Systems Engineer

Essential Systems Inc; Millersville (MD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Company parties

Competitive salary

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Opportunity for advancement

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Job summary

Essential Systems Inc is looking for an experienced Systems Engineer in Millersville, MD. This role involves leading the design and integration of security systems for nuclear power plants. Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree in Engineering and at least 10 years of experience in system design. Familiarity with intrusion detection and video surveillance systems is preferred. The position offers competitive compensation and opportunities for growth within a growing technical practice.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience designing and integrating systems.
• Experience with hardware, software, communications, sensors, actuators integration.
• Strong interpersonal skills and professional manner required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture and design of nuclear physical protection systems.
• Confirm systems meet regulatory compliance and reliability standards.
• Integrate hardware and software into cohesive solutions.
• Provide technical direction to vendors and internal teams.
• Support system development activities and resolve technical issues.

Skills

Systems engineering

Intrusion detection systems

Access control systems

Video surveillance systems

Technical documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Systems, Electrical, Software, or related)

Tools

MS Word

Excel

CAD software

Job description

Systems Engineer

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Company parties
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Overview

We are seeking an experienced systems engineer to lead the design, integration, and development of our Access Control, Intrusion Detection, and Video Surveillance Systems in industrial, nuclear power plant environments. This engineering role requires hands‑on technical leadership across system architecture, integration, and development oversight, nuclear plant physical protection systems. Although this role involves the use of Cyber Controls, this is NOT a position for a Cyber Security Engineer.

Familiarity with intrusion detection systems, access control systems, and video surveillance systems is desired but not required. The ability to ensure our systems meet high‑reliability and long‑term operability is necessary. Writing/documentation skills, MSWord, Excel, and CAD software skills, and proficient with various computer hardware/software platforms are required.

Key Responsibilities

• System Architecture, Design & Integration: Lead the architecture and detailed design of nuclear physical protection and security systems in compliance with 10 CFR 73. These are small to mid-size systems, often with two servers and 5 to 8 workstations. They are completely closed systems, traditional infrastructure, with no Internet, no wireless, no cloud computing. They involve a redundant network design for servers, workstations, and field equipment. Designed for no single point of failure.
• Confirm the systems meet requirements specific to the nuclear power plant industry to ensure our systems meet regulatory compliance, high-reliability, and long-term operability.
• Integrate hardware, software, communications, sensors, actuators, and HMIs into cohesive system solutions.
• Provide technical written and verbal direction to vendors, integrators, and internal development teams.
• Author, maintain, and control System Documentation related to the system designed.

Development & Implementation Support

• Support system development activities including configuration definition, design reviews, and technical baseline control.
• Participate in FAT, SAT, installation oversight, and system commissioning.
• Resolve technical issues identified during integration, testing, or operational use.
• Support lifecycle activities including upgrades, modifications, and obsolescence management.
• Ability to travel occasionally (out of state) to customer site for walkdowns, meetings, and brief installation oversight.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Systems, Electrical, Software, or related).
• 10+ years of experience designing and integrating systems.

Preferred / Bonus Qualifications

• Direct experience working under 10 CFR 73 (e.g., §§ 73.46, 73.55)
• Experience with NEI security guidance and NRC inspection procedures (IP 71130 series)
• Prior work with nuclear utilities, EPC firms, or nuclear security integrators
• Demonstrated experience designing, integrating, and developing nuclear security systems, with supporting authorship of SRS/HRS, SDD, HDD, and ICDs
• Former Navy nuclear, DOE, or DoD security engineering background with NRC crossover
• INCOSE or similar systems engineering affiliation

Personal Attributes

• Strong systems thinker with practical engineering judgment
• Comfortable making and defending design decisions
• Methodical, disciplined, and detail‑oriented
• Operates professionally in sensitive environments
• Team oriented with strong interpersonal skills and professional manner

Compensation & Growth

• Competitive senior‑level compensation commensurate with experience
• Health insurance, Retirement plan, PTO
• Opportunity to play a foundational technical role in a growing nuclear security practice