Systems Engineer

We are seeking a seasoned Principal Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership across complex product development efforts. This role is integral in shaping system architectures, guiding multidisciplinary engineering teams, and ensuring technical solutions meet program objectives, cost targets, and delivery schedules. The Principal Systems Engineer will serve as technical authority within development programs, applying disciplined systems thinking to resolve complex challenges and enable successful execution. This position requires collaboration with program leadership, engineering management, and business development teams to influence product direction, technology investments, and future growth initiatives., * Provide technical leadership for the development of integrated hardware and processing solutions intended for high-reliability and space-constrained environments.

• Define and maintain system architectures, interfaces, and technical baselines throughout the product lifecycle.
• Lead requirements development, allocation, traceability, and verification planning to ensure system-level objectives are met.
• Guide engineering teams through trade studies, risk assessments, and design decision-making using sound systems engineering practices.
• Work closely with program managers to align technical execution with cost, schedule, and risk goals.
• Serve as the primary technical interface for internal stakeholders and external partners or customers.
• Prepare and deliver content for technical reviews and milestone events, including preliminary, critical, and qualification-level reviews.
• Contribute to forward-looking technology planning, internal research initiatives, and new product concept development.
• Support proposal development and capture activities by shaping technical approaches, architectures, and cost-conscious solutions.

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field.
• 9+ years of related experience with a bachelor's degree or 7 years with a Master's degree.
• Experience in electronics design including schematic capture, PCB layout, PCB routing, high-speed data design, mixed-signal analysis/design, signal integrity analysis.
• Experience with complex electronics product design at low level of integration, e.g. PCBAs, mechanical structures, mission software, FPGA firmware.
• Experience in product development for high reliability, high survivability, and/or space environment applications.
• Technical project lead experience; balance technical performance with program cost and schedule targets.
• Proficient in application of systems engineering methodology to product design and development.
• Ability to lead multidiscipline teams through the development of complex electronic systems to meet rigorous space application requirements.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• MS degree in a STEM field.
• Experience with space industry product development life cycles.
• Experience with Xilinx family devices, including Zynq UltraScale+ or Versal architecture.
• Knowledge of VPX standards (VITA 46 and VITA 65) and demonstrated experience implementing in embedded hardware.
• Experience in signal processing and/or algorithm development.
• Experience with CAD tools, e.g. PSpice, LTspice, Altium, SOLIDWORKS, Keysight ADS.
• Experience with systems engineering related tools, e.g. STK, MATLAB Simulink, requirements management/databases, MBSE.
• Experience with one or more levels of the OSI model, understanding of networking protocols.

Work Environment

The work environment involves collaboration across hardware, software, and firmware disciplines. You will work in high-reliability and space-constrained environments, applying systems engineering practices to guide technical execution. The role requires effective communication and partnership with program managers, stakeholders, and external partners, ensuring alignment with cost, schedule, and risk objectives.

This is a Permanent position based out of Fairfax, VA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $160000.00 - $185000.00/yr.

• 6% 401k Match - Cigna Health Insurance: Cigna HDHP (HSA) and Cigna PPO. Trident pays 100% of the premium cost of HDHP plan. - 20 days of PTO, 7 holidays, and company shut down from December 25th-December 31st

Workplace Type

At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through: * Hiring diverse talent * Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection * Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes * Ensuring growth opportunities for our people Actalent is an equal opportunity employer. About Actalent Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we've helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC-with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day. Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.