Senior Systems Engineer

Job Title: Senior Systems Engineer Job Description
The Senior Systems Engineer leads the definition and delivery of system-level solutions for advanced semiconductor automation equipment. This role translates customer and business requirements into robust system architectures, requirements, specifications, and verification and validation plans for complex electromechanical automation platforms. You collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, software, controls, and manufacturing engineering teams to drive successful product development, integration, and lifecycle support for next-generation semiconductor automation technologies.
Responsibilities

• Lead the development of system-level requirements, specifications, interfaces, and verification and validation plans for advanced semiconductor automation equipment.
• Translate customer and business requirements into system-level designs and engineering solutions that meet performance, reliability, and quality objectives.
• Drive system architecture decisions and ensure alignment between hardware, software, controls, and mechanical disciplines.
• Coordinate cross-functional activities across mechanical, electrical, software, controls, and manufacturing engineering teams to ensure cohesive product development and integration.
• Conduct and facilitate design reviews to evaluate concepts, architectures, and detailed designs for technical soundness and risk.
• Perform risk assessments and mitigation planning throughout the product lifecycle, focusing on system-level performance and reliability.
• Plan, oversee, and participate in testing activities, including verification and validation efforts, to ensure systems meet defined requirements and specifications.
• Support the development and integration of complex electromechanical automation platforms, including gravity feed, turret, and pick-and-place systems.
• Serve as the technical lead for system-level activities, including requirements definition, interface management, and cross-discipline engineering coordination.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering team members, promoting best practices in systems engineering and cross-functional collaboration.
• Influence project direction by recommending architecture choices, design trade-offs, and engineering processes that improve system performance and development efficiency.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to clarify requirements, interfaces, and acceptance criteria, ensuring traceability from customer needs to delivered systems.
• Engage in continuous improvement of systems engineering processes, including requirements management, model-based approaches, and verification and validation methodologies.
• Work onsite as an active member of a collaborative engineering team focused on next-generation semiconductor automation technologies.

Essential Skills

• Extensive experience with automated production equipment or complex automation systems, particularly in electromechanical environments.
• Strong electromechanical systems background, with a clear understanding of how electrical, mechanical, and controls components interact at the system level.
• Leadership experience of approximately 5 or more years leading programs, projects, requirements, interfaces, or system-level engineering activities.
• Deep understanding of system-level requirements, specifications, interfaces, and verification and validation processes.
• Proven experience working across mechanical, electrical, software, and controls engineering disciplines in a collaborative product development setting.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts clearly to cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated collaboration and teamwork skills, with a track record of effective cross-functional coordination.
• Strong problem-solving abilities, including the capacity to diagnose complex system-level issues and propose effective solutions.
• Hands-on experience with automated production equipment and complex electromechanical systems.
• Ability to take technical ownership of requirements definition and interface management, rather than only validating and testing requirements defined by others.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Approximately 10 or more years of engineering experience, with consideration for candidates with 7 or more years who demonstrate strong qualifications.
• Experience with semiconductor equipment, robotics, automation, motion control, controls engineering, or systems engineering.
• Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodologies and tools.
• Experience with requirements management tools such as Jama or similar platforms.
• background in control systems, mechanical engineering, or mechatronics concepts.
• Ability to mentor and guide other engineers in best practices for systems engineering and cross-functional collaboration.
• Comfort working as a technical lead responsible for end-to-end system definition, integration, and validation.
• Demonstrated ability to participate in and lead design reviews, risk assessments, and verification and validation activities.

Work Environment
This role is primarily onsite within a collaborative engineering environment focused on developing next-generation semiconductor automation technologies. You work closely with mechanical, electrical, software, controls, and manufacturing engineers on complex electromechanical automation platforms, including gravity feed, turret, and pick-and-place systems. The environment emphasizes cross-functional teamwork, technical leadership, and rigorous systems engineering practices, including structured requirements management, system architecture development, and comprehensive verification and validation activities. You can expect a professional setting that values clear communication, disciplined engineering processes, and continuous improvement in automation and semiconductor equipment technologies.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Poway, CA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $113000.00 - $170000.00/yr.
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.
Competitive compensation package 401(k) with company match Annual profit-sharing program Career growth and development opportunities Comprehensive benefits package for employees and their families
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Poway,CA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Sep 4, 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.


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