Systems Engineer - Configuration Management

Actalent; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 96,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401(k) plan

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

HSA

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Systems Engineer - Configuration Management in Houston, TX, to lead CM across spaceflight programs. You will establish and maintain CM policies, standards, and guidance, interpreting NASA and customer requirements to drive scalable, traceable configurations from concept through flight operations.

The role emphasizes mentorship of CM personnel and collaboration with systems engineering teams to deliver robust baselines and continuous process improvements.

Qualifications

• Experience establishing and maintaining configuration management policies across hardware, software, and firmware.
• Expert interpretation of NASA and customer CM requirements and guidance.
• Ability to develop scalable CM approaches across multiple programs and lifecycle stages.
• Experience leading CM activities across spaceflight programs from concept to operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead CM across spaceflight programs as technical leader and SME.
• Document and maintain configuration management policies, standards, processes, and guidance.
• Interpret NASA, customer, industry CM requirements and provide implementation guidance.
• Develop scalable CM approaches for programs from concept to flight operations.
• Create, maintain, and control program baselines and interfaces with traceability.
• Define and manage hardware and software configurations and interfaces.
• Control and track as-designed/as-built/as-tested/as-flown configurations.
• Support and lead configuration control boards and change control processes.
• Collaborate with systems engineering teams across lifecycle to ensure robust baselines.
• Mentor CM personnel and engineers; drive continuous improvements.

Skills

Configuration management leadership

Spaceflight/aerospace experience

Systems engineering

Baseline management

Hardware/software/firmware configs

Change control boards

Requirements interpretation

Mentoring

Documentation & process improvement

Traceability & compliance

Job description

Job Title: Systems Engineer - Configuration Management

Job Description

The Systems Engineer - Configuration Management serves as the technical leader and subject matter expert for configuration management across spaceflight programs. This role establishes and maintains configuration management policies, standards, processes, procedures, and technical guidance that support programs from early concept development through flight operations. The engineer provides expert interpretation of NASA, customer, industry, and internal configuration management requirements and develops scalable approaches that ensure hardware, software, and firmware configurations remain accurate, controlled, and traceable throughout the systems engineering lifecycle. The position also provides technical mentoring to configuration management personnel and engineering teams and drives continuous improvement through best practices and lessons learned.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical leader and subject matter expert for configuration management across spaceflight programs.
• Establish, document, and maintain configuration management policies, standards, processes, procedures, and technical guidance for spaceflight programs.
• Provide technical interpretation and implementation guidance for applicable NASA, customer, industry, and internal configuration management requirements.
• Develop scalable configuration management approaches suitable for programs ranging from early concept development through flight operations.
• Create, maintain, and control program baselines, including functional, allocated, product/configuration, requirements, and interface baselines.
• Define and manage hardware and software configurations, ensuring compatibility across hardware, software, and firmware elements.
• Control and track as-designed, as-built, as-tested, and as-flown configurations to ensure full traceability and configuration integrity.
• Support and lead configuration control boards, including preparation, review, and approval of configuration changes.
• Collaborate with systems engineering teams across the full lifecycle, including requirements creation, system development, and implementation, to ensure robust technical baselines for spaceflight systems.
• Provide technical mentoring, guidance, and support to configuration management personnel and engineering teams.
• Identify, document, and implement configuration management best practices, lessons learned, and process improvements across programs.
• Lead configuration management activities at the enterprise level and establish a cohesive configuration management framework for spaceflight systems.

Essential Skills

• At least 7 years of experience establishing and maintaining configuration management policies, standards, and procedures for spaceflight programs across hardware, software, and firmware.
• Deep expertise in configuration management frameworks and practices for aerospace and spaceflight systems.
• Strong experience in systems engineering, including requirements creation, system development, implementation, and technical baseline management.
• Hands-on experience creating and controlling technical baselines for spaceflight systems, including functional, allocated, product, requirements, and interface baselines.
• Proficiency in managing hardware and software configurations and ensuring hardware/software compatibility.
• Experience supporting and leading configuration control boards and formal change control processes.
• Knowledge of NASA, customer, and industry configuration management requirements and standards.
• Ability to develop scalable configuration management approaches across multiple programs and lifecycle phases.
• Strong analytical, documentation, and problem-solving skills applied to complex aerospace and spaceflight systems.
• Ability to provide technical leadership and mentoring to configuration management personnel and engineering teams.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace engineering or closely related technical discipline.
• Experience working with spaceflight systems across concept development, design, test, and operations phases.
• Understanding of systems engineering lifecycle processes and their integration with configuration management.
• Ability to drive process improvements and implement configuration management best practices across an enterprise.
• Strong communication skills to clearly convey technical guidance and requirements to diverse engineering teams.
• Demonstrated ability to lead configuration management efforts at an enterprise-wide level and establish a unified configuration management framework.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Houston, TX.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $70.00 - $85.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision, Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital, 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available, Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents), Short and long-term disability, Health Spending Account (HSA), Transportation benefits, Employee Assistance Program, Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Houston,TX.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 7, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.