Lead Systems Engineer

West Search Partners, LLC; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

West Search Partners is partnering with an innovative technology-driven organization to identify an experienced Lead Systems Engineer for a key role within its Engineering team. This role will own system-level architecture across electrical, mechanical, firmware, software, optics, sensors, and other disciplines, driving requirements, verification, and design maturity.

If you have 8+ years in complex instrumentation and a track record as a system-level integrator, you will influence technical

Qualifications

• BS in Systems, Electrical, Mechanical, or Computer Engineering; MS/PhD preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in complex instrumentation or precision products.
• Experience as system-level integrator across multiple disciplines.
• Experience with real-time systems, sensors, optics/photonics, embedded systems, and signal processing.

Responsibilities

• Own system architecture, decomposition, interface definition, and performance requirements across subsystems.
• Serve as the system-level technical authority for architecture decisions and trade-offs.
• Lead requirements development and maintain traceability from customer needs through verification using JAMA, DOORS, or equivalent tools.
• Drive system integration, verification, validation, and performance characterization.
• Mitigate cross-functional technical risks and integration gaps early in development.
• Lead root-cause analysis of complex system-level issues using analytical and experimental methods.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality throughout design transfer, production ramp, and sustaining activities.
• Lead technical trade studies, DFMEA, hazard analysis, and system-level risk assessments.
• Establish and continuously improve systems engineering processes, tools, and best practices.
• Mentor engineers and promote strong systems thinking across technical disciplines.

Skills

System-level integration

Real-time systems

Sensors

Optics/Photonics

Embedded systems

Python

MATLAB/Simulink

Signal processing

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BS in Engineering (Systems / Electrical / Mechanical / Computer)

MS or PhD preferred

Tools

JAMA/DOORS

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

Job description

West Search Partners is partnering with an innovative, technology-driven organization to identify an experienced Lead Systems Engineer for a key role within its Engineering team.

This position will serve as the system-level technical authority for complex, multidisciplinary instrumentation products, leading system architecture, integration, requirements, and verification across the full product lifecycle. This is an excellent opportunity for a senior technical professional who enjoys solving complex engineering challenges, influencing technical direction, and helping build and mature systems engineering capabilities within a growing organization.

The Role

The Lead Systems Engineer will own system-level architecture and provide technical leadership across electrical, mechanical, firmware, software, optics, sensors, and other engineering disciplines. This individual will establish best practices, drive cross-functional alignment, and ensure products meet performance, reliability, quality, and manufacturability requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Own system architecture, decomposition, interface definition, and performance requirements across subsystems
• Serve as the system-level technical authority for architecture decisions and engineering trade-offs
• Lead requirements development and maintain traceability from customer needs through verification using JAMA, DOORS, or equivalent tools
• Drive system integration, verification, validation, and performance characterization
• Identify and mitigate cross-functional technical risks and integration gaps early in development
• Lead root-cause analysis of complex system-level issues using analytical and experimental methods
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality throughout design transfer, production ramp, and sustaining activities
• Lead technical trade studies, DFMEA, hazard analysis, and system-level risk assessments
• Establish and continuously improve systems engineering processes, tools, and best practices
• Mentor engineers and promote strong systems thinking across technical disciplines

Required Qualifications

• BS in Systems, Electrical, Mechanical, Computer Engineering/Science, or a related scientific/engineering discipline; MS or PhD preferred
• 8+ years of experience in complex instrumentation, precision products, or similarly sophisticated engineering environments
• Demonstrated experience serving as a system-level integrator across multiple engineering disciplines
• Experience with real-time systems, sensors, optics/photonics, electromechanical systems, signal processing, embedded systems, and/or related technologies
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, including modeling and experimental validation
• Experience with requirements management tools such as JAMA or DOORS
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink and Python
• Knowledge of control systems, sensor integration, signal processing, and embedded systems

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline
• Experience leading system architecture and integration for cross-functional product development programs
• Experience establishing or maturing systems engineering practices
• Experience in regulated or high-reliability industries such as medical device, semiconductor, aerospace, or scientific instrumentation

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This role offers the opportunity to remain deeply technical while having significant influence over system architecture, engineering strategy, and technical decision-making. The successful candidate will also play an important role in developing a systems engineering function with the potential for expanded leadership responsibilities as the organization grows.