Principal Systems Engineer

Karman Space & Defense

Karman Space & Defense

Software Engineering

Mukilteo, WA, USA

Posted on May 15, 2026

SUMMARY

The Principal Systems Engineer’s role is to lead engineering teams developing aerospace and flight worthy structures, mechanisms, mechanical products and systems. The Principal Systems Engineer is expected to lead product maturation through technical planning and execution, organizing and coordinating program-wide technical activities, documenting and reporting results, and ensuring the end product meets all applicable requirements. The primary emphasis of the position is on technical leadership, with desired ability to manage personnel.

ABOUT US

Karman Space & Defense provides concept-to-production solutions for mission-critical systems on spacecraft, launch vehicles, missiles, hypersonics, and integrated defense systems. We believe that solving the industry’s most complex and mission-critical challenges requires relentless determination and a willingness to push the boundaries of possibility. Karman Space & Defense brings to bear unparalleled production capabilities, unmatched engineering expertise, and unflinching analysis to render the impossible, possible.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

  • Medical, Dental, Vision
  • Company Paid Life Insurance
  • 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
  • Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Paid Holidays
  • Tuition Reimbursement*

WHAT YOU WILL DO

  • Product-level technical oversight to ensure systems comply to all applicable requirements
  • Ensures product teams retain balanced emphasis on engineering design, analysis, and test activities to produce a robust design
  • Defines system level architectures by modeling system level behavior and performing requirement decomposition.
  • Assesses completeness of, verifies compliance to, and documents system requirements
  • Establishes company engineering standards, training, and guidelines
  • Provide guidance, mentorship, and leadership to Systems Engineers including staffing, resource management, and candidate assessment
  • Mentors, trains, and develops engineers with lesser experience

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

  • B.S. or M.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent
  • Typically possesses 8+ years aerospace engineering and/or defense experience with 4+ years performing relevant systems engineering work
  • Experienced with development of mechanical systems and structures, electronics, electrical cabling, system integration and qualification testing
  • Mastery of general aerospace engineering knowledge including structural analysis, FEA, physics-based modeling, dynamics / kinematics, advanced high-strength materials, design and test
  • Demonstrated technical leadership with strong ability to develop, plan and execute multidisciplinary projects.
  • Self-motivated, able to multi-task, work independently on assignments with minimal oversight or direction, quality-oriented and safety conscious
  • Possesses strong mechanical aptitude as well as creativity in solving problems; able to track overall goals and “see the big picture” while focusing on details
  • Excellent communication and customer relationship skills
  • Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain a DoD SECRET clearance

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Karman is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (“protected class”) including, but not limited to race; color; religion; genetic information; national origin; sex; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; citizenship status; uniform servicemember status; or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law. Our management is dedicated to ensuring the fulfillment of this policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, recruitment advertising, pay, and other forms of compensation, training, and general treatment during employment.