Systems Engineer - Senior (Infrared Sensing Technologies ICT)

Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI); Bath Township (OH); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI) seeks a Senior Systems Engineer to lead IR sensing initiatives within an Integrated Capabilities Team at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

You will guide system engineering across IR sensors, multispectral payloads, and responsible processing/exploitation technologies, ensuring system performance and interoperability with mission needs. The role requires deep expertise in IR architectures, detector technologies, and environmental/thermal considerations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of relevant work experience.
• DoD/DoW program or product acquisition environment experience.
• At least 3 years in SAP and/or SCI environments within the last 5 years.

Responsibilities

• Lead system engineering for advanced IR sensing capabilities across the sensor portfolio.
• Evaluate vendor IR system designs, detectors, optical assemblies, and interfaces.
• Collaborate with government, industry, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure standards and mission needs.
• Support trade studies, capability maturation planning, and readiness reviews.

Skills

IR sensing

Systems engineering

Technical leadership

Risk assessment

Image processing

Education

MS in engineering

BS in engineering + 15 years exp.

Job description

MTSI is seeking a highly capable Senior Systems Engineer to support advanced Infrared (IR) sensing activities within an Integrated Capabilities Team (ICT) operating under AFLCMC/WA at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. The selected candidate will provide technical leadership and system‑level expertise across the development, integration, and fielding of next‑generation IR sensing capabilities for Air Force platforms and mission systems. In this role, you will support horizontal requirements definition, architecture development, system‑of‑systems integration, and technical assessments for IR sensors, infrared search and track (IRST) systems, multispectral/long‑wave/short‑wave infrared (LWIR/SWIR) sensing payloads, and associated processing and exploitation technologies. You will collaborate closely with program office personnel, industry partners, and cross‑functional engineering teams to ensure IR system performance meets operational needs, interoperability objectives, and mission assurance standards. Key responsibilities include conducting system engineering analyses, supporting technical baseline development, evaluating vendor designs, assessing integration and environmental/thermal risks, facilitating technical interchange meetings, and contributing to program documentation such as specifications, interface definitions, and verification plans. The Senior Systems Engineer will also provide direct support to the program office in areas including trade studies, capability maturation planning, test and evaluation coordination, and readiness reviews.

Key Responsibilities

• Guide system engineering efforts for advanced IR sensing capabilities, including requirements refinement, technical analysis, and integration planning across the IR sensor and multispectral sensing portfolio.
• Advise, assess, and maintain engineering approaches, architectures, and system models to support IR detection, tracking, target discrimination, and environmental/thermal performance.
• Guide technical evaluation frameworks to verify IR system performance, calibration integrity, image quality, and mission effectiveness across laboratory, hardware‑in‑the‑loop, ground, and flight test environments.
• Evaluate vendor IR system designs, detector technologies, optical assemblies, interface definitions, and integration plans to ensure alignment with program objectives, operational needs, and system‑of‑systems constraints.
• Assess documentation, traceability, and configuration control for IR system requirements, analyses, verification activities, and technical review artifacts.
• Collaborate closely with government, industry, and multidisciplinary engineering teams—including optical engineers, sensor developers, IR payload integrators, and test organizations to ensure technical solutions meet Air Force standards and mission needs.
• Evaluate system behavior, IR sensor performance, image processing outputs, and cross‑system interactions; proactively identify risks and guide the ICT and program office toward technically sound resolutions.
• Provide mentorship and subject matter expertise to junior engineers and team members on IR sensing, optical systems, systems engineering processes, and integration best practices.
• Evaluate technical assessments, risk analyses, readiness review materials, and engineering recommendations to program and ICT leadership.
• Maintain awareness of emerging IR sensing technologies, digital engineering practices, and threat‑driven operational trends to inform capability development and continuous improvement efforts.

Position Requirements

• Deep technical understanding of IR sensor architectures, detector technologies (e.g., MWIR, LWIR, SWIR), optical system design principles, image processing fundamentals, environmental/thermal effects, and system verification/validation methodologies.
• Experience supporting secure or classified development, integration, or test environments involving advanced IR sensing payloads, IRST systems, or multispectral sensor systems.
• Ability to work independently on complex engineering analyses, system evaluations, and integration activities, translating mission requirements into technically sound and compliant IR

Qualifications

• Possess minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience
• Experience working in a DoW program or product acquisition office or environment
• Have no less than three (3) years’ experience in a Special Access Program (SAP) and/or Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) environment within the last five (5) years

Education

• Master of Science (MS)/Master of Arts (MA) or higher in a relevant engineering discipline.
• In lieu of the MS/MA or higher in a relevant engineering discipline, a BS in a relevant engineering discipline and a MS/MA or higher, or an equivalent professional degree (for example, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Juris Doctor). An engineering technology degree does not meet this requirement.
• In lieu of the MS/MA or higher or an equivalent professional degree, a BS/BA in a relevant engineering discipline and fifteen (15) years of experience in an engineering position with the DoD, other government agency, or DoD contractor.

Clearance Requirements

• Must possess an active DoD Top Secret (TS) security clearance with ability to obtain SCI
• U.S. Citizenship is required for this position, due to contract requirements.

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