Systems Engineer

Torch Technologies, Inc.; Valparaiso (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP participation

401(k) match

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life insurance

Short-term disability

Long-term disability

Flexible spending accounts

HSA / HRA

EAP

Education assistance

Paid time off

Holidays

Job summary

Torch Technologies seeks a Systems Engineer for the Eglin AFB area to lead safety analyses and risk reduction from concept to sustainment, ensuring mission readiness for Air Force weapon systems.

You will provide expert system safety guidance, oversee safety artifacts, and deliver senior recommendations to support Air Force approvals and safety policy decisions; collaboration across engineering, T&E, logistics, and OEM partners is required.

Qualifications

• US Citizenship is required.
• Active TS clearance with SCI eligibility required.
• MS in a relevant discipline with 3+ years of experience or BS with 5+ years.
• ABET accredited engineering degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead System Safety Program activities providing senior technical guidance on hazard analysis, risk assessment and safety requirements.
• Oversee development, review and validation of safety artifacts (SSHA, SAR, OSHA, hazard logs).
• Perform high-complexity evaluations of OEM safety assessments and validate probability models.
• Deliver senior-level recommendations to support Air Force approvals and safety policy decisions.
• Provide expert safety oversight for test events ensuring safety constraints are embedded.
• Review plans and results for safety impacts and ensure alignment with safety objectives.

Skills

US Citizenship

TS clearance w/ SCI eligibility

MS in relevant discipline

BS in relevant discipline

Education

Master of Science in relevant discipline

Bachelor of Science in relevant discipline

Job description

We are a 100% employee-owned, Certified Great Place To Work and named Best Places to Work in Huntsville/Madison County, headquartered in Huntsville, AL. Our team provides superior research, development, and engineering services to the Federal Government and Department of War. As one of the nation’s top 100 defense companies, the services we provide directly support the men and women who serve our country. Our corporate mission sums up the pride our employee-owners take in the work we do: "Lighting the Pathway of Freedom". And, as a Certified Evergreen ESOP, we have made the commitment to grow and sustain our company for the next 100 years! Come grow with us.

Role Overview

Torch Technologies has an exciting opportunity for a Systems Engineer at Eglin AFB. You'll be the safety maestro behind some of the Air Force’s most advanced weapon systems—leading tough hazard analyses, steering risk‑reduction decisions, and ensuring mission‑ready performance from concept to sustainment. You’re the go‑to expert leadership depends on when the stakes are high and the safety standards are even higher.

Duties

• Lead System Safety Program activities providing senior technical guidance on hazard analysis, risk assessment, and system safety requirements.
• Oversee the development, review, and validation of system safety artifacts (e.g., SSHA, SAR, O&SHA, hazard logs, risk‑tracking documentation).
• Perform high‑complexity evaluations of OEM safety assessments, identifying analytical errors, validating probability models, and ensuring risks are accurately characterized—mirroring demonstrated duties such as detecting flawed OEM Risk Reduction Safety Assessments and correcting probability‑based risk rankings.
• Deliver senior‑level recommendations that support Air Force operational approvals, safety‑policy decisions, and risk‑acceptance processes.
• Provide expert safety oversight for developmental and operational test events, ensuring ground tests, flight tests, interoperability tests, and reliability tests incorporate correct safety constraints and mitigations.
• Review T&E plans, procedures, and results for safety impacts and ensure alignment with program safety objectives and Air Force standards.
• Fulfill PWS-directed security requirements, including classified‑material handling, SCI product management, and vault‑access operations—as reflected in documented system‑safety roles.
• Maintain strict compliance with PWS security and information‑protection requirements (classified product tracking, SCI event support, and secure‑facility procedures).
• Advise program leadership on safety risks and requirements across technology maturation, design reviews, test readiness, fielding decisions, sustainment activities, and configuration changes.
• Represent the program office in high‑visibility technical reviews, safety boards, and briefings to senior stakeholders.
• Partner with engineering, T&E organizations, configuration management, OEM partners, logistics, cybersecurity, reliability engineering, and operational units to ensure safety considerations are embedded throughout the acquisition process.
• Guide and mentor junior engineers in system‑safety methodology, Air Force policy, and acquisition best practices.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship
• Master of Science in relevant discipline and 3 years of relevant experience OR Bachelor of Science in relevant discipline and 5 years of relevant experience
• Must have and maintain an active Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelors and 20 years of relevant experience OR Masters and 15 years OR PHD and 5 years ABET accredited engineering degree.
• Ability to define, plan, implement, and manage comprehensive system safety programs.
• Expertise in system safety engineering methods for electronic, electro‑mechanical, and mechanical armament systems.
• Knowledge of guidance and control systems, weapons fuzing, suspension and release equipment, and associated test equipment.
• Strong understanding of design requirements, hazard identification, and system safety implications.
• Ability to interpret technical requirements, specifications, and standards related to system safety, testing, operations, and logistics.
• Experience supporting test, flight, and operational readiness activities.
• Proficiency conducting or reviewing system safety analyses and supporting design trade‑off decisions.
• Ability to monitor and evaluate safety‑critical configuration changes.
• In‑depth knowledge of DoD munitions safety regulations and approval processes (e.g., USAF Nonnuclear Munitions Safety Board, USN Weapon Systems Explosive Safety Review Board).
• Familiarity with applicable standards such as MIL‑STD‑1316.
• Knowledge of AFI 63‑104 Aircraft Stores Compatibility Certification requirements.
• Experience developing and interpreting systems‑safety‑related acquisition documentation, including Systems Engineering Plans, System Safety Analyses, PESHE, and Life Cycle Sustainment Plans.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Effective collaboration in multidisciplinary IPT environments.
• Ability to work independently on complex, ambiguous technical problems.
• Professional judgment and decision‑making in support of senior leadership.

Schedule

Schedule: (M-F; 8-5)

Work Location

Onsite at Eglin AFB, FL

Travel

Yes

Relocation Assistance

No

Position Status

Position Contingent Upon Award of Contract: No

Benefits

• ESOP participation
• 401(k) match
• medical
• dental
• vision
• life insurance
• short-term disability
• long-term disability
• flexible spending accounts
• Health Saving Accounts and Health Reimbursement Accounts
• EAP
• education assistance
• paid time off
• holidays

Equal Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, citizenship, ancestry, marital status, protected veteran status, disability status or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.

Company Culture

Torch Technologies is dedicated to providing superior research, development, and engineering services to the Department of Defense.

As defense contractors, the services we provide directly support the men and women who serve our country.

From the CEO's desk! When Bill Roark and Don Holder founded Torch in 2002, they knew that employees were the company's greatest asset. They believed that offering employees a stake in the outcome, by making them all owners, was critical to building a successful organization. I share that feeling. Bill and Don's original intent was fully achieved in 2011 when Torch converted to a 100 percent S-Corp ESOP. Since that time, the company has grown over ten-fold and gained national recognition for the success we have demonstrated as an employee‑owned company.

Today, Torch continues to respect the individual contributions of our employee-owners and to share the rewards of our success. In addition, we continue to foster an environment of employee recognition, respect, development, and comradery while striving to achieve a healthy work-life balance.

We recognize that core to our company is a culture of trust with our employees, customers, business partners, and community. Our management team is committed to continue to earn that trust. This past year, Torch proudly announced that we were Certified Evergreen™. A timely achievement for Torch employee-owners as they will celebrate Torch’s 20th anniversary this October, becoming Certified Evergreen™ signifies that while Torch employee-owners can look back on Torch’s past with pride, Torch is also looking forward. Becoming Certified Evergreen™ means that Torch has committed to finding ways to make 100 percent employee ownership sustainable so that Torch will remain a private company forever.

Going forward, Torch will continue to evolve to address market and technology changes in order to become a major provider of cost-effective technical services and solutions to the Warfighter. We are making significant investments into facilities, equipment, business systems, and research to enable us to provide innovations and timely business services to our clients. We feel that always looking to improve our service is key to sustaining customer trust in the future. Likewise, we believe that continuing to share ownership is one of the ways we maintain employee trust and an unparalleled commitment to succeed. Combined, these timeless principles form the basis of the Torch culture. A culture that we are committed to continue and strive to pass on to the next generation of employee-owners as an Evergreen Company.