What are the responsibilities and job description for the Systems Engineer PDR Lead position at KODA Technologies Inc.?
Systems Engineer PDR Lead
Company Overview:
KODA is a people-first company recognized as a five-time winner of Huntsville's Best Places to Work® Award, certified as a Great Place to Work®, and a Best Place for Working Parents®. KODA is a small business focused on solving complex engineering problems on national-priority projects in domains such as missile defense, hypersonics, DOD space, and civil space.
Our expertise spans Radar and Missile Development, Multi-Domain Operations, Flight and Ground Test Planning and Execution, Tactical Data Link Testing, Test Range Instrumentation, Systems Engineering and Integration, Model and Simulation Development, and Digital Engineering/Model-Based Systems Engineering.
The name KODA, a Native American word meaning 'allies', embodies our dedication to our customers and each other. Trust and integrity guide us in all we do. We prioritize our people, support national-priority missions, and give back to our community through the KODA Cares program. We offer competitive compensation, excellent benefits, and a commitment to professional growth. Join us and learn more at www.kodatech.com.
Position Overview:
KODA Technologies is seeking a Systems Engineer PDR Lead to support the MAVIS (Mars Ascent Vehicle Integrated System) Program. This candidate will be responsible for leading the Systems Engineering team to the program's Preliminary Design Review (PDR). This role provides a unique opportunity to contribute to the MAVIS program, one of NASA's most ambitious Mars exploration missions.
What You'll Be Doing:
- Develop and maintain the MAVIS PDR campaign schedule, ensuring all subsystem reviews, tabletop discussions, and major milestones align with program objectives.
- Define and enforce PDR entry/exit criteria, ensuring design maturity meets NASA-STD-7009, NPR 7123.1, and mission assurance guidelines.
- Coordinate and facilitate PDR technical interchange meetings (TIMs), peer reviews, and formal design board presentations.
- Ensure timely development, submission, and review of PDR artifacts, including design reports, trade studies, risk assessments, and verification plans.
- Establish and track the Design Maturity Index (DMI) metric to assess the readiness of each MAV subsystem for PDR.
- Serve as the primary liaison between subsystem leads, NASA review boards, and MAVIS leadership to ensure alignment on review expectations.
Required Skills, Education, and Experience:
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.
- 10 years of experience in aerospace system design, systems engineering, or technical program management.
- Proven experience leading or coordinating PDR/CDR or major technical reviews on NASA, DoD, or aerospace programs
- Strong knowledge of NASA Systems Engineering standards, spaceflight development processes, and technical review criteria.
- Experience with establishing and monitoring a TPM such as Design Maturity Index (DMI) to track closure design review readiness.
Desired Skills:
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
- Systems engineering experience in space systems, launch vehicles, or deep-space missions.
- Previous experience supporting Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV), Mars Sample Return (MSR), or Artemis programs.
- Knowledge of launch vehicle development, propulsion, avionics, or space systems integration.
- Experience managing high-visibility technical reviews with NASA HQ or major aerospace contractors.
Schedule: 9/80 Schedule with primary work done in the office.
Clearance: None. U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency is required (ITAR & Export Control compliance).
KODA Technologies Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, status as a parent, national origin, disability (physical or mental), family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit based factors. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact info@kodatech.com to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.
