Lead System Engineer

System One; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 87,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

System One, Inc. is seeking a Lead System Engineer for an onsite Boston, MA contract-to-hire role.

The candidate will oversee the entire system, including architecture, requirements, interfaces, integration, verification, and validation of a complex manufacturing platform in a regulated environment. This leadership role demands hands-on engineering in PLC programming, SolidWorks, and process diagrams, plus strong communication across multi-disciplinary teams and external partners to deliver a

Qualifications

• BS or MS in listed engineering fields; PhD desirable.
• 7+ years in systems engineering on complex electromechanical products.
• Experience in regulated hardware domains (medical or pharma).

Responsibilities

• Define system requirements covering modalities and manufacturing attributes.
• Create the system architecture document with initial BOM.
• Define integration interface specs, data schemas, and handoff timing.
• Develop verification and validation strategy and risk registers.
• Lead full-system functional verification and fault-tolerance campaigns.
• Possess skills in SolidWorks and PLC programming; work with P&ID.

Skills

Systems engineering leadership

Requirements management

Verbal and written communication

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in mechanical, electrical, mechatronic, aerospace, chemical or biomedical engineering

PhD in related field desirable

Tools

SolidWorks

PLC programming

P&ID development

Interface control documents

Job description

Title: Lead System Engineer

Location: Onsite, Boston, MA

Type: Contract to Hire

Hourly rate: $76.92 an hour

Hours: Standard business hours

Overview: Join a growing U.S. biotechnology organization focused on next-generation RNA medicine manufacturing. The Systems Engineering Lead will oversee the entire system, managing architecture, requirements, interfaces, integration, verification, and validation of a complex manufacturing platform. This role involves decomposing the platform into subsystems, defining interfaces, and integrating an analytics system developed with an external partner, requiring strong systems engineering leadership and hands‑on engineering expertise in a regulated environment.

Responsibilities

• The system requirements document covering several drug substance modalities and the physical attributes and specification of the manufacturing system to be developed
• The system architecture document with initial bill of materials.
• The integration interface specification defining sampling points, data and metadata schemas, handoff timing and control-interaction boundaries.
• The verification and validation strategy, the system-level risk register, and the integration readiness record that gates the start of system integration.
• Full-system functional verification and the off-nominal fault‑tolerance and recovery campaign.
• Some engineering design skills and the ability to work in a SolidWorks environment
• Control systems design and PLC programming skills
• Working knowledge on developing and maintaining process & instrumentation diagrams (P&ID)

Requirements

• BS or MS in mechanical, electrical, mechatronic, aerospace, chemical or biomedical engineering. PhD in related field is desirable.
• At least 7 or more years in systems engineering on complex multi-disciplinary electromechanical products, including at least five as systems lead on a programme that was actually integrated and demonstrated.
• Fluency in requirements management, architecture decomposition, interface control, trade studies, FMEA, verification planning and traceability.
• Direct experience in a regulated hardware domain — medical device design controls, pharmaceutical process equipment, in‑vitro diagnostics or comparable.
• The discipline to write verifiable requirements, refuse unverifiable ones, and keep traceability current rather than reconstructing it before a review.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work in international, multi-disciplinary and multi‑organisational teams and tight deadlines
• Nice to have: INCOSE CSEP. Single‑use or cartridge‑based instruments. Aseptic or isolator equipment. Model‑based systems engineering.
• #M3
• #LI-MD2
• Ref: #558-Scientific

System One, and its subsidiaries including Joulé, ALTA IT Services, CM Access, TPGS, and MOUNTAIN, LTD., are leaders in delivering workforce solutions and integrated services across North America. We help clients get work done more efficiently and economically, without compromising quality. System One not only serves as a valued partner for our clients, but we offer eligible full‑time employees health and welfare benefits coverage options including medical, dental, vision, spending accounts, life insurance, voluntary plans, as well as participation in a 401(k) plan.

System One is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, family care or medical leave status, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.