Systems Engineering Lead

Seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to serve as the technical lead across a next-generation rail operations platform. This individual will own requirements management, customer engagement, technical proposals, systems engineering processes, and cross-functional execution while growing into a future leadership role. Top Responsibilities Lead systems engineering activities across multiple product and customer programsServe as the primary customer-facing systems engineering representativeDrive requirements elicitation, decomposition, allocation, and traceabilityConvert customer needs and technical proposals into executable engineering requirementsSupport proposal development and capture activitiesLead daily standups and engineering coordination effortsImprove systems engineering processes, workflows, and best practicesSupport migration from ClearQuest to JIRADevelop requirements documentation, RTMs, ICDs, test plans, and verification artifactsMentor engineers and grow into formal people leadership Required Experience 8+ years of Systems Engineering experienceStrong understanding of the full Systems Engineering lifecycleRequirements analysis, decomposition, and traceabilityV-Model development experienceCustomer-facing technical leadershipTechnical proposal development and requirements generationExperience with:DOORSJIRAClearQuestRequirements Traceability Matrices (RTMs)Verification & ValidationInterface Control Documents (ICDs) Preferred Backgrounds Rail signalingTrain control systemsTransportation technologiesSCADA systemsIndustrial automationAerospaceDefenseSafety-critical systems Ideal Candidate Profile The best candidate is not necessarily the deepest technical specialist. They are someone who: Understands systems engineering from proposal through deploymentCan challenge existing processes and identify inefficienciesIs comfortable interfacing directly with customersThinks at the product level rather than the project levelCan coordinate multiple engineering disciplinesHas aspirations to grow into a Systems Engineering Manager role Job Type & Location This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Melbourne, FL. Pay And Benefits The pay range for this position is $57.00 - $81.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a hybrid position in Melbourne,FL. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Oct 5, 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. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options. San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.