis, Test & Evaluation, and Training.
ResponsibilitiesAMERICAN SYSTEMS is currently seeking Navigation Engineering Lead Support for Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Air Vehicle Team.
As a Senior Navigation Engineer you will:
- Work with a team of driven, supportive and highly skilled professionals
- Receive a robust benefits package that includes an Employee Stock Ownership Plan!
- Enjoy flexibility managing your work hours and personal needs with a single accrual leave plan.
A day in the life of a Senior Navigation Engineering Lead:
- Responsible for coordination across Development, Production, Sustainment and Training IPTs.
- Coordinate with other navigation subject matter experts.
- Responsible for all matters related to domestic and Cooperative Program flight navigation systems, to include, but not limited to, navigation hardware and software, and integration with other avionics equipment installed on the aircraft, to ensure that the avionics are effectively supported throughout its operational service life.
- Responsible for managing navigation requirements and architecture, Engineering Change proposal (ECP), Technical Directive (TD) Technical Direction Letter (TDL) products and navigation capability upgrades.
- Manage capabilities include life cycle development and System Engineering Technical Review (SETR) process including critical design reviews for navigation systems that integrate across multiple IPT’s in the program office organization structure. Capabilities include Embedded GPS INS (EGI), Performance Based Navigation (PBN), Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM), Military GPS (M-Code), Advanced Digital Antenna Production (ADAP), Assured Position, Navigation and Timing (A-PNT) and Navigation Warfare (NAVWAR).
- Responsible for coordination of navigation roadmap, Jira ticket tracking, DMSMS obsolescence and reliability, integration with the Ground Control System (GCS), coordination with lab, ground, and flight test personnel.
- A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in Defense acquisition, of which a minimum of 3 years must be in support of DoW Acquisition management.
- Bachelor’s degree is preferred. An associate’s degree and an additional 4 years of experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree, or an additional 8 years of experience (without associates degree) may be substituted for a BA/BS.
- Must be able to obtain a TS/SCI security clearance
- Knowledgeable of acquisition policies and procedures, Communications, Navigation, Surveillance, Air Traffic Management (CNS-ATM) / Global Air Traffic Management (GATM), requirements and architecture management.
- Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with the requirements of the DoW 5000 series.
- Demonstrated ability to work with large and diverse teams and the ability to effectively communicate across diverse teams.
- This is a Hybrid role, must be willing to come to client site at least once a month.
Skills Required
- At least 8 years of professional experience in defense acquisition
- At least 3 years supporting Department of War acquisition management
- Bachelor's degree, or an associate's degree plus 4 additional years of experience, or 8 additional years of experience without an associate's degree
- Must be able to obtain a TS/SCI security clearance
- Knowledge of acquisition policies and procedures
- Knowledge of Communications, Navigation, Surveillance, Air Traffic Management and Global Air Traffic Management
- Knowledge of requirements and architecture management
- Experience with Department of War 5000 series requirements
- Ability to work with large and diverse teams and communicate effectively across teams
- Willingness to work in a hybrid role and report to the client site at least once a month
AMERICAN SYSTEMS Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about AMERICAN SYSTEMS and has not been reviewed or approved by AMERICAN SYSTEMS.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — The ESOP provides an ownership stake that adds long-term financial value and complements base pay. This employee-ownership structure stands out within the overall package.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with automatic enrollment and broad investment options, alongside the ESOP, strengthens retirement pathways beyond salary. These features are presented as competitive within the defense contracting space.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Base pay is considered fair or comparable to industry peers, particularly for technical roles. Starting compensation is described as solid for areas like cybersecurity, systems administration, and IT engineering.
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The Company
What We Do
AMERICAN SYSTEMS is an employee-owned government services contractor that delivers professional, technical, information technology, engineering, analysis, testing, evaluation, and training solutions for complex national-priority programs. Based in McLean, Virginia, the company supports federal customers—particularly defense and other Department of Defense missions—with mission-essential and information engineering, digital engineering, systems integration, cybersecurity, cloud, data, and lifecycle IT services across critical public-sector environments.
