Systems Engineer

Actalent; Virginia; Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent seeks a Systems Engineer - Digital Ground Station to support the US Navy program in Warrenton, VA, leading the full systems engineering lifecycle for a state-of-the-art ground station, coordinating hardware, software, and network components for high reliability.

The role offers a hybrid work model with initial on-site onboarding and requires 5+ years in SE lifecycle, MBSE/SysML experience, and an Active Secret clearance with TS/SCI eligibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field.
• 5+ years in the full Systems Engineering V lifecycle.
• Experience with CONOPS, CDR, PDR, trade studies and ICDs.
• Active Secret clearance with TS/SCI eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement complex systems architectures meeting requirements.
• Translate stakeholder requirements into clear technical specs.
• Evaluate and select hardware, software, and network components.
• Support installation, configuration, and integration of system components.
• Develop and execute test plans for end-to-end validation.
• Maintain system documentation and MBSE artifacts.

Skills

Systems engineering lifecycle

MBSE SysML

Requirements development

System integration & testing

Cross-functional collaboration

Security clearance: Secret w/ TS/SCI

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Systems Engineer - Digital Ground Station

Job Description

This role supports the full systems engineering life cycle for a US Navy state-of-the-art digital ground station focused on in-fill and ex-fill communications. You will design, implement, and maintain system requirements that directly support critical customer missions. Working closely with cross-functional teams, you will ensure seamless integration of hardware, software, and network components to deliver highly reliable and high-performing systems. This position offers the opportunity to work on a new project early in its architecture, influence processes, and grow into or serve as a Lead Systems Engineer.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement complex systems architectures that meet defined technical requirements.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to gather system requirements and translate them into clear, actionable technical specifications.
• Evaluate and select appropriate hardware, software, and network components to support system implementation and performance objectives.
• Support the installation and configuration of system hardware, operating systems, and software applications.
• Perform system integration activities, including the development and execution of test plans, to validate end-to-end functionality.
• Conduct system testing and troubleshooting to ensure smooth, efficient, and reliable system performance.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive system documentation, including configuration details, operational procedures, and troubleshooting guides.
• Work closely with software developers, network engineers, and digital signal processing (DSP) developers to ensure cohesive system integration across all components.
• Contribute to the full Systems Engineering V life cycle, including requirements development, CONOPS, design reviews (CDR, PDR), trade studies, traceability, and interface control documents (ICDs).
• Provide technical support and guidance to internal teams, helping diagnose and resolve system-related issues.
• Participate in the development and refinement of model-based systems engineering (MBSE) artifacts using SysML or similar tools.
• Support continuous improvement of systems engineering processes and best practices for the program.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in engineering.
• 5+ years of experience working across the full Systems Engineering V life cycle.
• Proven experience designing and implementing systems architectures and associated documentation, including CONOPS, CDR, PDR, trade studies, traceability, and interface control documents (ICDs).
• Hands-on experience with hardware, operating systems, network protocols, and software applications in complex systems environments.
• Demonstrated experience with system integration, testing, and troubleshooting of multi-component systems.
• Familiarity with systems engineering activities such as requirements development, concept of operations (CONOPS), and test plan creation.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, including software developers, network engineers, and DSP developers.
• Active Secret security clearance with eligibility for TS/SCI.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with satellite or radio frequency (RF) communication systems.
• Experience in digital signal processing (DSP) or signal processing for communication systems.
• Exposure to model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and SysML.
• Experience with full life cycle systems engineering for defense or mission-critical systems.
• Ability to contribute to or establish systems engineering processes and standards for a new or growing program.
• Interest in taking on a lead role or growing into a Lead Systems Engineer position.

Work Environment

This position follows a hybrid work model based in Warrenton, VA. The role typically requires two days per week onsite, with the expectation of being onsite full-time during the first one to two months for training and onboarding. The team operates out of a modern open office space in the Vint Hill technology park, an area with nearby amenities such as a brewery, winery, and fitness facilities. The project uses open-source, modern technologies in support of a defense program and is at an early stage in its architecture, providing a dynamic and collaborative environment. The broader program team consists of approximately 25-30 people, including subcontractors, with a core group of about a dozen professionals. The culture emphasizes a fun, mission-connected atmosphere that feels similar to a commercial project, with work cond