Systems Engineer

Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. (ESAero); San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness plans

120 hours of PTO

Employer-paid life insurance

401(k) with company match

Casual dress code

Job summary

A leading aerospace engineering firm in San Luis Obispo, CA is seeking a Systems Engineer to support the development and delivery of advanced aerospace systems. You'll lead systems engineering activities covering the full product lifecycle while collaborating closely with various teams. Ideal for candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and 3–5 years of experience in systems engineering, this position offers an opportunity to improve engineering processes in a vibrant work environment.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of relevant experience in systems engineering.
• Experience developing system requirements.
• Proven understanding of system architecture development.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive systems engineering support including requirements analysis and design oversight.
• Develop systems engineering best practices and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage system requirements including tracking and verification.

Skills

Systems engineering support

Requirements analysis

Design oversight

Technical guidance

Risk management processes

Verification and validation

Effective communication

Microsoft Office Suite

Education

Bachelor’s degree in systems engineering, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or related field

Tools

MS Project

Jama Connect

Job description

Job Summary

The Systems Engineer will play a key role in supporting the development, integration, and delivery of advanced aerospace systems. This position is responsible for leading and executing systems engineering activities across the full product lifecycle, including requirements development, system architecture, risk management, verification and validation, and configuration control.

The Systems Engineer will collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams—including engineering, testing, manufacturing, and program management—to ensure system designs meet functional specifications, customer expectations, and industry standards. This role also contributes to the creation and improvement of systems engineering processes, documentation, and best practices to enhance program efficiency and technical rigor. The ideal candidate is detail‑oriented, analytical, and excels in a dynamic environment where innovation and quality are top priorities.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Provide comprehensive systems engineering support, including requirements analysis, design oversight, and technical guidance.
• Develop systems engineering best practices, processes, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Participate in planning, design, testing, and deployment of complex systems to ensure conformance with functional specifications and customer requirements.
• Manage system requirements, including development, tracking, decomposition, and verification.
• Develop systems engineering management documentation such as Systems Engineering Management Plans, Risk Management Plans, and Configuration Management Plans.
• Develop systems engineering technical documentation such as Requirements Verification Traceability Matrices, Interface Control Documents, and Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analyses.
• Develop systems engineering documentation in support of system Verification and Validation efforts such as Verification Plans and Test Plans.
• Perform system reliability, hazard, and risk analysis.
• Regularly report on progress to the ESAero team and customer.
• Develop and maintain project documentation to high‑quality standards.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in systems engineering, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or related field.
• 3–5 years of relevant experience.
• Experience providing systems engineering support.
• Experience developing system requirements.
• Experience with requirements verification and validation (V&V) activities.
• Experience with risk management processes.
• Proven understanding of system architecture development and documentation.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Desired Qualifications and Skills

• Master’s degree in systems engineering, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or equivalent field and/or 5+ years of design, testing, or relevant experience.
• Experience with disciplines closely adjacent to systems engineering such as system safety analysis, reliability modeling, product certification, etc.
• Fundamental understanding of other disciplines including stress, dynamics, thermal analysis, production, electronics, test engineering, etc.
• Familiarity with flight testing.
• Experience with MS Project.
• Familiarity with high‑power electro‑mechanical propulsion systems.
• Experience working within the aerospace industry, specifically with electrified aircraft or UAVs.
• Experience with Jama Connect.

Benefits

• Health & Wellness: Choose from three health, dental, and vision plans—one option is 100 % employer‑paid covering employees and families.
• Paid Time Off: Enjoy 120 hours of PTO, 80 hours accrued plus an additional 40 hours of holiday break pay plus Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day off.
• Life Insurance: $25,000 employer‑paid life insurance policy, with the option to purchase additional coverage for employees and families.
• Supplemental Coverage: Optional benefits such as Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, and Critical Illness with skin cancer coverage.
• Health Savings Account (HSA): Tax‑advantaged HSA to manage medical expenses.
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) with company match.
• Paid Holidays: 9 paid holidays annually.
• Work Environment: Casual dress code, complimentary snacks, and welcoming company culture.
• Ideal Location: Work in an area offering an outstanding quality of life.

Company Overview

Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc (ESAero) is a leader in aerospace engineering, product development, and manufacturing, dedicated to delivering high‑quality, innovative, and cost‑effective solutions. We specialize in cutting‑edge system design, rapid product development, precision manufacturing, comprehensive testing, and technology demonstrations to support the evolving needs of the aerospace community. Committed to excellence, on‑time delivery, and continuous growth, we invest in infrastructure to expand our manufacturing and aftermarket capabilities while maintaining the highest standards of engineering services.

At ESAero, we don’t just build products; we engineer solutions that propel the aerospace industry forward.

This position is fully on‑site at ESAero in San Luis Obispo, CA.

ESAero is an equal‑opportunity employer.

Pay Range: $90k–120k Salary Exempt