Principal Engineer - Functional Validation (Configuration and Framework Architect)

Position work location: Merritt Island, FL. Fully remote candidates located within the U.S. will also be considered.

Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc offers advanced solutions to meet the most complex U.S. defense, security, space, and intelligence requirements. Celebrating over 50 years in the US, we remain a trusted government partner, leveraging world-class satellite, laser communication, rotor and fixed wing solutions to help our national security, defense and space focused customers meet their missions.

Airbus U.S. looks to employ a commitment driven team, dedicated to enabling our customer's mission success. We are committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment and a welcoming and engaging staff. With competitive compensation and superior employee benefits, as well as a commitment to fostering individual career growth, Airbus U.S. is the place where top talent wants to work.

Position Summary:

Airbus U.S. is looking for an enthusiastic and creative Mission Operations Engineer to design, analyze, and test and operate new satellite and space mission systems. This position supports the full mission lifecycle, from operational concept development and system definition through integration, verification, validation, launch, commissioning and on-orbit operations. The ideal candidate will bring strong systems thinking, technical problem-solving, and cross-functional leadership to mission operations while contributing to the development of the ground software architecture and test capabilities required to operate and validate Airbus U.S. spacecraft.

We're looking for candidates who can bring exceptional engineering, development skills, and strong leadership in aerospace programs to the team.

Airbus U.S. is seeking an experienced Principal Functional Validation Engineer to lead the development, implementation, and governance of Functional Validation (FV) configuration management and Git/GitLab framework architecture. This role serves as the technical subject-matter expert for FV-controlled repositories, framework architecture, version-control practices, and associated technical assets.

This role serves as the technical subject-matter expert for FV-controlled repositories, framework architecture, version-control practices, test plans, best practices, coding style guidelines, training plans, and associated technical assets. The ideal candidate brings strong systems engineering expertise, experience in aerospace testing and validation, and demonstrated proficiency in developing scalable, maintainable, and traceable engineering frameworks.

The Principal Functional Validation Engineer serves as a technical authority within FV, providing engineering leadership in Git/GitLab framework architecture, configuration management, and technical governance. This role is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining scalable, reliable, and traceable engineering frameworks that support functional validation efforts.

The position establishes technical standards, governs version-control practices, and develops innovative solutions to complex engineering challenges involving framework architecture, configuration integrity, automation infrastructure, and validation reproducibility. The Principal Engineer exercises considerable independence and technical judgement in evaluating architectural alternatives, determining engineering solutions, and ensuring alignment with FV objectives and program requirements.

As a senior technical contributor, the Principal Engineer leads significant technical initiatives, provides engineering guidance and mentorship, resolves complex technical challenges, and drives continuous improvement in engineering practices, framework reliability, and long-term maintainability.

• Lead the framework integration and sustainment activities, addressing technical debt, implementing capability enhancements, and ensuring continued alignment with FV requirements.
• Manage technical interfaces and integration of new systems, test environments, and validation capabilities to ensure compatibility and operational effectiveness.
• Develop and deliver technical training, mentor engineers, and establish knowledge-transfer practices that strengthen FV proficiency and framework sustainability.
• Provide hands-on technical support during FV testing, troubleshoot framework issues, and apply lessons learned to improve validation capabilities and performance.

• Lead the architecture, development, and continuous improvement of the FV Git/GitLab framework, exercising independent technical judgment to deliver scalable, reliable, and maintainable solutions aligned with FV objectives and requirements.
• Establish and govern FV version-control standards, including branching strategies, merge and peer-review workflows, versioning, tagging, and configuration management practices to ensure consistency, integrity, and traceability of FV-controlled assets.
• Develop innovative technical solutions to complex engineering challenges involving framework automation, CI/CD capabilities, configuration integrity, and validation traceability, ensuring alignment with FV technical requirements and supporting repeatable, reproducible validation activities.
• Exercise technical authority in evaluating architectural alternatives, assessing technical risks, and reviewing significant framework changes. Maintain architectural documentation and provide technical recommendations to support informed engineering decisions.

• Establish and maintain validation configuration architectures that enable controlled, repeatable, and consistent validation across FV activities.
• Define and govern configuration identification and traceability practices linking flight software builds, framework version, test assets, hardware/simulation environments, test campaigns, and validation results to enable accurate configuration reconstruction.
• Identify, assess, and validate test configurations, including evaluating released FSW changes for FV impact, and supporting configuration readiness reviews.
• Investigate complex configuration-related anomalies, identify systemic weaknesses, and develop engineering solutions that improve configuration integrity and validation reliability.

Education:

• Required: Bachelor's degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), related scientific areas, or equivalent technical training.
• Preferred: Master's or Doctoral in STEM or related scientific areas.

• 20+ years with military or other technical training / 15 years of aerospace experience with a Bachelor's degree / 12 years of experience with a Master's degree / 10 years of experience with a Doctoral degree, including 6+ years of experience in software and systems testing.

• Experience with common Systems Engineering test tools (DOORS, Jira).
• Experience with Satellite Command & Control (C2) systems (CCS5).
• Familiar with satellite operation, and any subsystem engineering (Guidance, Navigation, Control, Power system, Data Handling, and Software).
• Familiar with product and quality assurance principles and experienced in generation and disposition of test flags and non-conformance.
• Experience with object-oriented programming (C, C++) and scripting languages (TCL, Python).
• Ability to read and interpret engineering documentation (e.g., electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, CAD models, wire lists).
• Experience with the full Space mission lifecycle, including requirements development, design, manufacturing, test, and mission operations.

• Periodic travel (less than 20%) to Airbus U.S. facilities or partner companies.
• Occasional International Travel to collaborate with European Airbus.

• US Citizenship is required.

• Ability to obtain and maintain government security.

• Vision: able to see and read computer screen and other electronic equipment with screens, able to read documents.
• Hearing: able to hear to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds including safety warnings or alarms.
• Equipment Operation (personal computer, telephone, copies, fax machine, and related office equipment and using electronic identification card to enter building floors and internal doors): able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment.
• Carrying: able to carry documents, electronic equipment and/or supplies up to 40lbs/9kg.
• Lifting: able to lift documents, electronic equipment and/or supplies up to 40lbs/9kg.
• Sitting: able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on computer.
• Squatting / Kneeling: able to occasionally squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items shelved on bottom shelves.
• Standing: able to stand for long periods of time.
• Walking: able to walk through office and outside areas including uneven surfaces.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Airbus provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status, or other legally protected status. In addition to federal law requirements, Airbus complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, demotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. Airbus expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status.

As a matter of policy, Airbus does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered. Airbus does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Employment with Airbus is at will, meaning either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Airbus reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

By submitting your resume or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus. Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or religious belief.

Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to HR@airbusus.com.

Company Website: www.airbusus.com