Senior Principal Hardware Lead

Job Description
Thank you for your interest in BAE Systems! This opening is included as part of our June 2026 Countermeasure & Electromagnetic Attack Solutions Engineering Hiring Event. While we encourage all interested professionals to apply, please note that this is a selection-based interview event for candidates whose skills and experience match our hiring needs. If your background and skill set match these needs, we will reach out with next steps. If selected for an interview, specific opportunities based on your interests, experience, and skill set will be discussed with the hiring team. For candidates not local to the Austin, TX area, virtual interviews will be accommodated.
Are you an experienced hardware engineer with 15+ years of experience looking for the next step to grow your career in a lead role? Do you have a background as a hardware engineer as a subject matter expert (SME) in Mechanical, Electrical, RF or EO/IR Engineering and leading teams of engineers through the development and transition to production process? Then, help us protect those that protect us by developing next generation electronic systems products and solutions. We need your talent, motivation, and vision to join our growing teams. BAE Systems has recently been awarded new programs and is currently undergoing an exciting period of growth.
About BAE Systems
Our employees work on the world's most advanced electronics. Spanning air, land, sea, and space, we are developing the technology of tomorrow, delivered today. Drawing strength from our differences, we're innovating for the future. And you can, too.
At BAE Systems, we promote a strong, collaborative culture and provide our employees with the tools, skills and training they need to succeed and grow. We are all about trust, camaraderie, and a shared ambition to lead the world in defense technologies and national security services. When you join our engineering group, you will be an integrated team member collaborating with Systems, Software, and Test engineers in one or more of the phases of the hardware design cycle. These roles will be supporting engineering development, integration, test and transition to production efforts on complex electronic modules.
We offer a flexible work environment and 9/80 work schedule. Our company is part of the community and driven to improve our future and protect our freedom.
Job Description
BAE Systems is seeking a senior technical leader for a large product development team of electrical, computer and mechanical engineers. You will lead the hardware team on a high visibility program through EMD and into production. As the leader of this group, you will drive engineering excellence, develop subject matter experts, and optimize lab resources to advance the craft in RF Systems hardware development. Additionally, you will play a key role in supporting Internal Research and Development (IRAD) efforts, fostering a culture of innovation. Your leadership will guide the development team to create products that meet customer requirements, and transition them to production to deliver to the warfighter.
The selected candidate will apply their leadership skills in program execution design in order to develop and support our "Design it Right" initiative for a variety of complex defense products and technologies. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to acquire product knowledge, use and advance their management skills on innovative technology - while performing their assigned responsibilities in program execution on projects in a Hybrid work format.
Hardware Lead Job Responsibilities:

• Leading multi-discipline, state-of-the-art hardware teams of 20+ people through the hardware engineering design and development
• Employing your expertise, decision skills, and independent judgment in technical areas
• Leading Design Review activities to achieve program success
• Communicating essential information and coordinating with engineering disciplines, Procurement, Operations, and Program Management
• Developing program schedules, earned value criteria, and productivity metrics for efficient performance
• Ensuring the established Hardware Development Process is implemented successfully
• Supporting important program capture and proposal teams with hardware baselines that include development and cost/scheduling estimating
• Working with Discipline Section Leads to determine program staffing needs and "right person/right job"
• On top of numerous diverse and challenging career opportunities, BAE offers flexible schedules (including every other Friday off), competitive compensation, and an excellent benefit package that includes tuition reimbursement for advanced degrees.

Required Education, Experience, & Skills

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in a relevant field, and 15+ years of related experience
• Proven ability to lead and manage an organization across multiple sites with different cultures and experience levels
• Experience with formulating a vision and implementing action plans to achieve goals
• Experience collaborating and driving improvement across the functions responsible for product development including operations, quality, and program management
• Proven ability to share and transfer technology and know-how across organizational boundaries
• Demonstrate alignment with the sector's cultural principles and model safe and ethical behavior
• Ensure compliance with appropriate company policies and procedures, especially those related to product design
• Proven performance in supervising, managing, mentoring, coaching, and communication
• Demonstrated critical thinking skills and decision-making ability
• Able to obtain a TS and SCI clearance
• Clear communication - both oral and written - and a positive attitude.
• Ability to work effectively on a team either on-site or remotely.

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills

• Ability to gain Security Clearance
• Experience with RF or Electronic Warfare.

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $132962 - $226035
Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.
Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
About BAE Systems Electronic Systems
BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it's what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts - defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team-making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you'll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference. Electronic Systems (ES) is the global innovator behind BAE Systems' game-changing defense and commercial electronics. Exploiting every electron, we push the limits of what is possible, giving our customers the edge and our employees opportunities to change the world. Our products and capabilities can be found everywhere - from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of space. At our core are more than 14,000 highly talented Electronic Systems employees with the brightest minds in the industry, we make an impact - for our customers and the communities we serve.
This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.