Lead Systems Engineer - Aerospace Hardware

Liberty Personnel Services, Inc.; Sterling (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Liberty Personnel Services, Inc. is seeking a senior Lead Systems Engineer to take technical ownership of aerospace hardware programs in Sterling, VA, supporting space and airborne applications.

The role requires hands-on technical leadership across disciplines, guiding development from early concepts through integration, environmental testing, qualification and final delivery, and ensuring the system meets mission needs.

Qualifications

• 10+ years working with complex aerospace hardware
• Strong background in Systems Engineering
• Experience taking hardware through integration, test, verification, and validation
• Ability to translate customer and mission needs into actionable requirements
• Experience managing requirements and technical interfaces across multiple engineering disciplines
• Knowledge of MBSE and requirements management tools
• Experience identifying and resolving system-level technical risks
• Ability to lead engineers across electrical, mechanical, optical, software, and other technical disciplines
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Optics, or a related field; advanced degree preferred

Responsibilities

• Take technical ownership of hardware programs from development through delivery
• Serve as a key technical connection between engineering disciplines
• Lead engineers across electrical, mechanical, optical, software, and other disciplines
• Ensure the complete system performs as intended

Skills

Systems engineering

Requirements management

Technical leadership

Cross-disciplinary leadership

Regulatory/compliance

Spaceflight hardware

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Optics, or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

MBSE tools

Requirements management tools

Job description

Lead Systems Engineer - Aerospace Hardware

Lead Systems Engineer – AerospaceHardware

Sterling, VA

A client of ours is looking for a senior-level Systems Engineer to take technical ownership of complex hardware programs supporting space and airborne applications.

This is a hands‑on technical leadership position for someone who has taken sophisticated aerospace hardware from early development through integration, environmental testing, qualification, and final delivery. You’ll serve as a key technical connection between multiple engineering disciplines and help ensure the complete system performs as intended.

What We're Looking For

• 10+ years working with complex aerospace, defense, space, or similarly regulated hardware
• Strong background in Systems Engineering
• Experience taking hardware through integration, test, verification, and validation
• Ability to translate customer and mission needs into actionable engineering requirements
• Experience managing requirements and technical interfaces across multiple engineering disciplines
• Knowledge of MBSE and requirements management tools
• Experience identifying and resolving system‑level technical risks
• Ability to lead engineers across electrical, mechanical, optical, software, and other technical disciplines
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Optics, or a related field; advanced degree preferred

Experience with spaceflight hardware, payloads, electro‑optical systems, lasers, LIDAR, sensors, or other advanced optical hardware would be particularly valuable.

U.S. citizenship is required. Ability to obtain a Secret or Top Secret clearance is preferred.

An Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity in the workplace. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply.