Job Description

Job Description

See what you’re missing. Our employees work on the world’s most advanced software and electronics—from developing world-class autonomous mission management capabilities to advanced data analytics that support warfighters and the intelligence community. Spanning air, land, sea, and space, we develop the technology of tomorrow, delivered today. Drawing strength from our differences, we innovate for the future. And you can, too.   

Our flexible work environment gives you the opportunity to change the world without giving up your personal life. We put our customers first, exemplified by our mission: “We Protect Those Who Protect Us®.” Sound like a team you want to be part of? Come build your career with BAE Systems.  

Our engineers are the lifeblood of our company, and we’re more than 5,000 strong. With robust educational and career-development opportunities, your potential to grow is limitless. 

The Digital Architecture Team (DAT) is seeking a Principal Manufacturing Platform Engineer to serve as the technical lead for our software platform that enables the seamless onboarding of new customers and systems, while ensuring the reliability and performance of factory deployments. The successful candidate will be the primary architect responsible for the design, development, and scalability of the platforms that power our factory operations, ensuring that our software is as advanced and reliable as the electronics we produce. 

This is a role for someone who wants to lead technically but stay close to the architecture. We have a clear growth path beyond the Principal level for engineers who want to keep scaling their impact, with opportunities to grow their career as they move into Senior Principal positions. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Lead the development of scalable software platforms for factory operations, ensuring seamless integration between internal systems and customer-facing interfaces. 

• Serve as the primary technical authority for cross-functional teams, providing mentorship and high-level guidance to software engineers, factory operations, and systems integrators. 

• Translate complex stakeholder requirements into robust technical specifications and platform features that solve real-world manufacturing challenges. 

• Design and implement sophisticated integrations between the software platform, industrial factory equipment, and automated manufacturing processes. 

• Drive systemic reliability by identifying architectural weaknesses and implementing long-term engineering solutions to eliminate operational bottlenecks. 

• Establish engineering excellence by defining coding standards, review processes, and deployment strategies that ensure platform stability and maintainability. 

• Partner with external vendors and partners to evaluate and integrate COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) solutions into the broader manufacturing platform. 

Hybrid: 
Because of the need for consistent, in-person collaboration and/or the requirement to perform work onsite, some efforts may be (mostly) full-time on-site. Work that can be done remotely will allow for a hybrid working environment. 

Typical Education and Experience

Typically a Bachelor's Degree and 6 years work experience or equivalent experience

Required Skills and Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field. 

• Minimum 6 years of professional software engineering experience, with a proven track record of designing and deploying production-grade platforms in a high-volume manufacturing or industrial environment. 

• Deep understanding of the intersection between software systems and physical manufacturing processes. 

• Expert-level proficiency in software development lifecycles (SDLC), including advanced programming patterns, networking, and modern version control. 

• Advanced ability to debug distributed systems and perform deep-dive root cause analysis on complex technical failures. 

• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to explain complex architectural decisions to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. 

• Proven experience providing technical leadership to engineering teams in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. 

Preferred Skills and Education

• Experience with RF device manufacturing and automated testing frameworks. 

• Direct experience implementing Industry 4.0 principles and leading digital transformation initiatives. 

• Expertise in cloud-native architecture and integrating cloud services with on-premises factory systems. 

• Familiarity with MBSE (Model-Based Systems Engineering) methodologies and the ability to apply these principles to complex software platform development. 

• Advanced expertise in Data Engineering, including: 

• Architecting high-throughput data collection and integration pipelines. 

• Designing scalable data management and storage solutions. 

• Developing sophisticated data analysis and visualization tools to drive operational decision-making. 

About BAE Systems, Inc.

BAE Systems, Inc. is a defense, aerospace, and security company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with more than 40,000 employees worldwide. We serve, supply, and protect those who protect us. As one of the most geographically diverse international defense companies, we deliver a full range of products and services spanning air, land, maritime, space, and cyber, including advanced electronics, intelligence solutions, and dedicated customer support.

Our culture is performance-driven and values-led, built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Purpose isn't a tagline here. It's what drives us. We're developing breakthrough technologies that defend national security and make a lasting impact on our communities and our planet. When you join BAE Systems, you're not just building a career. You're contributing to a mission that truly matters.

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.