Principal Systems Engineer

Overview

As Principal Systems Engineer at Zephyr, you lead the design, development, and integration of a stratospheric platform system. You guide cross-functional teams to meet performance, safety, and regulatory standards, ensuring successful project execution. You shape system architecture across aerodynamics, avionics, and payload integration, while supporting compliance and mission readiness. This role offers impact in pioneering global HAPS connectivity and PaaS/CaaS offerings with a safety- and regulation-first mindset.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end integration projects including budget, timeline, and resources
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers while enforcing systems engineering best practices
• Independently verify design compliance with applicable regulations and approve test programs and data
• Lead the design process: conceptualization, specifications, system architecture, and integration of aerodynamics, avionics, and payloads
• Monitor system performance and lead real-time anomaly resolution for continuous operation
• Conduct design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR)
• Elicit, analyze, trace, prioritize requirements and manage V&V and baselining
• Develop and manage extensive testing protocols and mission simulations
• Ensure compliance with PART 21 regulations and airworthiness requirements
• Stay updated on HAPS technologies and manage risk and customization for complex missions
• Collaborate with software, hardware, project management and analysis teams for integration
• Maintain documentation and reports for stakeholders
• Serve as primary technical contact for customers and suppliers; manage contract technical aspects
• Overseas travel as required

Key requirements

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Engineering
• Experience with systems engineering tools (e.g., DOORS)
• Strong communication, leadership, and teamwork abilities
• Familiarity with certification processes and regulatory liaison capabilities
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills
• Knowledge of aviation processes: ARP4754, ARP4761, DO178, DO254
• MBSE experience
• Proven track record in systems engineering within aerospace or avionic domains

• Excellent communication
• Leadership
• Teamwork
• MBSE (Model-Based Systems Engineering)
• DOORS
• ARP4754

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