Lead Systems Engineer

X-Bow Systems; Huntsville (AL); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

X-Bow Systems seeks a Lead Systems Engineer to serve as technical authority for development and production programs in Huntsville, AL, or remote-friendly locations. You will lead end-to-end systems engineering, architecture, qualification, and testing of advanced propulsion systems.

The role requires 6+ years of aerospace systems experience, citizenship for DoD programs, and strong MBSE leadership using Cameo. Occasional travel up to 20% is expected.

Qualifications

• 6+ years leading IPTs or whole-system programs.
• Experience with solid rocket motors or propulsion programs preferred.
• US citizenship required due to DoD contracts.
• Mastery of MBSE concepts and verification methodologies.
• Strong written and verbal communication with customers and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end systems engineering for DoD/commercial programs.
• Develop and govern system architectures, CONOPS, and requirements.
• Define and manage ICDs across major motor assemblies.
• Lead configuration baselines and conduct FCA/PCA reviews.
• Chair SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR milestone reviews.
• Coordinate cross-discipline trade studies and risk management.
• Mentor systems engineers and drive engineering maturity.
• Occasional hands-on with hardware and test operations.
• Travel up to 20% to sites and ranges.

Skills

MBSE

Cameo

Systems engineering leadership

DoD program experience

Requirement traceability

Education

Bachelor's or higher in Mechanical/Aerospace/Systems Engineering

Master's or PhD a plus

Tools

Cameo MBSE tool

Job description

Job Description - Lead Systems Engineer (Systems Engineer IV/V) Location: Variable (Huntsville, AL / Luling, TX Preferred; remote supported in select states)

As a Level 4 to 5 Lead Systems Engineer, you will serve as the technical authority and lead systems architect for development and production programs integral to X-Bow's success. This position will lead the end-to-end systems engineering, design, architecture, qualification, and static/flight testing of advanced propellant manufacturing systems and/or novel solid rocket motor programs.

Typical responsibilities for this position include the following, but we encourage you to apply even if you do not have all of the listed experience:

• Lead and establish the overarching Systems Engineering process, technical standards, and documentation across the full lifecycle for solid rocket motor programs, including mission architecture, Concept of Operations (CONOPS) development, system-level requirements decomposition, interface control, and enterprise verification/validation management.
• Architect, govern, and standardize Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) models (such as Cameo) to establish digital engineering baselines, system architectures, behavioral modeling, requirements traceability, and verification pipelines across multidisciplinary teams.
• Lead the definition, negotiation, and baseline control of system and subsystem Interface Control Documents (ICDs) across major motor assemblies, including composite motor cases, loaded propellant grains, ignition systems, nozzles, raceway/instrumentation assemblies, and control systems.
• Establish and govern configuration baselines for development, flight, and static test motor configurations; lead Functional and Physical Configuration Audits (FCA/PCA) and engineering review boards.
• Lead and chair major program technical milestone reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, etc.); establish entry/exit criteria, drive technical baseline closure, and present critical architectures to executive and customer leadership.
• Drive technical alignment across engineering disciplines (propellant chemistry, mechanical/case design, ballistics, thermal/structural analysis, avionics, controls, and manufacturing) to resolve systemic technical challenges, make complex trade decisions, and capture high-impact opportunities.
• Embed across IPTs as the primary systems authority to steer technical trade-offs (mass fraction, ballistic performance margins, thermal/structural safety factors, and manufacturing constraints) and ensure architectural integrity throughout design cycles.
• Mentor and develop systems engineering team members, providing technical leadership, establishing best practices, and growing internal engineering capability across programs.
• Lead other advanced systems engineering activities as required for assigned programs.
• Program Management Support
  • Direct system-level and/or component-level technical risk and opportunity management processes, driving proactive mitigation strategies across complex propulsion and energetic workstreams.
  • Direct configuration management and data management processes and engineering change order (ECO) reviews.
  • Serve as one of the primary technical interfaces and trusted engineering authorities for USG, DoD, and/or commercial customer stakeholders.
• Other Program Support
• Opportunity to get hands‑on with hardware through assembly, integration, and test operations.
• Up to 20% travel to program locations, test ranges, and equipment deployment sites.

Qualifications

X-Bow is interested in accomplished engineering leaders with exceptional technical leadership, strategic decision-making, and communication skills, proficient in enterprise systems engineering tools and aerospace methodologies. In addition, candidates should have experience or knowledge of the following:

• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering tools such as Cameo.
• Demonstrated experience architecting complex system‑level architectures, CONOPS, and executing multivariable system trade studies for aerospace or launch vehicle systems.
• Extensive experience authoring, approving, and governing systems engineering artifacts, including System Requirements Documents (SRDs), Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and Requirement 6Verification Compliance Matrices.
• Expertise in aerospace data management, configuration management, and baseline control workflows.
• Proven track record of leading and chairing major DoD/aerospace milestone reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) through successful customer closeout.
• 6+ years of systems engineering experience leading IPTs, major subsystems, or whole‑system development programs.
• U.S. Citizenship required due to DoD contract and ITAR / Export Control requirements

Candidates with the following are preferred:

• Extensive background in design, integration, qualification, and/or testing of solid rocket motors (SRM), tactical propulsion, launch vehicles, or energetic manufacturing facilities.
• Direct systems engineering ownership across Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) subsystems, including cases, solid propellants/liners, ignition systems, nozzles, and/or control systems.
• Hands‑on background with full‑scale propulsion static hot‑fire testing, test range operations, data acquisition, and explosive safety standards (e.g., DoD 4145.26‑M)
• Active DoD Secret security clearance.

Desired Experience

6 to 12+ years of experience in a related aerospace/defense engineering field is desired. Proven technical leadership in solid rocket motor, launch vehicle, or energetic system development, qualification, and flight/static test execution is strongly desired.

Education

Bachelor's Degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or equivalent STEM discipline. Master's Degree or Ph.D. is a plus.

Location Requirements

Primary work locations include Huntsville, AL, or Luling, TX (Austin, TX or San Antonio, TX areas) with Salt Lake City, UT, Denver, CO, Socorro, NM as preferred secondary areas. This job can be worked remotely from supported states with the appropriate work ethic and discipline. Additional travel may be required if remote.