Senior Systems Engineer

Sr. Systems Engineer (Contract)

Job Description

The Sr. Systems Engineer contractor role focuses on the analysis, design, development, and integration of Mission Equipment Packages (MEPs) for battlefield reconnaissance, survivability, lethality, radar, and electronic system payloads on both legacy and next-generation combat vehicles. You will execute a rigorous, interdisciplinary systems engineering process to ensure that technical performance requirements are met with high quality, cost efficiency, and adherence to schedule. The role requires a strong Electrical Engineering and Software experience, with hands-on experience integrating and testing power systems and distribution, embedded and control software, and test instrumentation and data acquisition systems. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional hardware and software teams in laboratory environments and on vehicles at test ranges to support system upgrades, system check-out, troubleshooting, and issue resolution.

Responsibilities

• Analyze, design, develop, and integrate Mission Equipment Packages (MEPs) for battlefield reconnaissance, survivability, lethality, radar, and electronic system payloads onto legacy and next-generation combat vehicles.

• Execute an interdisciplinary systems engineering process to ensure all customer technical performance requirements are satisfied in a high-quality, cost-efficient, and schedule-compliant manner.

• Integrate and test power systems and power distribution architectures, ensuring reliable operation within combat vehicle platforms.

• Develop, integrate, and verify embedded and control software that interfaces with vehicle subsystems, mission equipment, and test instrumentation.

• Set up, operate, and maintain test instrumentation and data acquisition systems to support system-level and subsystem-level testing.

• Work directly with cross-functional hardware and software teams in laboratory environments to support system upgrades, system check-out, and functional verification.

• Support on-vehicle testing at test ranges, including preparation, execution, monitoring, and post-test analysis of system performance.

• Troubleshoot complex hardware, software, and integration issues and drive timely resolution to maintain program cost and schedule objectives.

• Support the acquisition of hardware and software by contributing to technical evaluations, specifications, and integration planning.

• Enforce and integrate systems engineering processes into program plans, ensuring consistent application of best practices and standards.

• Plan and track engineering activities to help ensure completion on time and within budget constraints.

• Support, communicate, reinforce, and defend the mission, values, and culture of the organization in all interactions and deliverables.

• Attend and actively participate in engineering, customer, or business meetings to present technical status, issues, and recommendations.

• Document system designs, requirements, test results, and issue resolutions using appropriate systems engineering and requirements management tools.

• Travel within and outside the continental United States, as required, to support testing, integration events, and customer engagements.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in systems engineering or a closely related discipline.

• Strong understanding of Systems Engineering principles and practices, including requirements analysis, design, integration, verification, and validation.

• Hands-on experience integrating and testing power systems and power distribution on complex platforms.

• Experience with embedded and control software development, integration, and testing.

• Experience working with test instrumentation and data acquisition systems in laboratory and field environments.

• Strong analytical skills to diagnose and resolve complex system-level issues.

• Experience with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) methodologies.

• Proficiency with SysML for modeling system architectures and behaviors.

• Experience using MATLAB for analysis, modeling, or data processing.

• Experience with DOORS or similar requirements management tools.

• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional hardware and software teams in both lab and field settings.

• Ability to travel within the continental United States (CONUS) and outside the continental United States (OCONUS) at approximately 10% of the time.

• Strong communication skills to support collaboration, documentation, and participation in engineering and customer meetings.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience integrating mission equipment payloads such as reconnaissance, survivability, lethality, radar, or electronic systems onto vehicle platforms.

• Experience in both Electrical Engineering and Software, enabling effective work across hardware and software interfaces.

• Experience supporting system upgrades, system check-out, and troubleshooting on complex vehicle systems.

• Familiarity with structured systems engineering processes and their integration into program plans.

• Ability to balance technical rigor with cost, schedule, and quality objectives.

• Demonstrated ability to support and uphold organizational mission, values, and culture through daily work and decision-making.

• Experience presenting technical information to internal stakeholders and customers in meetings and reviews.

Work Environment

You will work in a combination of laboratory and field environments, collaborating directly with cross-functional hardware and software teams. In the lab, you will use systems engineering tools, modeling environments such as SysML and MATLAB, and requirements management tools such as DOORS to design, analyze, and document complex systems. You will regularly work with test instrumentation and data acquisition equipment to support integration and verification activities. The role also involves working on vehicles at test ranges, where you will support system upgrades, system check-out, and testing under realistic operating conditions. Travel within and outside the continental United States is required at approximately 10% of the time to support testing, integration events, and customer engagements. The environment emphasizes adherence to established systems engineering processes, collaboration across disciplines, and a strong commitment to delivering high-quality solutions on time and within budget.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Bridgeton, MO.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $52.00 - $55.00/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 hybrid position in Bridgeton,MO.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 17, 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.