Senior Systems Engineer - Rugged Defense Solutions

Northwest Partners LLC; Hope Hull (AL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwest Partners is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to join a leading defense and aerospace organization focused on rugged computing, secure communications, avionics support technologies, and mission-critical solutions. The role requires 10+ years of engineering experience in defense or similar complex hardware, strong system architecture and requirements development skills, and the ability to obtain a U.S.

security clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Computer, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of engineering experience within defense, aerospace, rugged electronics, mission systems, or a similar hardware environment.
• Experience with MIL-STD-810 and MIL-STD-461.
• Understanding ITAR, DFARS, NIST 800-171, cybersecurity, and government contracting requirements.
• Experience with ERP and/or PLM systems.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.

Responsibilities

• Lead system-level design, integration, and validation of rugged computing, communications, embedded electronics, and mission-critical systems.
• Develop and maintain system architectures, requirements, interface specifications, and technical documentation.
• Support trade studies, technical reviews, risk assessments, and qualification activities.
• Collaborate with hardware, software, manufacturing, quality, and operations teams.
• Support engineering activities across the complete product lifecycle, from concept and prototype through qualification, production, and sustainment.
• Support configuration management, BOMs, engineering drawings, revision control, ECNs, and technical data packages.
• Participate in root-cause analysis, failure investigations, corrective actions, and production troubleshooting.
• Work with Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to support manufacturing readiness.
• Support DFM/DFA, testability, maintainability, reliability, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure engineering activities align with applicable defense, aerospace, quality, cybersecurity, and export-control requirements.
• Engage with customers to understand technical requirements and resolve engineering challenges.
• Support proposals, SOWs, estimates, compliance matrices, customer reviews, and technical presentations.

Skills

Systems engineering

Requirements development

System architecture

Problem solving

Defense experience

Security clearance

Communication skills

Education

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

Tools

ERP systems

PLM systems

Job description

Northwest Partners is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to join a leading defense and aerospace organization focused on rugged computing, secure communications, avionics support technologies, and mission-critical solutions. The role requires 10+ years of engineering experience in defense or similar complex hardware, strong system architecture and requirements development skills, and the ability to obtain a U.S.

security clearance.