Lead Systems Engineer

AV; Germantown (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AV in Germantown, MD is seeking a Lead Systems Engineer to drive requirements management, architecture, interfaces, and verification planning for complex, multi-disciplinary systems. You will collaborate with mechanical, electrical, software, and test teams to integrate subsystems into mission-capable solutions.

The role emphasizes risk management, adherence to schedule and cost objectives, and providing technical leadership across cross-functional teams while guiding integration activities and

Qualifications

• Experience leading requirements management across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ability to define system architecture and interfaces.
• Strong verification and validation planning skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, decompose, and manage system and subsystem requirements from customer needs through verification and validation.
• Define and document system interfaces (mechanical, electrical, optical, RF, data) through ICDs.
• Develop system architectures, functional flows, and physical decompositions for electromechanical, opto-mechanical, and RF systems.
• Create verification matrices and test plans mapping requirements to verification methods (test, analysis, inspection, demonstration).
• Lead cross-functional technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and ensure design maturity.
• Provide technical guidance to systems engineers and review technical work products for quality and alignment with requirements.

Skills

Requirements management

Architecture definition

Interface control

Verification planning

Systems integration

Risk management

Cross-functional leadership

Technical problem solving

Tools

DOORS

Jama

Job description

Position Summary

The Lead Systems Engineer is responsible for leading requirements management, architecture definition, interface control, and verification planning for complex, multi-disciplinary systems. They will collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, software, and test teams to integrate subsystems into mission-capable solutions, manage technical risks, and ensure our systems meet customer performance, schedule, and cost objectives.

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Position Summary

The Lead Systems Engineer is responsible for leading requirements management, architecture definition, interface control, and verification planning for complex, multi-disciplinary systems. They will collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, software, and test teams to integrate subsystems into mission-capable solutions, manage technical risks, and ensure our systems meet customer performance, schedule, and cost objectives.

Key Responsibilities

System Architecture & Design

• Develop, decompose, and manage system and subsystem requirements from customer needs through verification and validation
• Establish and maintain bidirectional traceability between requirements, design elements, and verification methods using requirements management tools
• Define and document system and subsystem interfaces (mechanical, electrical, optical, RF, data) through Interface Control Documents (ICDs)
• Develop system architectures, functional flows, and physical decompositions for electromechanical, opto-mechanical, and RF systems
• Conduct trade studies and technical analyses to support design decisions and optimize system performance against cost, schedule, and performance constraints
• Create verification matrices and test plans that map requirements to appropriate verification methods (test, analysis, inspection, demonstration)
• Develop integration strategies and support integration activities for multi-disciplinary systems across subsystems and suppliers
• Support system-level testing, verification events, and validation activities to ensure requirements are met
• Collaborate daily with mechanical, electrical, software, optical, and RF engineers to resolve technical issues and ensure system-level integration
• Identify, assess, and track technical risks; develop mitigation plans in collaboration with engineering teams
• Prepare technical specifications, reports, design documentation, and presentations for internal teams and customers
• Assess impact of requirements changes and support change control processes to maintain technical and programmatic integrity
• Contribute to continuous improvement of systems engineering processes, tools, templates, and best practices
  

Technical Leadership & Coordination

• Serve as the technical lead across cross-functional teams (e.g., electrical, mechanical, software, RF, test, manufacturing, quality).
• Lead customer and technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, etc.), ensuring design maturity and risk mitigation.
• Provide technical guidance to systems engineers and contributing engineers and review technical work products for quality, completeness, and alignment with system requirements.
• Act as the primary technical point of contact for internal stakeholders, customers, and suppliers.
• Represent technical status and risk to internal leadership/stakeholders during reviews such as PMRs.
  

Requirements & Configuration Management

• Lead requirements capture, analysis, allocation, and traceability using appropriate tools (e.g., DOORS, Jama, etc.).
• Manage configuration baselines and ensure changes are controlled, documented, and communicated.
• Ensure compliance with relevant standards, regulations, and customer specifications.
  

Integration, Verification & Validation (IV&V)

• Define system integration strategy and test approach across lab, field, and production environments.
• Develop and/or oversee test plans, procedures, and reports for system-level verification and validation.
• Lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions for integration and test issues, collaborating with design teams.
  

Risk, Quality & Lifecycle Management