Senior System Engineer

Leonardo DRS; Fitchburg (MA); On-site; USD 102,000 - 159,000; Full time

Job summary

Leonardo DRS Naval Power Systems in Fitchburg, MA seeks an experienced Systems Engineer III–IV to lead cross-disciplinary system modeling across thermo-fluid, electrical, and control domains. The role emphasizes dynamic behavior, multi-physics interactions, and integrated system performance.

Responsibilities include developing architectures, conducting trade studies, and supporting MBSE and system verification, with collaboration across engineering teams and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or Systems Engineering.
• 5+ years of relevant engineering experience for Level III; more for Level IV.
• Experience modeling complex systems spanning multiple disciplines.
• First-principles engineering analysis and practical design recommendations.
• Dynamic system modeling or simulation of integrated physical systems.

Responsibilities

• Perform system-level modeling, analysis, and trade studies across multiple physical domains, focusing on dynamic and transient behavior.
• Develop and evaluate integrated system architectures with thermal, electrical, mechanical, controls, and power elements.
• Analyze system interactions, interfaces, and performance margins to ensure cohesive operation.
• Build and apply lumped-parameter and multi-physics models to support design decisions and risk reduction.
• Support MBSE, verification planning, and system requirements tracing within a broader lifecycle.

Skills

Multidisciplinary systems engineering

First-principles analysis

Dynamic system modeling

Communication across teams

System-level thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering

Tools

Simulink

Simcenter

AxSTREAM/AxCYCLE

Modelica-based tools

Job description

The salary range for this position is $102,433.00- $159,028/year.

We are the primary contractor for the U.S. Navy’s Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine's integrated electric propulsion system. Awarded contracts exceeding $3 billion, we design and manufacture the large, advanced electric drive motors and components that power the new submarines.

Job Summary

Leonardo DRS Naval Power Systems is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer III–IV for our Fitchburg, Massachusetts location. This role is intended for an engineer who can lead and execute cross-disciplinary system modeling and analysis efforts spanning thermal, electrical, power transmission, and control domains, with particular emphasis on dynamic system behavior, multi-physics interactions, and integrated system performance.

The position is centered on the analysis and development of complex engineered systems rather than purely requirements administration or model-governance activities. While the engineer will support Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), requirements decomposition, verification planning, and other systems engineering lifecycle tasks, the primary focus is on understanding how real physical systems interact, building and using models to assess that behavior, and shaping architectures that integrate components into robust, high-performing solutions.

This position is well suited for a systems engineer with strong fundamentals in thermo-fluid systems, electrical power systems, controls, energy conversion, transmission systems, and dynamic cycles, who is comfortable working across organizational and multi-disciplinary boundaries to develop practical, analyzable system solutions.

Job Responsibilities

• Perform system-level modeling, analysis, and trade studies across multiple physical domains, with emphasis on dynamic and transient behavior.
• Develop and evaluate integrated system architectures involving combinations of thermal, electrical, mechanical, controls, power conversion, and transmission elements.
• Analyze system interactions, interfaces, and performance margins to ensure components function together as a cohesive and reliable system.
• Build, adapt, and apply lumped-parameter, reduced-order, and multi-physics models to support design decisions, performance predictions, and risk reduction.
• Support the development of system concepts, operating philosophies, and functional behavior for complex power and energy systems.
• Perform engineering analyses related to system cycles, energy balances, heat transfer, fluid flow, control response, power distribution, and component interaction.
• Lead or support design studies involving integrated plant and subsystem performance, including normal operation, off-design conditions, and transient events.
• Define and assess system requirements derived from analysis, operational expectations, interfaces, and performance objectives.
• Support verification and validation planning by linking analytical methods, simulation results, and test approaches to system requirements.
• Collaborate with component, controls, electrical, mechanical, and test engineers to mature integrated solutions.
• Interface with internal subject matter experts, suppliers, and program stakeholders to coordinate technical inputs into coherent system designs.
• Contribute to MBSE, requirements management, systems integration, and systems Verification & Validation (V&V) activities as collateral duties in support of the broader engineering lifecycle.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of relevant engineering experience for Level III consideration; additional experience and demonstrated technical breadth for Level IV consideration.
• Experience analyzing and modeling complex systems that span multiple disciplines such as thermal/fluid, electrical, controls, mechanical, or power systems.
• Demonstrated ability to perform first-principles engineering analysis and translate findings into practical system architecture or design recommendations.
• Experience with dynamic system modeling, transient analysis, or simulation of integrated physical systems.
• Working knowledge of energy conversion systems, power generation systems, fluid systems, thermal systems, electrical systems, or control systems.
• Ability to decompose complex technical problems, define analytical approaches, and communicate conclusions clearly to multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience supporting system integration, trade studies, or performance assessment for complex engineered products.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with shipboard, naval, industrial, or other large integrated power and energy systems.
• Knowledge of Rankine, Brayton, or other open- and closed-cycle systems.
• Experience with thermo-fluid system analysis including piping, heat exchangers, pumps, flow networks, and heat balance methods.
• Experience with control-oriented system modeling, dynamic response analysis, system tuning, hardware-in-the-loop concepts, or commissioning support.
• Familiarity with electrical power generation, regulation, conversion, protection, or transmission systems.
• Experience using system simulation and modeling tools such as Simulink, Simcenter, AxSTREAM/AxCYCLE, Modelica-based tools, or comparable multi-physics environments.
• Familiarity with optimization, multivariate analysis, uncertainty analysis, or design space exploration methods.
• Exposure to defense, marine, propulsion, turbine-generator, or Navy-related applications.
• Familiarity with MBSE tools and methods, including SysML, used as a supporting systems engineering framework.

What We Are Looking For

We are particularly interested in candidates who think of systems engineering as an analytical and integrative discipline—engineers who can understand how thermal, electrical, controls, and power‑conversion elements behave individually and as an interacting whole. The strongest candidates will be comfortable moving between physical intuition, engineering calculations, and simulation tools to evaluate system concepts and improve performance, robustness, and integration quality.

U.S. Citizenship required. This position requires an active DOD security clearance or the ability to obtain such clearance within a reasonable time after commencement of employment.