Job Title: Lead Aerospace Payload Systems Engineer

Location: Herndon, VA 20171

Base Salary: $150,000 - $225,000 / year

About the Role We are a leading developer of laser and electro-optic systems for the aerospace community, serving NASA, the DoD, and other aerospace customers. We are seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to join our R&D team to lead multidisciplinary engineering groups in the development, assembly, and testing of spaceflight and airborne hardware. In this critical leadership role, you will build rigorous systems engineering processes from the ground up and guide projects from formulation through final flight hardware delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee system-level product development, including the decomposition, allocation, and tracking of system and subsystem requirements.
• Manage requirements baselines and drive formal interface management processes.
• Lead test planning, test equipment design, systems integration, and verification testing.
• Perform technology assessments, trade studies, and risk analyses to mitigate program technical risks.
• Collaborate with scientists, engineers, and program managers to develop new laser technologies for military and space applications.
• Support bid and proposal efforts to drive new business development.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or Optics (Master's degree preferred).
• 10+ years of relevant experience, with a strong preference for military or space systems development.
• Deep expertise in Systems Engineering, emphasizing requirements development, flowdown, test planning, integration, and V&V.
• Experience with systems engineering software tools, including Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).
• Proven ability to implement SE best practices and tools from the ground up.
• Strong leadership and technical communication skills.
• Bonus: Experience with space-based and/or electro-optical hardware.
• U.S. citizenship is required. Ability to obtain or currently hold a Secret or Top-Secret Clearance is preferred.

Benefits We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support our team, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) plan with company match and immediate vesting
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
• Disability, life insurance, and AD&D
• Paid time off and holidays
• Education assistance and Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible work schedules, including a 9/8/80 alternate workweek option