Systems Engineer - Senior (Infrared Sensing Technologies ICT)

Mtsi Va; The Prairies at Wright Field (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation: 20 days PTO + 10 holidays

Health Insurance: Zero deductible

Flexible Schedules

Up to $10,000 Annual Education/Train.

ESOP: Stock Ownership Plan

401k Match+: 6% 401k Match + Immediate

Semi-Annual Bonus Eligibility

Job summary

MTSI seeks a Senior Systems Engineer to support IR sensing activities within an Integrated Capabilities Team at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. You will provide technical leadership and system-level expertise across development, integration, and fielding of next-generation IR sensing capabilities for Air Force platforms and mission systems.

You will guide requirements refinement, architecture development, system-of-systems integration, and verification planning, collaborating with program offices,

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Active DoD TS clearance with ability to obtain SCI.
• 10+ years in a related engineering role.
• DoD/DoW program experience and SAP/SCI exposure.
• Ability to translate mission requirements into technically sound IR solutions.

Responsibilities

• Guide system engineering for advanced IR sensing capabilities and integration planning.
• Refine requirements and perform technical analyses across sensor portfolios.
• Evaluate vendor designs and ensure alignment with program objectives.
• Assess environmental/thermal impacts and manage risk in system models.
• Collaborate with government, industry, and multidisciplinary teams for interoperability.
• Support readiness reviews, trade studies, and verification planning.

Skills

IR sensing expertise

Systems engineering

Requirements refinement

Technical leadership

Trade studies

Cross-functional collaboration

Risk assessment

Education

MS in engineering

BS + MS/MA or MBA or JD in engineering-related field

15 years DoD engineering experience

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 IRQualifications:· 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) yearsEducation:· 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.#LI-HP1 #DOG #IRTS/SCIPerks and BenefitsVacation:New Hires Accrue 20 days of PTO and 10 Holidays per YearHealth Insurance:Zero Deductible Health PlansFlexible Schedules:Flex SchedulesProfessional Development:Up to $10,000 Annual Education/Training ReimbursementESOP:Funded Stock Ownership Plan401k Match+:6% 401k Match + Immediate VestingBonus Program:Semi-Annual Bonus OpportunityMentorship:Career Mentorship ProgramsWhy is MTSI a great place to workInteresting Work:Our co-workers support some of the most important and critical programs to our national defense and security.Values:Our first core value is that employees come first. We challenge our co-workers to provide the highest level of support and service, and reward them with some of the best benefits in the industry.100% Employee Owned:We have a stake in each other's success, and the success of our customers. It's also nice to know what's going on across the company; we have company wide town-hall meetings three times a year.Great Benefits - Most Full-Time Staff Are Eligible for:Starting PTO accrual of 20 days PTO/year + 10 holidays/yearFlexible schedules6% 401k match with immediate vesting up to $9k annuallySemi-annual bonus eligibility (July and Decemeber)Company funded Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) - a separate qualified retirement accountUp to $10,000 in annual educational reimbursementOther company funded benefits, like life and disability insuranceOptional zero deductible Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance planTrack Record of Success:We have grown every year since our founding in 1993.Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI) is a 100% employee-owned engineering services and solutions company that provides high-demand technical expertise in Digital Transformation, Modeling and Simulation, Rapid Capability Development, Test and Evaluation, Artificial Intelligence, Autonomy, Cybersecurity and Mission AssuranceMTSI delivers capabilities to solve problems of global importance. Founded in 1993, MTSI today has employees at over 20 offices and field sites worldwide.For more information about MTSI, please visitwww.mtsi-va.comEEO StatementMTSI embraces nine core values including our first core value of Employees come first. Consistent with our Core Values, we are committed to Equal Opportunity, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, military/veteran status, disability, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. MTSI is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with physical and/or mental disabilities.Why is MTSI a great place to workInteresting Work: Our co-workers support some of the most important and critical programs to our national defense and security.Values: Our first core value is that employees come first. We challenge our co-workers to provide the highest level of support and service, and reward them with some of the best benefits in the industry.100% Employee Owned: We have a stake in each other's success, and the success of our customers. It's also nice to know what's going on across the company; we have company wide town-hall meetings three times a year.Great Benefits - Most Full-Time Staff Are Eligible for:Starting PTO accrual of 20 days PTO/year + 10 holidays/yearFlexible schedules6% 401k match with immediate vesting up to $9k annuallySemi-annual bonus eligibility (July and Decemeber)Company funded Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) - a separate qualified retirement accountUp to $10,000 in annual educational reimbursementOther company funded benefits, like life and disability insuranceOptional zero deductible Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance planTrack Record of Success: We have grown every year since our founding in 1993.Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI) is a 100% employee-owned engineering services and solutions company that provides high-demand technical expertise in Digital Transformation, Modeling and Simulation, Rapid Capability Development, Test and Evaluation, Artificial Intelligence, Autonomy, Cybersecurity and Mission AssuranceMTSI delivers capabilities to solve problems of global importance. Founded in 1993, MTSI today has employees at over 20 offices and field sites worldwide.For more information about MTSI, please visit www.mtsi-va.com