Lead Systems Engineer

About the Role We are seeking a highly skilled and innovative Systems Engineer / Lead Systems Integrator to join our Systems and Design organization, responsible for end-to-end engineering functions across all major disciplines, including systems engineering, hardware design, mechanical engineering, electronics, and cross‑functional integration. This role is pivotal in driving the development and customization of our KinetiX Wayside Inspection products to meet specific customer needs and enhance overall product performance. The Systems Engineer will join a group of talented engineers from multiple disciplines and collaborate closely with product managers, architects, and third‑party experts to deliver high‑impact solutions. Key Responsibilities 1. Product Design & Standardization Own and evolve the base product architecture , ensuring standardization across mechanical, electronic, and system components to drive scalability, performance, and cost efficiency. Own system‑level design and integration , ensuring cohesive architecture, clear interfaces, and alignment across all engineering disciplines for on‑time delivery. Define, document, and govern system requirements and verification processes across the product lifecycle. 2. Customization & Customer Solutions Conduct gap analysis between base product designs and customer requirements to identify required customizations. Lead cross‑functional solution definition and validate feasibility through architecture alignment, prototyping, and technical trade‑off analysis. Translate customer needs into detailed system and subsystem requirements , ensuring cross‑functional ownership and alignment for execution. 3. Design Changes for Performance and Reliability Identify, implement, and validate design improvements to address performance and reliability issues through root‑cause analysis, cross‑functional alignment, and prototyping. 4. Collaboration and Governance Collaborate with engineering, architecture, and product teams to ensure alignment with system design, platform strategy, and delivery timelines. Explore opportunities to combine products from multiple product lines to offer differentiated solutions. Establish and drive design governance, engineering processes, and best practices to ensure consistency, compliance, and quality. Serve as the technical delivery lead , driving cross‑functional alignment, managing dependencies, and resolving integration risks and trade‑offs. Partner with Scrum teams to balance delivery of features, defect resolution, and technical debt. 5. Leadership and Management Drive a culture of technical ownership, accountability, and structured problem‑solving across cross‑functional teams. Mentor and guide teams on system thinking, integration of best practices, and end‑to‑end delivery mindset. Ensure system readiness, validation, and final performance to meet defined requirements. Required Qualifications Bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering. 10+ years of experience leading engineering teams across systems, hardware, and at least one additional discipline. Demonstrated leadership in systems engineering and cross‑disciplinary integration. Expertise in systems integration, mechanical and electronic design. Experience in modular product design and customization. Strong leadership, collaboration, and communication skills. Experience with prototyping, PoC, and gap analysis. Ability to manage teams and external partners effectively. Preferred Qualifications Familiarity with Wabtec KinetiX product lines. Experience with vision‑based and acoustic inspection technologies. Knowledge of rail safety standards and wayside monitoring systems. Why Join Us Opportunity to lead a dynamic and innovative team. Work on cutting‑edge technologies and products. Collaborate with industry experts and thought leaders. Competitive salary and benefits package. Salary The salary range for this role is $104,800–$149,300, subject to modification based on experience and market considerations. Benefits include health, welfare, retirement, and potential yearly bonus. Equal‑Opportunity Employer We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome talent of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including race, gender, age, disability, veteran status, and more. Need accommodation? Just let us know – we’ve got you. #J-18808-Ljbffr Wabtec Corporation