Principal Project Engineer

Project EngineerAt Areté, we are on the forefront of utilizing innovative solutions, with great minds from all backgrounds, to help solve the nation's most complex security challenges. We strive for an inclusive, collaborative team environment that approaches differences as opportunities for innovation and excellence. As an employee-owned company, we foster an atmosphere that propels diverse career opportunities and professional growth.Discover your future with us.We are seeking a dynamic Project Engineer with a passion for bringing products to life in a customer usable configuration. We are looking for a Technical Principal Project Engineer to act as a critical bridge between design engineering, production, and program management. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a cutting-edge team at a new facility. Areté is seeking a Project Engineer to support the Maritime Airborne Systems Sector, providing integrated technical, programmatic, schedule, and risk management across complex defense programs. This role operates at the intersection of engineering execution and program management, ensuring alignment between technical performance, cost, and schedule objectives. The selected candidate will contribute across the full program lifecycle, including program execution, integrated master scheduling, risk and opportunity management, manpower planning, and proposal development. The role requires familiarity with the Department of Defense acquisition framework, including BAA, RFI, and RFP processes, as well as experience supporting DoD contracts and procurement activities. This position requires strong communication skills and the ability to prepare and deliver technical and programmatic briefings to both internal leadership and external stakeholders, including customers and government representatives. This position will be based at our Healdsburg, CA office and is classified as a full-time, exempt, non-supervisory position.Key Responsibilities:Drive planning, execution, and delivery of engineering programs across design, development, and production teamsCollaborate with technical leads to define scope, requirements, deliverables, and success criteriaLead cross-functional execution to meet cost, schedule, and technical performance objectivesSupport New Product Introduction (NPI) and production build activitiesSchedule & Cost Management:Develop and maintain Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) using MS ProjectSupport Estimate-to-Complete (ETC) development and ongoing financial trackingUtilize financial and labor tracking tools (e.g., Cognos, Costpoint) to monitor program performanceRisk & Opportunity Management:Identify, track, and mitigate program risks, issues, and opportunitiesDevelop and maintain risk registers, mitigation plans, and supporting analysis (e.g., risk cubes, burn-down/waterfall views)Technical Leadership & Reviews:Provide technical direction to engineering teamsLead and support internal and external gate reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, etc.)Prepare and deliver program reviews, audits, and customer briefings (PowerPoint-based)Business Development & Proposals:Support technical and cost proposal developmentContribute to capture efforts, including requirements shaping and solution definitionProcess Improvement:Champion continuous improvement across program execution processes, tools, and team collaborationWe have an impressive range of benefits, programs, and perks that we offer:Generous PTO and Leave Times:Flextime SchedulingBereavementPaid Time Off (PTO)Paid Parental LeaveFinancial Benefits:Company-funded 5% contribution to your 401(k) retirement planCompany-funded 5% contribution to your Employee Stock Ownership PlanContinuing Education AssistanceHealth, Medical, and Wellness Benefits:Medical InsuranceDental & Vision InsuranceLife Insurance and Long-Term Disability (LTD)Vision ReimbursementWhat We Value:Creativity and innovation in solving challengesIntegrity and responsibility in all actionsCollaboration across teams and specialtiesResponsiveness in fast-paced environmentsPassion for national security and excellenceExperiences and background we look for (Required Skills):Experience running an engineering technical teamTechnical direction to the engineering teamLead engineering team through design reviews both internal and external customersSchedule creation and maintenanceWork with team to create an estimate to completeRisk creation and updatesNew production Introduction or production build experienceDocumentation of the product and processAbility to get secret clearanceNice to have (Preferred Skills):Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering, or related field. Or 10 years of project engineering for a technical engineering team.Proven experience in design development for electro-optical systems and gimbals.Currently hold a Secret or Top Secret clearanceProficiency in tools and practices: Microsoft ProjectMicrosoft Excel, OutlookJiraCostPoint MESThe salary range for this role is $195,000 to $215,000; however, Arete considers several factors when extending an offer of employment, including but not limited to: the position and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills.Other Considerations:Areté is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination, and we believe every person has the right to be treated with fairness, dignity, and equal consideration.Areté is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.U.S. citizenship is required to meet position eligibility.Successful passage of a criminal background screen is required to meet position eligibility.Selected applicants will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.Areté will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.Successful passage of a Department of Transportation (DOT) drug test is required to meet position eligibility.