Senior Systems Engineer – Space & Defense Electronics
Location: Fairfax, VA or Concord, NH (Onsite)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Reports To: Senior Principal Systems Engineer
About This Opportunity
Our firm has been engaged to recruit a highly capable Senior Systems Engineer on behalf of a leading developer of advanced space and defense electronic systems. This organization supports mission-critical programs for the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, and civil space agencies.
The company is recognized for engineering excellence, disciplined product development, and a collaborative culture that drives innovation. Their teams design and deliver high-performance, radiation-hardened electronic solutions that enable complex missions in the most demanding operational environments.
Position Summary
We are seeking a talented, self-motivated Senior Systems Engineer with a proven track record of leading technical teams to develop and deliver complex products on time and within budget.
This role provides systems engineering leadership across R&D and product development programs and contributes directly to technology roadmaps and strategic business initiatives. The Senior Systems Engineer will collaborate closely with program managers and project engineers to ensure successful execution, guiding teams through a holistic, structured systems engineering approach.
The ideal candidate will combine deep technical expertise with broad cross-disciplinary understanding, enabling them to address complex challenges spanning mechanical, electrical, software, and firmware domains. This position requires strong technical judgment, forward-thinking problem solving, and the ability to operate autonomously with high-level objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams in the development of advanced multi-function RF, processing, networking, and data storage systems for space applications
Own the systems engineering process for assigned programs, ensuring proper analysis, trade studies, technical baseline management, and verification/validation activities
Partner with program management to support planning and execution within defined cost and schedule constraints
Serve as the primary technical representative and point of contact for assigned programs
Prepare for and present at major design reviews, including internal leadership and external customer reviews
Provide technical expertise in planning for internal R&D initiatives and new product development
Support proposal development and new business capture efforts
Travel or work on-site as needed to support program requirements
Perform additional duties as required to support organizational objectives
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics)
6+ years of relevant experience with a Bachelor’s degree, or 4+ years with a Master’s degree
Demonstrated experience as a technical project lead
Recognized expertise in one or more engineering or scientific disciplines
Ability to work effectively across multiple technical domains and engineering disciplines
Strong proficiency in applying systems engineering methodologies to product design and development
Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams through the development of complex electronic systems
Track record of balancing technical performance objectives with program cost and schedule requirements
Excellent organizational, leadership, and communication skills
Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee status)
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in a STEM field
Experience with space industry product development life cycles
Background in high-reliability, high-survivability, or space-environment product design
Experience with complex electronics at low levels of integration (PCBAs, mission software, FPGA firmware, etc.)
Familiarity with Xilinx devices, including Zynq UltraScale+ or Versal architectures
Knowledge of VPX standards (VITA 46 and VITA 65) and embedded hardware implementations
Hands-on experience in electronics design, including schematic capture, PCB layout, signal integrity analysis, and mixed-signal design
Experience with signal processing and algorithm development
Proficiency with engineering tools such as PSpice, LTspice, Altium, SOLIDWORKS, Keysight ADS, MATLAB/Simulink, or MBSE platforms
Knowledge of networking protocols and OSI model concepts
Benefits Overview
The organization offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, which may include:
Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
Basic Life Insurance with AD&D
Short- and Long-Term Disability
Voluntary benefits (life, accident, critical illness, hospital, pet insurance)
Flexible Spending Accounts (HSA, FSA, DCFSA)
Paid Time Off and company holidays
401(k) plan with company match
Tuition reimbursement programs
Parental, maternity, and military leave
Eligibility for annual discretionary bonus