Lead System Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Lead Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership for the development, integration, testing, deployment, and acceptance of complex, mission-critical operational systems. This role will lead multidisciplinary engineering teams throughout the full system lifecycle, ensuring successful delivery of customer solutions that meet performance, safety, cybersecurity, quality, and contractual requirements.

The Lead Systems Engineer serves as a primary technical interface with customers and stakeholders while driving systems engineering activities from concept and requirements definition through deployment, operational readiness, and project closeout.

Key ResponsibilitiesSystems Engineering Leadership

• Lead end-to-end systems engineering activities across the project lifecycle, including requirements analysis, system architecture, integration, verification, validation, deployment, customer acceptance, and closeout.
• Provide technical direction and oversight for multidisciplinary engineering teams, ensuring alignment across software, hardware, infrastructure, networking, cybersecurity, and operational stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain engineering processes, technical baselines, and configuration management practices throughout project execution.
• Drive technical decision-making, trade studies, and risk assessments to support successful project outcomes.

Requirements & Architecture Management

• Translate customer, operational, contractual, safety, and cybersecurity requirements into clear, testable, and verifiable system requirements.
• Maintain complete requirements traceability from contract award through design, implementation, integration, testing, and final acceptance.
• Define system architectures, subsystem allocations, interfaces, data flows, and integration strategies.
• Manage interface definitions and coordinate technical activities across multiple engineering disciplines and external stakeholders.

Integration, Verification & Validation

• Lead system integration activities and support phased deployment strategies.
• Develop and approve verification and validation plans, procedures, and acceptance criteria.
• Oversee laboratory, factory, site, and integrated testing activities to ensure system compliance and performance.
• Review engineering deliverables and verification evidence supporting customer acceptance and operational readiness.

Customer & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the primary customer-facing technical lead throughout project execution.
• Lead technical reviews, workshops, demonstrations, issue resolution efforts, and status briefings.
• Communicate technical risks, recommendations, trade-offs, and project progress to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Foster strong relationships with customers, suppliers, project managers, and internal engineering teams.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Melbourne, FL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $48.00 - $64.00/hr.

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.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Melbourne,FL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 5, 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 withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email View email address on us.fitly.work for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.