DO-254 Hardware Design Assurance Systems Engineer

Day in the life — Mesa, AZ

Morning stand-up, a review of the PHAC you own, and a quick sync with systems and hardware leads to confirm Design Assurance Level decisions. By midday, you’re guiding development teams through DO-254 expectations, tightening requirements and traceability in the configuration management system, and shaping a verification plan that will stand up to certification scrutiny. In the afternoon, you finalize a test plan, outline a white paper on EMI/EMC risks, and close the loop on a HAS update so our defense training hardware stays on track for certification readiness.

What you’ll do

• Lead DO-254 planning and documentation, including PHAC, HDP, HAS, and related artifacts across the hardware lifecycle.
• Own Design Assurance Level (DAL) strategy and execution for complex, multidiscipline defense training solutions.
• Drive requirements quality, verification/validation rigor, traceability, and configuration management aligned to DO-254 and relevant aerospace/defense standards.
• Author and review technical materials: white papers, test plans, engineering documentation, and test reports.
• Collaborate with project systems engineering to capture, interpret, and maintain customer requirements.
• Ensure adherence to applicable industry and military standards.
• Support adjacent efforts and take on additional responsibilities as needed.

About you

• BS in Engineering or related field strongly preferred.
• 3+ years in systems engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Solid command of military standards; MIL-STD-461 (EMI/EMC) experience is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with environmental qualifications such as MIL-STD-810 or DO-160.
• Team-first mindset with the ability to gather and synthesize inputs for technical documentation.
• Working knowledge of I/O and equipment interface requirements.
• Understanding of the hardware design flow: schematics, circuit card assemblies, and printed wiring boards.
• Broad technical fluency spanning firmware/software, digital and analog electronics, and mechanical interfaces.
• Sharp problem-solving skills, meticulous attention to detail, and excellent written/verbal communication.
• Comfortable presenting to leadership, program managers, and customers.
• Military service or government contracting background is a plus.
• Willing to travel domestically and internationally.
• Ability to obtain a Secret Security Clearance is required.

Location

This role is based in Mesa, AZ.