Senior System Engineer

About the role

The Systems Engineer provides program‑level technical leadership to mature complex aerospace and defense products from concept through integration, testing, and qualification. This role leads systems engineering activities across requirements, architecture, interfaces, risk, validation, and documentation while coordinating closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams. The engineer applies deep mechanical and aerospace engineering knowledge to understand the complete hardware system, challenge technical decisions, connect work across disciplines, and ensure the final product satisfies all customer and program requirements. The position offers broad ownership spanning requirements, architecture, integration, validation, and qualification, as well as the opportunity to help shape and standardize a growing systems engineering organization.

Responsibilities

• Provide program‑level technical oversight to ensure products meet all applicable requirements throughout the development lifecycle.
• Organize and coordinate systems engineering activities across requirements, architecture, integration, test, and qualification.
• Balance engineering design, analysis, integration, and test activities to produce robust, reliable system designs.
• Drive system architecture decisions by modeling system behavior and supporting detailed requirement decomposition.
• Lead requirements analysis, decomposition, verification, compliance assessment, and documentation for complex aerospace and defense systems.
• Assess completeness of system requirements, verify compliance against specifications, and maintain clear, traceable documentation.
• Develop test plans, validation strategies, and qualification approaches to confirm system performance and reliability.
• Support integration of mechanical systems, structures, electronics, and electrical cabling, ensuring coordinated and compatible designs.
• Lead development of Interface Control Drawings (ICDs) and Interface Description Documents (IDDs) to manage system and subsystem interfaces.
• Prepare and lead engineering reports, technical reviews, and presentations for internal stakeholders and external customers.
• Conduct technical and program risk analysis, identify key risks, and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Contribute to engineering standards, processes, training materials, and guidelines as the systems engineering team grows and matures.
• Mentor, train, and develop less‑experienced engineers, providing guidance in systems engineering practices and technical decision‑making.
• Collaborate closely within an Integrated Product Team (IPT) structure, working with multidisciplinary engineering groups to deliver robust designs.
• Engage in customer‑facing technical discussions, presenting system concepts, trade studies, test results, and qualification plans.

Essential Skills

• Strong technical leadership skills with the ability to guide multidisciplinary engineering work and make informed technical decisions.
• Hands‑on systems engineering experience, including requirements analysis, requirements decomposition, verification, and compliance assessment.
• Experience supporting mechanical systems and structures through integration, test, and qualification activities.
• Ability to understand and coordinate work involving electronics and electrical cabling in addition to mechanical hardware.
• Experience developing or leading test plans, validation strategies, and qualification activities for complex systems.
• Broad aerospace engineering knowledge, including structural analysis, finite element analysis (FEA), physics‑based modeling, dynamics, kinematics, advanced materials, design, and test.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to prepare reports, lead technical presentations, and maintain effective customer relationships.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or an equivalent engineering discipline.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering.
• Advanced aerospace or defense systems experience, particularly with complex, mission‑critical hardware.
• Experience with hypersonic, missile, propulsion, launch, or space‑system programs.
• Experience developing systems engineering standards, processes, or best practices for a growing team.
• Interface management experience, including ownership of Interface Control Drawings and Interface Description Documents.
• Qualification testing and validation leadership experience, including planning and executing qualification campaigns.
• Experience mentoring engineers and supporting their technical growth and development.
• Direct customer‑facing technical leadership experience, including leading technical reviews and discussions.
• Experience with systems development across the full hardware lifecycle, from concept through test and qualification.
• Familiarity with systems engineering standards and best practices in aerospace and defense environments.

Pay and Benefits

• Pay range: $135,000 – $160,000 per year (individual compensation depends on qualifications, experience, location, internal equity, and other factors).
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Paid time off.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contribution.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• Company‑paid life and AD&D insurance.
• Short‑ and long‑term disability coverage.
• Tuition reimbursement.

Workplace Type

Fully onsite position in Mukilteo, WA.

Application Deadline

Anticipated close date: Oct 6, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News‑Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.