System Architect

Who We Are: CAE Vision: Our vision is to be the worldwide partner of choice in defense and security, and civil aviation by revolutionizing our customers’ training and critical operations with digitally immersive solutions to elevate safety, efficiency and readiness. CAE Defense & Security Mission: CAE's Defense and Security business unit focuses on helping prepare military customers to develop and maintain the highest levels of mission readiness. CAE Values: Empowerment, Innovation, Excellence, Integrity and OneCAE make us who we are and we strive to make a difference in the world while helping each other succeed.

• Comprehensive and competitive benefits package and flexibility that promotes work-life balance
• A work environment where all employees are valued, respected and safe
• Freedom to succeed by enabling team members to deliver, take initiatives and make decisions
• Recognition, professional development, advancement and having fun!

CAE Defense & Security is seeking an experienced System Architect for our C-17 Training System program with deep expertise in Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to drive the design, integration, and evolution of advanced simulation and training solutions for complex military aircraft and defense platforms. This role will play a key part in shaping simulation architectures, enabling digital engineering practices, and ensuring the seamless integration of mission systems, aircraft subsystems, sensors, and operational environments into high‑fidelity training systems. This role also involves collaborating with software developers, hardware engineers, cyber security and certification authorities to ensure seamless integration of flight dynamics, avionics, graphics, and user interfaces, while also managing scalability, maintainability, and cost. Strong knowledge of real‑time systems, simulation theory, and industry standards is essential, along with experience in system modeling, performance tuning, and cross‑disciplinary project leadership.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Lead system architecture development for advanced aircraft and mission system simulations using MBSE methodologies and SysML-based digital engineering frameworks.
• Develop and maintain system models supporting requirements decomposition, system behaviors, interface definitions, and verification strategies for simulation systems.
• Define and evolve simulation system architectures that integrate aircraft avionics, flight dynamics, mission systems, networks, and C4ISR components into cohesive training environments.
• Collaborate with aircraft SMEs, software engineers, subsystem integrators, and training system developers to ensure accurate and scalable simulation representations.
• Support trade studies, technology assessments, and system-level design decisions for simulation fidelity, performance, interoperability, and scalability.
• Ensure system architecture aligns with compliance requirements including safety, cybersecurity, interoperability standards, and DoD training system specifications.
• Mentor engineering staff in MBSE best practices, digital model governance, and effective model-based design processes.
• Participate in customer engagements, technical interchange meetings, design reviews, and program planning activities.
• Drive the creation and curation of digital architecture artifacts to support a robust digital thread across the simulation development lifecycle.
• Guides overall design decisions and ensure alignment with business goals.
• Leads the technical solution activities as the overall design authority during capture and program execution phases.
• Selects the appropriate technologies and tools that best meet system requirements, considering IRAD, future scalability, sustainability, and cost.
• Creates the product line roadmap in compliance with the technology roadmap, reference architectures and functional product roadmaps.
• Has awareness and helps coordinate new technology investment and insertion into product line based on customer needs.
• Identifies technical risks and implement mitigation strategies to ensure simulator reliability and operator safety.
• Works closely with program, product and functional management to guide technical direction and ensure that the training system meets schedule and cost requirements.
• Stays current with emerging simulation technologies, industry standards, and best practices; recommend and implement process improvements.
• Represents CAE USA at industry technical forums and customer oral presentations.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Computer or Computer Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Extensive experience (typically 8+ years) in systems engineering for military aircraft, mission systems, or advanced simulation/training systems.
• Strong proficiency in MBSE practices and tools (such as Cameo/MagicDraw, Rhapsody, SysML).
• Proven ability to lead architecture development for complex, multidisciplinary systems.
• Experience with aircraft system integration, avionics interfaces, or mission system architectures.
• Strong understanding of systems engineering processes, interface control, verification and validation, and configuration management.
• Familiarity with DoD acquisition processes, MIL‑STDs, and training system standards (e.g., AR/VR training environments, DIS/HLA protocols).
• Familiarity with aircraft communication standards (UDP/TCP, MIL‑STD‑1553, ARINC).
• Due to U.S. Government contract requirements, only U.S. citizens are eligible for this role.

Preferred Skills

• Master’s degree in Systems Engineering or related discipline.
• Experience with enterprise wide MBSE application on a military aircraft program.
• Experience with the C-17 aircraft Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) or equivalent (e.g., INCOSE).
• Experience architecting high‑fidelity flight or mission simulation systems.
• Knowledge of digital engineering ecosystems, model traceability, and integrated digital threads.
• Familiarity with synthetic environments, constructive simulations, or distributed mission operations.
• Active Secret clearance.

Security Responsibilities

• Must comply with all company security and data protection / usage policies and procedures.
• Personally responsible for proper marking and handling of all information and materials, in any form.
• Shall not divulge any information, or afford access, to other employees not having a need-to-know.
• Shall not divulge information outside company without management approval.
• All government and proprietary information will be accessed and stored electronically on company provided resources.
• Incumbent must be eligible for DoD Personal Security Clearance.
• Due to U.S. Government contract requirements, only U.S. citizens are eligible for this role.

Work Environment

Duties performed in an office environment and manufacturing facility.

Must be able to work overtime on and off‑shifts as required.

The employee is on call 24x7 for the resolution of problems and issues.

Physical Demands

Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Ability to sit for extended periods of time
Ability to stand for extended periods of time
Ability to lift 25 lbs. to various heights

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for their job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

CAE USA Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to any protected characteristic, including disability and protected veteran status, as defined under federal, state, or local laws.

Data Privacy Privacy Statement | CAE As part of our process, we may use AI‑supported tools to help review applications, with human decision‑making at every step. CAE thanks all applicants for their interest. However, only those whose background and experience match the requirements of the role will be contacted.

About CAE At CAE, our mission is clear: to help make the world a safer place. For nearly 80 years, we’ve driven innovation in simulation, training, and mission readiness to support critical operations worldwide. By leveraging advanced technologies, we empower our customers to operate smarter, faster, and more sustainably. Join a purpose-driven organization where bold ideas are encouraged, collaboration drives progress, and your growth fuels our shared success.

Position type: Regular. Equal opportunity employer CAE is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.