Systems Engineer

About the role

This role offers the opportunity to work next to the lab, see hardware come to life in real time, and have a tangible impact on fast-moving, innovative space programs.

Responsibilities

• Design, integrate, and develop space-based optical instruments, subsystems, and payloads for airborne and space platforms.
• Define, allocate, and manage technical requirements for complex space systems.
• Ensure full traceability of requirements throughout the development process and proactively address potential conflicts or issues.
• Lead requirements definition, allocation, and traceability across the entire development lifecycle.
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation, including system design descriptions, interface control documents (ICDs), concepts of operations (CONOPs), and test plans.
• Generate clear technical reports and presentations to communicate findings, progress, and recommendations to internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Provide technical management of project requirements, system architecture, system interfaces, mission assurance guidelines, and system compliance.
• Collaborate closely with interdisciplinary hardware, software, and mission teams to ensure seamless integration and functionality of sophisticated payloads.
• Support the development and testing of space payloads that will be integrated on spacecraft platforms.
• Support hardware and software development teams with system-level test planning, debugging, integration, and execution of verification test procedures.
• Analyze test data and recommend design refinements to improve performance, reliability, and compliance.
• Lead hardware and software verification and validation (V&V) activities to confirm alignment with program and customer requirements.
• Support the development, testing, and delivery of space payloads while assessing and mitigating technical risks.
• Perform other related systems engineering duties as assigned to support program success.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or mathematics.
• At least 5 years of professional systems engineering experience.
• Minimum of 2 years of verification and validation (V&V) experience.
• At least 3 years of integration experience in complex technical systems.
• Hands-on experience with requirements management tools, with the ability to provide detailed, structured responses and documentation.
• Professional experience working in cross-functional, interdisciplinary environments.
• Experience in highly regulated industries such as aerospace, defense, medical device, automotive, semiconductor, or data center.
• Strong systems engineering skills in requirements definition, allocation, traceability, and configuration control.
• Experience with verification, validation, integration, and testing of hardware and software systems.
• Able to analyze technical data and translate findings into clear recommendations and documentation.
• Strong communication skills for generating technical reports and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Professional Python experience for data analysis, automation, or test scripting.
• Professional MATLAB experience for modeling, simulation, or data processing.
• Experience using requirements management tools such as DOORS or JAMA.
• Experience in test planning, including development of test procedures and test strategies.
• Hands-on testing experience with complex systems, including EMI/EMC and other environmental or functional tests.
• Aerospace and defense industry experience specifically in systems engineering.
• Assembly experience with space payloads or other complex hardware systems.
• Active security clearance is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with mission assurance guidelines and compliance frameworks.
• Experience participating in technical interchange meetings and formal design or test reviews.

Work Environment

This is a fully onsite role in a highly collaborative, lab-adjacent environment where you can see payload hardware being built and tested in real time. You will work as part of a small, focused systems engineering team of approximately 7–8 people, enabling you to have a direct and visible impact on fast-moving, cutting-edge space programs rather than legacy efforts. The team maintains high expectations and strong interpersonal relationships, fostering a supportive culture of technical excellence and accountability. Standard work is five days per week, with a flexible start time between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Exact start and finish hours are still being finalized but are designed to support a healthy work-life balance while meeting program needs. You will collaborate closely with hardware, software, and test teams, using modern tools and processes in a prime contractor environment focused on the development and integration of satellites, vehicles, and advanced payloads.