Principal / Lead Systems Engineer

Confidential; United States; Remote; USD 124,000 - 207,000; Part time

Job summary

Zekai seeks experienced Principal or Lead Systems Engineers to support an AI training project focused on real-world engineering workflows. You will draw on your experience leading multidisciplinary engineering projects to design realistic tasks, coordinate contributions from domain experts, and define clear technical objectives and evaluation criteria.

Your expertise will help improve how AI systems plan, execute, and validate engineering work.

Qualifications

• Substantial professional experience as a Principal Systems Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, or in a comparable technical leadership role.
• Proven experience leading complex engineering projects involving multiple technical disciplines.
• Strong expertise in requirements engineering, interface management, system integration, and verification and validation.
• English proficiency at B2 level or higher

Responsibilities

• Design realistic engineering projects involving multiple disciplines, such as mechanical, electrical, hardware, software, and manufacturing.
• Translate project objectives into clear requirements, technical constraints, and measurable acceptance criteria.
• Break complex projects into connected tasks with defined inputs, deliverables, dependencies, and expert responsibilities

Education

Master's degree or PhD in Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field

Tools

SysML

Requirements management tools

Model-based systems engineering

Job description

Role Title: Principal / Lead Systems Engineer

Role Type: Contractor

Location: Remote - US-based preferred; candidates with strong relevant experience worldwide considered.

our partner is looking for experienced Principal or Lead Systems Engineers to support an AI training project focused on complex, real-world engineering workflows. In this role, you will draw on your experience leading multidisciplinary engineering projects to design realistic tasks, coordinate contributions from domain experts, and define clear technical objectives and evaluation criteria. Your expertise will help improve how AI systems plan, execute, and validate engineering work.

Scope of Work

• Design realistic engineering projects involving multiple disciplines, such as mechanical, electrical, hardware, software, and manufacturing.
• Translate project objectives into clear requirements, technical constraints, and measurable acceptance criteria.
• Break complex projects into connected tasks with defined inputs, deliverables, dependencies, and expert responsibilities.

Requirements

• Substantial professional experience as a Principal Systems Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, or in a comparable technical leadership role.
• Proven experience leading complex engineering projects involving multiple technical disciplines.
• Strong expertise in requirements engineering, interface management, system integration, and verification and validation.
• English proficiency at B2 level or higher

Preferred Qualifications

• A relevant master's degree or PhD in Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with model-based systems engineering, SysML, or requirements management tools.
• Experience leading projects from initial requirements through integration, testing, and delivery.
• Experience in aerospace, automotive, robotics, industrial systems, medical devices, or other complex engineering environments.

This is a 100% remote contract role, open to applicants worldwide in the countries the employer accepts.