Systems Engineer

Job Title: Systems Engineer

Job Description

This Systems Engineer role focuses on supporting unmanned, manned, and optionally piloted aircraft platforms, as well as unmanned ground vehicles. You will work across the full lifecycle of complex aerospace and defense systems, from initial concept and requirements definition through design, integration, test, and deployment.

Responsibilities

• Analyze customer and stakeholder needs to develop, decompose, derive, and allocate requirements to system and subsystem elements.

• Develop system architectures for new and existing aircraft and unmanned ground vehicle systems, ensuring alignment with mission and customer objectives.

• Create and maintain system design documentation, including system schematics, interface control documents (ICDs), and system/subsystem interface definitions.

• Utilize and maintain existing analytical models and develop new models to support system design, trade studies, and performance assessments.

• Conduct trade studies and perform design research on core engineering concepts to determine optimal requirements, architectures, and design approaches.

• Plan, develop, and document test strategies, test plans, test procedures, and test reports based on requirements and system architecture.

• Develop detailed test cases directly from requirements documentation to verify and validate system and subsystem performance.

• Lead and conduct testing activities, including integration and test (I&T), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), software-in-the-loop (SIL), and operational test execution as applicable.

• Ensure clear traceability between requirements, design, implementation, and test results, understanding and managing the full V-model lifecycle from left (definition and design) to right (integration and test).

• Participate in planning, design, integration, testing, and deployment of moderately complex engineered systems and software to ensure conformance with functional specifications and customer definitions.

• Work closely with the Software Engineering team to develop software system requirements and test requirements that align with overall system needs.

• Adhere to structured and defined development processes, including formal design and review milestones such as Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and Critical Design Review (CDR).

Essential Skills

• Experience developing system requirements and system architectures in collaboration with a multidisciplinary engineering team.

• Proven experience with involvement in requirements definition, system design, integration, and test.

• Experience working with both sides of the V-model, with a strong understanding of how early requirements and design decisions relate to integration, verification, and validation activities.

• Interface control Documents experience.

• Experience within the Defense and/or Aerospace industry.

• MBSE experience.

• Direct experience with aircraft systems; experience with unmanned aircraft systems (UAVs) is strongly preferred.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD Secret Clearance or higher, if required.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex technical information and make sound engineering decisions.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in a dynamic, cross-functional environment.

• Demonstrated technical leadership capabilities and the ability to work in a self-directed manner.

• Results-oriented mindset with a strong sense of ownership, urgency, and drive to meet project goals.

• Hands-on experience in test and integration (I&T), particularly for aircraft and embedded systems.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Sacramento, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $95.00/hr.

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 Sacramento,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 21, 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.