Systems Engineer - Materials, Mechanical

Job Title: Payload Engineer

Job Description

We are seeking a Staff-level Systems Engineer to oversee and support the Talon-A air-launched, hypersonic vehicle payloads mechanical, structural, and materials requirements and integration. An ideal candidate will have experience in vehicle integration and test, ideally with a structural and/or materials focus. This role involves interfacing with a multi-disciplinary engineering team, program management, and payload customers.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and contribute to payload mechanical, structural, and materials requirements and integration.

• Collaborate with the payload’s integration and test engineers, test team responsible engineers, payloads program leadership, and payload customers to define and implement vehicle payloads integration, test, and data collection activities.

• Develop and track requirements.

• Ensure vehicle payloads are tested in a manner that meets customer requirements.

• Participate in test planning, Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs), test execution, vehicle troubleshooting, and post-test data reviews.

• Architect and optimize data review methodology, as well as data review and data analysis tools.

• Set standards for test planning and documentation and ensure those standards are met.

• Coordinate internally with a multi-disciplinary team and externally with customers.

• Demonstrate honesty, responsibility, and integrity in the fulfillment of commitments.

Essential Skills

• Knowledge of, and direct experience with, at least two of these disciplines: Systems Engineering, Mechanical Systems, Materials, Electrical and Avionics Systems, Propulsion Systems, GNC and Flight Controls, and Aerodynamics.

• Experience contributing to the systems engineering content for a major technical review such as System Requirements Review, Preliminary Design Review, or Critical Design Review.

• Previous systems engineering experience.

• Previous technical experience with Mechanical, Structural, and/or Materials Engineering.

• Ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to acquire and maintain a security clearance.

• Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

• Familiarity with CAD (Solidworks preferred).

• Familiarity with configuration management systems such as Jira.

• Familiarity with requirement management systems such as DOORS.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in small, dynamic engineering teams where each member often has multiple responsibilities.

• Familiarity with structures, avionics, instrumentation, software, fluid systems, and/or liquid rockets.

• Experience maintaining aerospace industry standards for vehicle configuration and changes.

• Experience with air-launched hypersonic vehicle development.

• Experience with technical risk identification, management, and mitigation.

• Experience defining, managing, and verifying requirements for hypersonic vehicles with hot-structure airframes.

• Current DOD Secret security clearance.

• Programming experience (Matlab, Python).

Work Environment

This position requires onsite presence in Mojave or surrounding regions, with some flexibility for intermittent work-from-home arrangements. Fully remote or long-distance weekly travel arrangements are not acceptable. The company offers a rapidly growing environment with many programs currently won and expected to double in size this year. Good benefits and a positive working environment are provided.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Mojave, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $150000.00 - $206000.00/yr.

9/80 schedule Healthcare (medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs) Paid Maternity and Parental Leave 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500 Tuition reimbursement

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Mojave,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on May 29, 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 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

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.