Lead Payload Systems Engineer

The Boeing Company; Seal Beach (CA); On-site; USD 177,000 - 239,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement savings plans

Paid time off

Life and disability insurance

Job summary

The Boeing Company in Seal Beach, CA seeks a Payload Systems Engineer (Lead) to own assigned products, emphasizing system integration, supplier management, and cross‑organizational interfaces across the product lifecycle.

You will lead projects and teams, define capability roadmaps with the Payload IPT, and present review packages to senior leadership. A strong aerospace background, ability to work with government customers, and TS/SCI clearance are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in engineering or related field.
• Active Top Secret/SCI U.S. clearance required.
• 10+ years of related work experience or equivalent.
• 3+ years leading projects, teams, or products.
• Proficiency in authoring ICDs, specifications, and SoW.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the technical project manager for subcontracted development and sustainment efforts
• Manage technical project scope, planning, proposals, cost estimates, schedules, and drive execution
• Identifies, tracks, and update key subsystem technical performance metrics
• Works closely with the Payload Integrated Product Team (IPT) to define capability roadmaps, value statements, and implementation plans
• Coordinates with SMEs and external stakeholders to provide real time support for orbit systems, including investigation and resolution of anomalies
• Serves as the authority and decision maker for technical trades, design decisions, noncompliance disposition, and failure resolution within assigned products
• Develops and presents review packages to internal and external senior leadership
• Works proactively and independently in a fast-paced, demanding atmosphere

Skills

Leading projects

Interface Control Documents

System integration

Stakeholder management

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering or related field

Job description

Job Description

At Boeing, we innovate and collaborate to make the world a better place. We’re committed to fostering an environment for every teammate that’s welcoming, respectful and inclusive, with great opportunity for professional growth. Find your future with us.

Boeing Defense Space & Security (BDS) has exciting opportunities for Payload Systems Engineers (Lead) to join ourExperimental Systems Group (ESG)located in Seal Beach, CA.

ESG supports a variety of government customers spanning technology domains, and is an extremely fast-paced, responsive development environment delivering new capabilities to customers rapidly and affordably. The ESG portfolio consists of a range of platforms and technologies including the X-37B, the world’s first fully autonomous reusable spaceplane, which is continuing to shape the future of space technology while flying its eighth mission.

As a part of the Systems Engineering Integration & Test (SEIT) team, you will serve as a core point of contact for customers and will work directly with subject matter experts across the business to quickly iterate and converge on achievable solutions that meet our customers’ needs. Our development timelines are aggressive, and you will be asked to develop solutions quickly and with high quality.

In this role you will serve as the technical owner for your assigned product, with an emphasis on system integration, supplier technical management, and cross-organizational interface management. Your products will include both experimental and operational systems, cover a wide range of scales and complexities, and extend through all phases of the product’s lifecycle (early feasibility studies through operation and disposal). You will work both as an individual contributor and team lead.

An ideal candidate has a strong technical background across all spacecraft subsystems with particular depth in interface design, external stakeholder management, and payload performance as well as a strong system background spanning both space and ground domains. You will need to be able to dive into broad, minimally defined design spaces and effectively lead integrated efforts.

Position Responsibilities:

• Serves as the technical project manager for subcontracted development and sustainment efforts
• Manage technical project scope, planning, proposals, cost estimates, schedules, and drive execution
• Identifies, tracks, and update key subsystem technical performance metrics
• Works closely with the Payload Integrated Product Team (IPT) to define capability roadmaps, value statements, and implementation plans
• Coordinates with SMEs and external stakeholders to provide real time support for orbit systems, including investigation and resolution of anomalies
• Serves as the authority and decision maker for technical trades, design decisions, noncompliance disposition, and failure resolution within assigned products
• Develops and presents review packages to internal and external senior leadership
• Works proactively and independently in a fast-paced, demanding atmosphere

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills/Experience):

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology (including Manufacturing Technology), Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or non-US equivalent qualifications directly related to the work statement

• This position requires an active Top Secret/SCI U.S. Security Clearance (U.S. Citizenship Required). (A U.S. Security Clearance that has been active in the past 24 months is considered active.)
• 10+ years of related work experience OR an equivalent combination of education and experience (Ex. PhD +6, master’s +8)
• 3+ year of experience leading projects, teams, or products
• Proficiency in authoring Interface Control Documents (ICDs), specifications, and Statements of Work (SoW)

Preferred Qualifications (Desired Skills/Experience):

• Expertise in one or more space payload technology (RF Communication, Lasercomm, PNT, Remote Sensing, etc)
• Experience working directly with government customers on large scale space programs
• Experience in spacecraft, launch vehicles, or highly autonomous unmanned systems

Conflict of Interest:

Successful candidates for this job must satisfy the Company’s Conflict of Interest (COI) assessment process.

Drug Free Workplace:

Boeing is a Drug Free Workplace where post offer applicants and employees are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria is met as outlined in our policies.

Pay & Benefits:

At Boeing, we strive to deliver a Total Rewards package that will attract, engage and retain the top talent. Elements of the Total Rewards package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities.

The Boeing Company also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work.

The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

Pay is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

Summary pay range for Experienced (Level 5): $176,800 - $239,200

Applications for this position will be accepted until Oct. 30, 2026

Export Control Requirements:

This position must meet U.S. export control compliance requirements. To meet U.S. export control compliance requirements, a “U.S. Person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.62 is required. “U.S. Person” includes U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee.

Export Control Details:

US based job, US Person required

Education

Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Required

Relocation

Relocation assistance is not a negotiable benefit for this position.

Security Clearance

This position requires an active U.S. Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance (U.S. Citizenship Required). (A U.S. Security Clearance that has been active in the past 24 months is considered active)

Visa Sponsorship

Employer will not sponsor applicants for employment visa status.

Shift

This position is for 1st shift

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Boeing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.