System Engineer

Ascend Recruiting Partners; Germantown (MD); On-site; USD 135,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Seeking a Systems Engineer to support the design, integration, and validation of mission-critical defense systems. This role serves as the technical bridge between engineering design, manufacturing, program management, and external customer requirements.

The Systems Engineer will manage system-level requirements, conduct system integration and testing, drive technical reviews, and ensure that all evolving subsystems converge into a reliable, compliant, and mission-ready operational platform.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, or military systems engineering.
• Proficiency with system-level requirements development, flow-down, verification, and validation.
• Hands-on experience with system integration, system architecture, trade studies, and performance analysis.
• Working knowledge of MATLAB/Simulink, DOORS, SysML, or equivalent.
• Familiarity with ITAR, DFARS, DoD acquisition frameworks, and configuration-controlled development.
• U.S. Citizen or Active Green Card holder with the ability to obtain a security clearance.
• Background in reliability engineering, FMEA, or system safety analysis (MIL-STD-882).
• Experience conducting environmental testing, performance modeling, and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Familiarity with sensors, guidance/navigation systems, telemetry, propulsion, or communications payloads.
• Understanding of production engineering and manufacturability considerations for defense products.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work across multi-disciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Systems Requirements & Architecture: Define, analyze, allocate, and manage system-level requirements across the full product lifecycle.
• Translate customer, mission, and military specifications into subsystem requirements and technical baselines.
• Develop and maintain system architectures, block diagrams, interfaces, and configuration-controlled documentation.

Skills

Requirements analysis

System integration

Verification & validation

Trade studies

SysML

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

DOORS

SysML

Job description

Job Title: Systems Engineer

Location: Stafford, VA (On-site)- Relocation is provided

Industry: Aerospace & Defense

Salary: $135,000 - $150,000

*Must be a US Citizen or ITAR compliance Greencard holder-ability to obtain clearance*

Overview

Seeking a Systems Engineer to support the design, integration, and validation of mission-critical defense systems. This role serves as the technical bridge between engineering design, manufacturing, program management, and external customer requirements.

The Systems Engineer will manage system-level requirements, conduct system integration and testing, drive technical reviews, and ensure that all evolving subsystems converge into a reliable, compliant, and mission-ready operational platform. This is a hands-on, high-impact role within a fast-paced environment, developing cutting-edge UAS and munitions for U.S. military customers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, or military systems engineering.
• Proficiency with system-level requirements development, flow-down, verification, and validation
• Hands-on experience with system integration, system architecture, trade studies, and performance analysis
• Working knowledge of system modeling tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, DOORS, SysML, or equivalent
• Familiarity with ITAR, DFARS, DoD acquisition frameworks, and configuration-controlled development
• U.S. Citizen or Active Green Card holder with the ability to obtain a security clearance.
• Background in reliability engineering, FMEA, or system safety analysis (MIL-STD-882)
• Experience conducting environmental testing, performance modeling, and hardware-in-the-loop testing
• Familiarity with sensors, guidance/navigation systems, telemetry, propulsion, or communications payloads
• Understanding of production engineering and manufacturability considerations for defense products
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work across multi-disciplinary teams.

Responsibilities:

Systems Requirements & Architecture

• Define, analyze, allocate, and manage system-level requirements across the full product lifecycle.
• Translate customer, mission, and military specifications into subsystem requirements and technical baselines.
• Develop and maintain system architectures, block diagrams, interfaces, and configuration-controlled documentation.

Systems Design, Integration & Validation

• Lead integration of mechanical, electrical, software, guidance, propulsion, and payload subsystems into a cohesive system.
• Conduct system-level test planning, execution, data review, and verification activities for loitering munitions and UAV platforms.
• Perform trade studies, failure analyses, risk assessments, and performance modeling to evaluate competing design paths.

Multi-Disciplinary Collaboration

• Work closely with design engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, procurement, and quality to ensure design intent aligns with production realities.
• Participate in design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR) and ensure all subsystems integrate without conflict or degradation of system performance.
• Support supplier onboarding, technical clarifications, and evaluation of subsystem/component performance.

Technical Reviews, Documentation & Compliance

• Prepare and maintain system documentation, verification matrices, technical reports, and testing artifacts.
• Ensure compliance with ITAR, DFARS, and DoD system engineering standards and program requirements.
• Support customer presentations, proposals, demonstrations, and field evaluations of system performance.

Program Execution & Mission Delivery

• Provide real-time engineering support during development builds, test events, and evaluation of prototype or production-ready systems.
• Ensure system solutions meet performance, reliability, cost, and schedule objectives for mission-critical programs.