Sr. Principal Systems Engineer - Weapons Fuzing

Metric Systems LLC is a direct‑hire employer partner dedicated to helping companies connect with the right talent for their open roles. We are not a staffing agency—instead, we work alongside employers to identify strong candidates, streamline the hiring process, and support both sides through each step. Once hired, you become an employee of the client organization directly, ensuring a seamless transition into your new role and long‑term career alignment.

My client 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.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the end‑to‑end development of fielded fuze systems from initial concept through full safety certification.
• Prepare, present, and guide fuze designs through WSESRB, NNMSB, and AFSRB review processes.
• Work directly with Army, Navy, Air Force, and DoD laboratory teams to advance fuze engineering efforts.
• Leverage established relationships across military branches to accelerate approvals, resolve technical issues, and support program success.
• Architect and develop ESAD/ESAF components, including ESD, S&A, and firing chain elements, ensuring compliance with MIL‑STD‑1316 and MIL‑STD‑1911.
• Build sensing mechanisms that detect critical environmental conditions such as release, setback, spin, and all‑up‑round dynamics.
• Create qualification test plans aligned with JOTP, MIL‑STD‑331, and MIL‑STD‑810; conduct environmental testing and perform failure analysis and root‑cause investigations.
• Design electrical or electromechanical S&A devices that meet safety, reliability, and operational requirements.
• Build and validate electronics for safety‑critical and mission‑critical fuze applications.
• Create and qualify capacitor discharge units (CDU) and EFI selections; perform or oversee HERO margin analysis to ensure safe operation in electromagnetic environments.

Qualifications:

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

Highly Desired:

• 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

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.

Metric Systems LLC is committed to maintaining an environment where every individual has a fair and equal opportunity to succeed. We welcome and consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. We strive to foster an environment built on respect, inclusion, and equal access to opportunities—where diverse perspectives strengthen our team and drive our mission forward

Originally posted on Himalayas