Lead Systems Engineer

Position Summary 

The Lead Systems Engineer is responsible for leading requirements management, architecture definition, interface control, and verification planning for complex, multi-disciplinary systems. They will collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, software, and test teams to integrate subsystems into mission-capable solutions, manage technical risks, and ensure our systems meet customer performance, schedule, and cost objectives. 

Key Responsibilities 

System Architecture & Design  

• Develop, decompose, and manage system and subsystem requirements from customer needs through verification and validation 

• Establish and maintain bidirectional traceability between requirements, design elements, and verification methods using requirements management tools 

• Define and document system and subsystem interfaces (mechanical, electrical, optical, RF, data) through Interface Control Documents (ICDs) 

• Develop system architectures, functional flows, and physical decompositions for electromechanical, opto-mechanical, and RF systems 

• Conduct trade studies and technical analyses to support design decisions and optimize system performance against cost, schedule, and performance constraints 

• Create verification matrices and test plans that map requirements to appropriate verification methods (test, analysis, inspection, demonstration) 

• Develop integration strategies and support integration activities for multi-disciplinary systems across subsystems and suppliers 

• Support system-level testing, verification events, and validation activities to ensure requirements are met 

• Collaborate daily with mechanical, electrical, software, optical, and RF engineers to resolve technical issues and ensure system-level integration 

• Identify, assess, and track technical risks; develop mitigation plans in collaboration with engineering teams 

• Prepare technical specifications, reports, design documentation, and presentations for internal teams and customers 

• Assess impact of requirements changes and support change control processes to maintain technical and programmatic integrity 

• Contribute to continuous improvement of systems engineering processes, tools, templates, and best practices 

Technical Leadership & Coordination  

• Serve as the technical lead across cross-functional teams (e.g., electrical, mechanical, software, RF, test, manufacturing, quality).  

• Lead customer and technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, etc.), ensuring design maturity and risk mitigation.  

• Provide technical guidance to systems engineers and contributing engineers and review technical work products for quality, completeness, and alignment with system requirements. 

• Act as the primary technical point of contact for internal stakeholders, customers, and suppliers. 

• Represent technical status and risk to internal leadership/stakeholders during reviews such as PMRs. 

Requirements & Configuration Management  

• Lead requirements capture, analysis, allocation, and traceability using appropriate tools (e.g., DOORS, Jama, etc.).  

• Manage configuration baselines and ensure changes are controlled, documented, and communicated.  

• Ensure compliance with relevant standards, regulations, and customer specifications. 

Integration, Verification & Validation (IV&V)  

• Define system integration strategy and test approach across lab, field, and production environments.  

• Develop and/or oversee test plans, procedures, and reports for system-level verification and validation.  

• Lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions for integration and test issues, collaborating with design teams. 

Risk, Quality & Lifecycle Management  

• Identify technical risks and opportunities; develop and maintain mitigation/contingency plans.  

• Support reliability, safety, and FMEA/FMECA analyses as required.  

• Contribute to lifecycle planning, including production transition, sustainment, and end-of-life strategies. 

Project Support & Communication  

• Work closely with Program/Project Management to align technical scope, schedule, and budget.  

• Provide technical input to proposals, estimates, and customer presentations.  

• Prepare and deliver clear technical documentation, design reports, and briefings to both technical and non-technical audiences. 

Mentoring & Process Improvement  

• Mentor junior engineers in systems engineering principles, tools, and best practices.  

• Champion and help refine systems engineering processes, methods, and tools to improve efficiency and product quality. 

Qualifications 

Education & Experience  

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field required; Master’s degree preferred.  

• Typically 8+ years of relevant engineering experience, including significant systems engineering responsibility.  

• 2+ years in a technical lead, team lead, or equivalent role preferred. 

Technical Skills  

• Strong understanding of systems engineering lifecycle (concept, requirements, design, integration, verification, validation, deployment, sustainment).  

• Demonstrated experience integrating hardware and software subsystems into a cohesive solution.  

• Proficiency in system-level analysis (e.g., performance budgets, interface control, trade studies).  

• Familiarity with configuration management and version control practices. 

Soft Skills  

• Proven leadership and mentoring abilities in a multi-disciplinary engineering environment.  

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, including the ability to simplify complex technical topics.  

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make sound technical decisions under schedule and resource constraints.  

• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders. 

Preferred Qualifications (Customize as Needed) 

• Experience with requirements management and systems modeling tools (e.g., DOORS, Jama, Cameo/MagicDraw, Enterprise Architect).  

• Experience in aerospace/defense, unmanned systems, or large technical multidiscipline program of comparable complexity. 

• Experience with safety-critical or mission-critical systems.  

Physical & Other Requirements 

• Occasional travel to customer, supplier, or test sites. 

• Robotics & Autonomy Solutions (RAS) 

• Typically 8+ years of relevant engineering experience, with demonstrated experience leading complex systems engineering activities, multidisciplinary technical teams, or major system/subsystem efforts. Candidates with 10–15 years of relevant experience are strongly preferred. e for large subsystem.