Senior Systems Engineer

Thomas Global; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Benefits package

Innovative team

Job summary

Thomas Global Systems in Irvine, California, seeks a Senior Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership across avionics and defense electronic systems. You will define and manage system requirements and architecture, guide multidisciplinary teams, and serve as a key interface with customers and certification authorities.

This on-site role covers the full lifecycle from concept through delivery and sustainment, with a base salary range of $150,000 - $170,000 DOE.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Systems, Electrical, Aerospace, Computer or Software Engineering; Master's preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive systems engineering experience in avionics, aerospace or defense.
• Experience with DOORS, Jama, Polarion, Jira tools.
• Strong knowledge of civil aviation certification and/or defense airworthiness knowledge.
• Proven leadership of multidisciplinary teams and customer-facing roles.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of system requirements, architectures, interfaces and operational concepts for avionics and defense electronic systems.
• Own hardware, firmware and software requirements allocation, trade studies, major technical decisions and bidirectional traceability.
• Control electrical, mechanical, firmware, software and data interfaces and interface documentation across internal and external organizations.
• Lead system integration, safety analyses, environmental qualification, acceptance testing, anomaly disposition and verification closure.
• Lead civil certification and military airworthiness or customer qualification, coordinating with customers and authorities.

Skills

System architecture leadership

Requirements management

System integration

Certification knowledge

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Systems, Electrical, Aerospace, Computer or Software Engineering

Tools

DOORS

Jama

Polarion

Jira

Job description

Join Our Team as a Senior Systems Engineer!

About the Company

Thomas Global Systems is a leader in the design, manufacture and support of high-integrity aviation and defense electronics, operating out of locations in Sydney, Australia and Irvine, California.

About the Role

Reporting to the Engineering Manager, Systems, the Senior Systems Engineer provides technical leadership across the full lifecycle of avionics and defense electronic systems. The role is responsible for defining and managing system requirements and architecture, guiding multidisciplinary engineering teams, and serving as a key technical interface with customers and certification or airworthiness authorities. The Senior Systems Engineer ensures systems meet performance, safety, reliability, security, and regulatory requirements from concept through delivery and sustainment.

Location: Irvine, CA, fully onsite.

What's on Offer

• A varied, fast paced role with an innovative and respected leader in mission-critical aerospace and defense products.
• Competitive remuneration and comprehensive benefit package.
• Join a team of skilled and motivated people committed to innovation, collaboration, and national security outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

System Architecture and Technical Leadership

• Lead development of system requirements, architectures, interfaces and operational concepts for avionics and defense electronic systems.
• Own hardware, firmware and software requirements allocation, trade studies, major technical decisions and bidirectional traceability.

Integration and Interface Management

• Control electrical, mechanical, firmware, software and data interfaces and interface documentation across internal and external organizations.
• Direct component and line-replaceable-unit integration into aircraft, ground, vehicle or mission systems and resolve cross-disciplinary issues.

Verification, Validation and Qualification

• Set the verification and validation strategy, plans, procedures and acceptance criteria, ensuring coverage of allocated requirements.
• Lead system integration, safety analyses, environmental qualification, acceptance testing, anomaly disposition and verification closure.

Safety, Airworthiness and Compliance

• Lead or support civil certification and military airworthiness or customer qualification, coordinating technical matters with customers and authorities.
• Apply relevant FAA or EASA requirements, ARP4754A, DO-160, DO-178C, DO-254 and MIL-STDs, and ensure compliance evidence is complete.

Technical Planning, Reviews and Risk Management

• Plan systems engineering work and estimates, manage risks and opportunities, and lead reviews such as SRR, PDR, CDR and TRR.

• Provide technical direction, resolve issues, support change and configuration control, and contribute to supplier oversight and proposals.

Problem Resolution and Lifecycle Support

• Lead root-cause analysis and corrective action for development, production and field issues, and guide product sustainment activities.

• Assess change and obsolescence impacts on requirements, interfaces, verification, qualification, certification and field performance.

Documentation, Collaboration and Mentoring

• Review and approve requirements, architecture data, interface documents, test documentation and reports. Coordinate multidisciplinary teams, mentor engineers, and communicate technical status, risks and recommendations to leadership and customers.

Required Skills, Experience and Behaviors

• Bachelor's degree in Systems, Electrical, Aerospace, Computer or Software Engineering, or a related field; a Master's degree is preferred.
• Typically ten or more years of progressive systems engineering experience in avionics, aerospace or defense electronic systems.
• Experience in FMECA analyses, including probability and reliability calculations including IAW MIL-HDBK-217F or the FIDES Reliability Methodology
• Demonstrated technical ownership of requirements and architecture, interface management, trade studies, integration, and verification and validation.
• Strong knowledge of civil aviation certification and/or defense airworthiness, qualification and customer requirements; experience in both environments is preferred.
• Ability to lead technical reviews, guide multidisciplinary teams, mentor engineers, and work with customers, suppliers and certification or airworthiness authorities.
• Experience with requirements management tools such as DOORS, Jama, Polarion, Jira or equivalent systems.
• Professional certification such as CSEP is preferred, together with strong analytical, decision-making, problem-solving, communication and technical-writing skills.
• Professional written communication skills / report writing

Base salary range of $150,000 - $170,000 DOE per annum. The final salary offer will be determined after reviewing relevant factors, including but not limited to location, skill set; relevant experience; and other business and organizational needs.

At-Will Employment Statement

Thomas Global Systems is an at-will employer. Employment with the company is voluntary and may be terminated by the employee or the company at any time, with or without cause or notice, and for any reason or no reason at all.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

Thomas Global Systems is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status under applicable laws.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodation Statement

If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or to perform the essential functions of a position, please contact us at [e-mail].