Lead Systems Engineer – Team Leader

University of Dayton Research Institute; Dayton (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) Space Power Systems Office seeks a Senior Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership in advanced radioisotope power systems and space power architectures. You will translate customer objectives into integrated solutions from concept through prototype demonstration and qualification.

This role leads a Design, Assembly, and Test Team and collaborates with sponsors, industry partners, and internal teams.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in systems engineering or related roles.
• Experience with complex aerospace or defense systems.
• Strong technical leadership and problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary teams through design, fabrication, testing and qualification.
• Develop system architectures, requirements, interfaces and baselines.
• Coordinate with sponsors, partners, and internal teams.
• Translate customer objectives into integrated solutions.

Skills

Systems thinking

Leadership

MBSE

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Master's degree

Tools

CAD

DOORS

MATLAB

ANSYS

Job description

Position Summary
New ideas surround us, but only a few will change the world. We are building upon RPS design philosophies that have stood the test of time, and this is your opportunity to become part of a team that brings us one step closer. If you desire to create something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for UDRI.

Position Summary
New ideas surround us, but only a few will change the world. We are building upon RPS design philosophies that have stood the test of time, and this is your opportunity to become part of a team that brings us one step closer. If you desire to create something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for UDRI.
The University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) Space Power Systems Office develops advanced power technologies that enable the next generation of space exploration missions. Working with sponsors including NASA, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and commercial industry, our multidisciplinary teams research, design, prototype, test, and qualify novel space power systems capable of operating in some of the harshest environments ever encountered.
We are seeking an experienced Senior Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership in the development of advanced radioisotope power systems (RPS), space power architectures, thermal systems, and related aerospace technologies. This position requires a systems thinker capable of translating challenging customer objectives into technically sound, integrated solutions spanning concept development through prototype demonstration and qualification.
The position leads the Design, Assembly, and Test Team responsible for transforming digital engineering products into assembled, integrated, and qualified hardware while maintaining engineering configuration, quality, and technical integrity throughout the development lifecycle.
The successful candidate will lead multidisciplinary engineering efforts involving systems engineering, digital engineering, mechanical design, analysis, qualification testing, and technology maturation. Working closely with government sponsors, industry partners, and internal engineering teams, the Senior Systems Engineer will define system architectures, manage technical risk, develop verification strategies, and ensure engineering decisions are supported by analytical and experimental evidence. Engineering decisions are expected to be supported through a combination of analysis, testing, and correlation, consistent with UDRI’s evidence-based engineering methodology.
This position offers the opportunity to contribute directly to technologies that may enable future lunar exploration, planetary science missions, national security applications, and other pioneering aerospace programs. Success in this role requires intellectual curiosity, sound engineering judgment, and the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams in solving first-of-a-kind technical challenges where requirements may evolve as technologies mature.

Responsibilities
Assembly, Integration & Test Leadership

• Lead multidisciplinary Design, Assembly, and Test teams through prototype fabrication, system integration, checkout, and qualification testing.
• Develop assembly strategies, manufacturing travelers, integration procedures, and test readiness documentation.
• Coordinate engineering, manufacturing, quality assurance, safety, and project management personnel during hardware builds.
• Resolve technical issues encountered during fabrication, assembly, and testing while maintaining engineering configuration.
• Establish and maintain engineering configuration baselines throughout design, fabrication, assembly, testing, and qualification to ensure complete traceability between digital product definitions, hardware configurations, analyses, and test results.

Technical Leadership

• Balance schedule, technical performance, manufacturability, quality, and risk throughout the hardware development lifecycle.
• Mentor engineers and technicians during hardware development, integration, and test activities
• Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams in the development of advanced space power systems from concept through prototype qualification.
• Develop system architectures, technical baselines, and engineering strategies for complex aerospace systems.
• Guide engineering trade studies and technical decision-making using analytical and experimental evidence.

Systems Engineering

• Develop and manage system requirements, interfaces, functional architectures, verification methods, and technical baselines using modern systems engineering practices.
• Apply systems engineering, model-based systems engineering (MBSE), and digital engineering methods.
• Develop integrated verification and qualification strategies consistent with customer and program requirements.
• Ensure technical continuity from concept development through engineering model fabrication, qualification testing, and transition to flight-ready designs.

Analysis & Qualification

• Plan and oversee system-level analyses including structural, thermal, electrical, dynamic, and reliability assessments.
• Develop Verification, Analysis, and Correlation (VAC) strategies to mature designs and reduce technical risk progressively.
• Plan and execute component, subsystem, and system qualification testing.

Customer Engagement

• Serve as a primary technical interface with government and industry sponsors.
• Present technical results at design reviews, technical interchange meetings, and customer briefings.
• Support proposal development and strategic technology planning.

Technical Mentorship

• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams.
• Promote engineering best practices and continuous process improvement.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Materials, Systems Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• Experience developing complex aerospace, defense, energy, or other highly integrated engineered systems.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in a related engineering position.
• Ability to create, read, and interpret models, technical drawings, schematics, and computer-generated reports.
• Working knowledge of engineering design tools including CAD, requirements management, data management, or model-based systems engineering environments.
• Experience interpreting engineering analyses including structural, thermal, dynamic, electrical, or reliability analyses.
• Ability to follow instructions and demonstrate attention to detail.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Successful collaboration within a multidisciplinary team.
• Customer focus and record of customer satisfaction.
• Proficiency with M.S. Office Suite – namely Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Project or program management experience.
• Excellent verbal/written communication skills
• Due to the requirements of our research contracts with the U.S. federal government, candidates for this position must be a U.S. citizen.
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret Clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading multidisciplinary hardware integration and test teams.
• Experience developing assembly procedures, manufacturing work instructions, and integration plans.
• Experience with prototype development, qualification testing, and flight hardware assembly.
• Familiarity with configuration management throughout prototype and qualification hardware builds.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering organizations.
• Experience integrating engineering, manufacturing, quality assurance, and safety organizations during hardware development.
• Experience working in laboratory or cleanroom environments supporting aerospace hardware development.
• Experience with radioisotope power systems, spacecraft power systems, nuclear systems, energy conversion, or advanced thermal management.
• Experience supporting NASA, DOE, DoD, AFRL, DARPA, or other federal aerospace programs.
• Experience leading Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR), Critical Design Reviews (CDR), Test Readiness Reviews (TRR), and Qualification Reviews.
• Experience with requirements management tools such as DOORS or equivalent.
• Experience with model-based systems engineering (Cameo, MagicDraw, SysML, or equivalent).
• Experience developing qualification plans for flight hardware.
• Proposal development and technical volume writing.
• Proficient in Ansys or Abaqus for FEA.
• Familiar with various manufacturing processes such as casting, CNC machining, forging, heat treating, and additive manufacturing for metals and plastics.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification.
• Professional Engineer (PE) Certification.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt Certification.
• Systems Engineering Certification.
• Active U.S. Security Clearance.

Closing Statement
Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the dignity of every human being. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity in all of its forms, achieve fair outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community. The University is committed to policies of affirmative action designed to increase the employment opportunities of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in compliance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1973.