Senior Principal Systems Engineer Weapons Fuzing

Industry: Aerospace / Aviation / Defense

Job Category: Engineering - Systems

Company Overview:

General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of 12,000+ top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defense and scientific arenas. Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency. We offer highly competitive benefits and pride ourselves in being a great place to work with a shared sense of purpose. You will also enjoy a flexible work environment where contributions are recognized and rewarded. If who we are and what we do resonates with you, we invite you to join our high-performance team!

Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans

Project/Program Overview:

GDMS is building a Fuze product line within its Weapons & Networked Solutions (WNS) business unit to support next-generation programs including the Terrain Shaping Obstacle (TSO), autonomous ground munitions, and precision guided weapon fuzing. The organization seeks a Principal Systems Engineer with deep, hands-on expertise in Electronic Safe Arm Fuze and Device (ESAD/ESAF) design, verification, and manufacturing to anchor this team and mentor the next generation of fuze engineers.

The ideal candidate has a proven track record developing fielded fuze systems through the full lifecycle from concept through safety certification with direct experience navigating fuze safety boards like Weapons System Explosives Safety Review Board (WSESRB), Non-Nuclear Munitions Safety Board (NNMSB), and the Army Fuze Safety Review Board (AFSRB). Established relationships within the fuze engineering community across Army, Navy, Air Force, and DoD laboratories are a significant differentiator.

Basic Qualifications:

Education Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, or a related Science, Engineering or Mathematics field, plus a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience; or Master's degree, plus a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience.

Clearance Requirements:

Department of Defense Secret security clearance is required at time of hire. Applicants selected will be subject to a U.S. Government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship is required.

Job Description:

Required Skills and Expertise:

• ESAD/ESAF Architecture & Design (Expert): Led design of fielded ESAD/ESAF; can independently architect ESD, S&A, and firing chain; Experience designing systems compliant to MIL-STD-1316 or MIL-STD-1911
• Environmental Sensing design (Expert): Designed sensing systems that sense environment conditions such as release, setback, spin, and all-up-round environments
• Environmental testing of fuze systems (Expert): Designed qualification tests for fuzing systems iaw JOTP, MIL-STD-331, and MIL-STD-810; performed environmental qualification; performed failure and root cause analysis on failures
• Safe and Arm (S&A) mechanism design (Expert): Designed electrical or electromechanical S&A devices
• High reliability electronics (Advanced): Experience designing high reliability electronics systems for safety critical or mission critical systems
• Firing chain design (CDU / EFI) (Advanced): Designed capacitor discharge units; selected/qualified EFI. Experience performing or overseeing HERO margin analysis
• Self-destruct / self-neutralize design (Advanced): Designed self-destruct/neutralization mechanisms to reduce UxO
• Fuze system-level requirements decomposition (Advanced): Traces system requirements to ESD, S&A, firing circuit, and software; manages RVTM
• Target detection & classification (Intermediate): Working knowledge of magnetic influence, seismic, acoustic, or pressure-based target sensing systems
• Built-in test (BIT) design for fuze systems (Advanced): Designed continuous and power-on BIT for S&A, battery, and sensor health; fault lockout logic; experience with BIT coverage analysis

Highly Desired Differentiators:

• AFSRB board presenter: Has personally presented to the AFSRB extremely rare; commands immediate credibility within the Air Force fuze community
• Multi-service fuze programs: Delivered fuzes for two or more military services (Army + Navy, or AF + Army), demonstrating breadth across service-specific requirements
• Proximity fuze / active sensing: Designed active proximity fuze systems (RF, laser, acoustic) in addition to passive influence fuzing
• Autonomous system integration (UAS/UGV payloads): Integrated fuze with autonomous delivery platforms
• MOSA / open architecture fuzing: Designed fuzes to modular open systems architecture (MOSA) principles; plug-and-play payload integration
• Digital twin / simulation: Built quantitative physics-based fuze simulations for firing chain timing, magnetic signature modeling, or safety FTA
• Picatinny / NSWC / AFRL lab background: Government lab background in fuze engineering brings inside understanding of Government test and qualification processes
• University relationships: Maintains academic connections (Colorado School of Mines, Penn State ICT, Auburn, Purdue, Texas A&M ballistic programs) for talent pipeline support

Our Commitment to You:

• An exciting career path with opportunities for continuous learning and development.
• Research oriented work, alongside award winning teams developing practical solutions for our nation s security
• Flexible schedules with every other Friday off work, if desired (9/80 schedule)
• Competitive benefits, including 401k matching, flex time off, paid parental leave, healthcare benefits, health & wellness programs, employee resource and social groups, and more
• See more at gdmissionsystems.com/careers/why-work-for-us/benefits

Workplace Options:

This position is fully onsite or hybrid/flex with opportunity to be fully remote/telework for candidates with strong experience and background . If remote, 25% travel to Ft. Wayne, Indiana site with possibility of surge support based on scheduled events.

While on-site, you will be a part of the Advanced Electronics Systems team located in Ft Wayne, Indiana

Skills and Certifications [note: bold skills and certification are required]
Environmental Testing of Fuze Systems
Environmental Sensing Design
Safe and Arm Mechanism Design
Firing Chain Design
Fuze System-Level Requirements Decomposition
Self-Destruct / Self-Neutralize Design
Built-in test (BIT) design for fuze systems

Security Clearance Required: Yes

Visa Candidate Considered: No

Compensation

Base Salary - USD $165,000 to $175,000

*** Never repost ***

Full-time

Benefits - Full

Relocation Assistance Available - No

Commission Compensation - No

Bonus Eligible - No

Overtime Eligible - No

Interview Travel Reimbursed - No

Candidate Details

10+ to 15 years experience

Seniority Level - Mid-Senior

Management Experience Required - No

Minimum Education - Bachelor's Degree

Willingness to Travel - Often

Screening Questions
Do you have Firing Chain Design experience?
Do you have experience with Fuze Systems?
If working remote, there will be 25% travel or more to facility in Ft. Wayne, IN.Are you OK with this?
Do you have an active DoD Secret clearance?

Ideal Candidate
Candidate needs to have an active Dept. of Defense Secret clearance.

Experience with Fuze systems

Environmental Sensing Design

Environmental Testing of Fuze Systems

Firing Chain Design (CDU/EFI)

Safe and Arm (S&A) Mechanism Design

Why we're a great company

Award-Winning Culture

GDMS won the 2026 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award, which is based on rigorous standards of employee engagement and reflects a positive, motivating work culture.

Work-Life Balance

• Flexible schedules including a 9/80 option (every other Friday off)
• Generous paid time off and parental leave
• Employees consistently highlight low micromanagement and autonomy in their roles
• Strong Benefits
• 401(k) with 6% company match and immediate vesting
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability coverage
• Tuition assistance for continued education

Meaningful, Impactful Work

• A team of 12,000+ professionals engineering high-tech solutions across defense and scientific domains
• Employees get to work on challenging projects that contribute to national security and scientific advancement

Collaborative Environment

• Employees praise the supportive, collaborative culture -- "Everyone helped each other in a time of need"
• Strong community involvement and veteran support programs

• Average employee tenure of 12 years, which speaks to long-term satisfaction and retention
• 4.0 out of 5 stars on Indeed in 2026

It's a combination of mission-driven work, strong compensation/benefits, genuine work-life balance, and a culture that values its people.