Principal Project Engineer Rapid Defense Solutions

Principal Project Engineer for Rapid Defense Solutions

V2X Inc. is a $3.9B company with 16,000 employees, building smart solutions that integrate physical and digital infrastructure for defense. Our mission is to enhance security, streamline logistics, and improve readiness through innovative, mission‑critical systems.

Indianapolis, Indiana

As a Principal Project Engineer, you will lead multidisciplinary projects that support U.S. government programs, including advanced aircraft modifications and prototype development. You will oversee technical frameworks, manage risk, coordinate with suppliers, optimize resources, ensure compliance, mentor teams, and shape policy to drive innovation and efficiency.

• Technical Leadership
  • Develop and oversee department-wide technical frameworks, integrating mechanical, electrical, software, and manufacturing disciplines.
  • Lead high‑impact, complex technical projects aligned with organizational goals.
• Risk & Resource Management
  • Identify, analyze, and mitigate engineering risks and opportunities.
  • Forecast, allocate, and optimize resources across projects and teams.
• Supplier & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Manage supplier relationships, ensuring compliance, cost‑effectiveness, and delivery timelines.
  • Build trusted relationships with stakeholders to align technical execution with strategy.
• Mentorship & Development
  • Mentor engineers at all levels, fostering excellence and teamwork.
  • Drive department growth through training, process improvements, and team development.
• Compliance & Standards
  • Ensure projects adhere to industry standards such as IEEE 15288, PMI PMBOK, ISO 9001, and AS9100.
  • Act as Independent Technical Reviewer to align decisions with best practices.
• Strategic Contributions
  • Support enterprise‑wide initiatives delivering measurable outcomes such as efficiency, growth, or customer success.
  • Represent the organization in strategic forums and technical committees.
• Agile Practices
  • Lead agile transformation efforts, optimizing workflows, sprint planning, and collaboration.
• Estimation & Planning
  • Establish and guide best practices for cost modeling, proposal development, and resource forecasting.
  • Ensure engineering proposals meet technical and business benchmarks.
• Leadership Competencies
  • Strategic Execution: balance innovation with disciplined execution to deliver impactful outcomes.
  • Collaborative Leadership: build relationships across teams, customers, and leadership.
  • Decisive Problem‑Solving: take ownership of technical challenges and mitigate risks.
  • Risk and Compliance: maintain adherence to industry standards.

• Strategic thinker with strong collaboration skills across teams, customers, and leadership.
• Decisive problem solver capable of mitigating risks and delivering innovative solutions.
• Proven ability to design, integrate, and troubleshoot complex hardware and software systems.
• Experience integrating mechanical, electrical, software, and communication systems for vehicle platforms.
• Skilled in design trade‑offs, risk analysis, and component/system compatibility assessments.

• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification.
• Design and Development Program Experience.
• Knowledge of routings, work instructions, and production program environments.
• Experience interfacing with senior defense customers, including PEOs and PM offices.
• Advanced proficiency in systems engineering, project management, standards compliance, agile methodologies, and tools such as SAP S4/HANA, Azure, Jira, Windchill, Git Hub, and configuration/risk management systems.
• Hands‑on experience creating system architecture models and diagrams for ground vehicle integration.

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field with 15+ years of defense system development experience.
• Master’s degree in a STEM field or MBA preferred.

• Ability to obtain or maintain a US Government Secret Security Clearance.
• US Citizenship required.

• Healthcare coverage.
• Retirement plan.
• Life insurance, AD&D, and disability benefits.
• Wellness programs.
• Paid time off, including holidays.
• Learning and development resources.
• Employee assistance resources.

Pay and benefits are subject to change at any time and may be modified at the discretion of the company, consistent with the terms of any applicable compensation or benefit plans.