Systems Engineer

Job Title: Systems Engineer

Job Description

This role leads the architecture, detailed design, and integration of nuclear physical protection systems, including access control, intrusion detection, and video surveillance solutions for industrial and nuclear power plant environments. The systems engineer designs highly reliable, closed systems with redundant network architectures and no single point of failure, ensuring strict compliance with 10 CFR 73 and other nuclear industry regulations. The position combines hands-on technical leadership in system architecture, integration, and development oversight with responsibility for documentation, vendor coordination, and lifecycle support. This is an opportunity to deepen expertise in a niche field, with training provided on nuclear-specific regulations, while working in a small, highly specialized engineering team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture and detailed design of nuclear physical protection systems in compliance with 10 CFR 73 and nuclear power plant regulatory requirements.

• Design small to mid-size, completely closed systems that typically include two servers and 5-8 workstations, with no Internet, no wireless, and no cloud computing.

• Lead the design and integration of physical protection systems, including access control, intrusion detection, and video surveillance.

• Create redundant network designs for servers, workstations, and field equipment to eliminate single points of failure and ensure high availability.

• Develop network designs that integrate hardware, software, communications, sensors, actuators, and HMIs into cohesive, high-reliability system solutions with long-term operability.

• Confirm that all designed systems meet nuclear power plant industry regulatory compliance and physical protection requirements.

• Provide clear technical written and verbal direction to vendors, integrators, and internal development teams throughout the project lifecycle.

• Author, maintain, and control comprehensive system documentation, including architecture descriptions, design specifications, configuration baselines, and operational procedures.

• Support system development activities such as configuration definition, design reviews, and technical baseline control to ensure consistency and traceability.

• Collaborate closely with colleagues, and when needed, supervise or direct junior team members forming the technical project team.

• Participate in Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), installation oversight, and system commissioning activities.

• Resolve technical issues identified during integration, testing, or operational use, including hardware, software, and network-related problems.

• Support lifecycle activities, including system upgrades, modifications, and obsolescence management, to maintain long-term system operability.

• Lead or support the design, integration, and development of physical access control, intrusion detection, and video surveillance systems in industrial and nuclear plant environments.

• Apply hands-on technical leadership to physical security systems using camera equipment, door access devices, and related field hardware RATHER THAN cloud-based or heavy IT/cybersecurity solutions.

• Prepare and review CAD-based drawings and system diagrams using tools such as Visio or AutoCAD to document system architecture and layouts.

• Develop and maintain network architecture and topology documentation, including VLAN or virtual networking configurations.

• Write and compile basic software or code, including firmware development in an Arduino environment, to support system integration and custom functionality.

• Contribute to technical writing and documentation for system designs, configurations, test procedures, and operational manuals.

• Travel occasionally to customer sites for walkdowns, technical meetings, and brief installation oversight activities.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, such as Systems, Electrical, Software, or a related discipline.

• 5+ years of experience designing and integrating systems, preferably in industrial or critical infrastructure environments.

• Strong knowledge of systems engineering principles, including requirements definition, architecture design, integration, verification, and validation.

• Experience with low level electronics.

• Knowledge of networking concepts.

• Understanding of CAD drawings and system diagrams using tools such as Visio or AutoCAD.

• Ability to write and compile basic software or code to support system integration and customization.

• Experience participating in FAT, SAT, installation oversight, and system commissioning.

• Ability to provide clear technical written and verbal guidance to vendors, integrators, and internal teams.

• Experience authoring, maintaining, and controlling system documentation for complex engineered systems.

Additional Skills

• Working knowledge of Linux operating systems (such as Ubuntu, Red Hat, or Debian) and Microsoft Windows.

• Experience working with physical access control systems, intrusion detection systems, and video surveillance solutions in industrial or nuclear environments.

• Experience with PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) and their integration into broader control and security systems.

• Strong technical writing skills for producing detailed design documents, configuration guides, and operational manuals.

• Experience in nuclear power, energy, or emergency operations center (EOC) environments.

• Hands-on experience with C, C++, and Python for system-related development or integration tasks.

• Experience designing or supporting high-reliability systems with long-term operability requirements.

• Experience writing firmware in an Arduino environment for custom hardware or integration tasks.

• Comfort working in small, highly specialized engineering teams where individuals take broad ownership of design, test, and integration activities.

• Willingness and ability to travel occasionally (including out-of-state) for customer site visits, walkdowns, meetings, and brief installation oversight.

• Interest in developing or expanding expertise in nuclear-specific regulations, with training support available.

Work Environment

The role is based within a small, specialized engineering team of approximately seven people that performs its own design, testing, and assembly in-house. The systems you design and support are completely closed, traditional infrastructure environments with no Internet connectivity, no wireless networks, and no cloud computing, emphasizing highly controlled, secure, and reliable operations. Work involves close collaboration with colleagues in a hands-on engineering setting, where you engage directly with hardware, software, and network components, as well as CAD tools and documentation systems. Occasional travel, including out-of-state trips, is required for customer site visits, walkdowns, technical meetings, and short periods of installation oversight. The environment emphasizes high reliability, regulatory compliance, and long-term system operability, offering the opportunity to work in a niche field and develop deep expertise in nuclear physical protection systems.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Severna Park, MD.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $69.71 - $81.73/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 Severna Park,MD.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 31, 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.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

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

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall 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 applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.