Lead Payload Systems Engineer

Are you an experienced Systems Engineer looking to lead the development of advanced aerospace and spaceflight technologies?

We're partnering with an established aerospace and defence technology business seeking a Lead Aerospace Payload Systems Engineer to join its R&D team in Herndon, Virginia .

This is an opportunity to take technical ownership of complex hardware development programmes, lead multidisciplinary engineering teams and help deliver next-generation laser and electro-optical systems for space and airborne applications.

The Opportunity:

You'll lead systems engineering activities from initial project formulation through to final flight hardware delivery, ensuring requirements are translated into robust designs, effective verification processes and successful system integration.

Working alongside programme managers, scientists and engineers, you'll help establish and implement rigorous systems engineering processes while managing technical risks and interfaces across complex programmes.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams throughout the development, assembly, integration and testing of aerospace hardware.
• Oversee system and subsystem requirements development, decomposition and allocation.
• Translate customer specifications into technical requirements and ensure compliance throughout the development lifecycle.
• Manage requirements baselines, traceability and verification using formal requirements management processes.
• Lead the development and management of internal and external system interfaces.
• Conduct technology assessments, trade studies and technical risk analyses.
• Lead investigations, troubleshooting and resolution of complex engineering challenges.
• Develop test processes, test equipment designs and system integration strategies.
• Plan, support and execute system and subsystem verification testing.
• Support bid and proposal activities, contributing to the development of new business opportunities.

What We're Looking For:

• A Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics or Optics. A Master's degree is preferred.
• 10+ years of relevant engineering experience, ideally within military, aerospace or spaceflight programmes.
• Strong systems engineering experience covering requirements development, test planning, documentation, integration, verification and validation.
• Experience developing and managing system and subsystem requirements flowdown.
• Demonstrated ability to establish systems engineering processes, best practices and tools from the ground up.
• Experience with systems engineering and requirements management software, including Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).
• Strong technical communication skills, including the ability to present complex results and engineering issues clearly.
• Additional experience with space-based or electro-optical hardware would be advantageous.
• US Citizenship is required.
• A current Secret or Top-Secret Security Clearance, or the ability to obtain one, is preferred.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

You'll be joining a highly technical R&D environment developing advanced laser, LiDAR and electro-optical technologies for aerospace, defence and space exploration applications.

The role offers the opportunity to shape systems engineering processes, influence major technical decisions and lead talented engineering teams through the full development lifecycle of complex hardware systems.

Location : Herndon, Virginia, USA

Feel free to reach out directly or apply to find out more.