Senior Systems Engineer

Description

Are you an experienced systems engineering leader looking for the opportunity to shape an innovative aerospace platform from concept through production? Innovative Aerosystems is seeking a Sr. Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership for a highly advanced aerospace development program. This role offers the unique opportunity to work within a small, highly collaborative engineering team where critical design decisions, system architecture, integration, testing, and product development are managed under one roof.

The successful candidate will serve as the technical authority for the program, providing oversight across mechanical, electrical, software, manufacturing, and testing disciplines. This individual will be responsible for driving system-level decisions, managing technical risks, and serving as the primary technical interface with our external manufacturing partner.

This position is ideal for an engineering professional who enjoys solving complex multidisciplinary challenges, influencing product direction, and making a direct impact on the success of a next-generation aerospace system.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides technical leadership and systems engineering oversight throughout the entire product lifecycle, from requirements definition through production and support.
• Serves as the primary technical authority for the program and guides all major engineering decisions.
• Acts as the primary interface between Innovative Aerosystems and the external manufacturing partner, ensuring design intent, technical requirements, and program objectives are successfully communicated and executed.
• Defines and manages system-level requirements, interfaces, architecture, and verification strategies.
• Leads multidisciplinary engineering activities involving mechanical, electrical, avionics, software, controls, and integration disciplines.
• Coordinates system trade studies and design reviews to balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, schedule, and cost objectives.
• Identifies technical risks, develops mitigation plans, and drives resolution of complex engineering challenges.
• Oversees system integration, testing, validation, and performance assessment activities.
• Works closely with engineering leadership to establish program priorities, resource needs, and technical roadmaps.
• Supports development of product specifications, requirements documentation, interface definitions, and verification procedures.
• Provides technical mentorship and guidance to engineering team members.
• Evaluates design changes and engineering proposals to ensure alignment with system requirements and program objectives.
• Supports customer interactions, technical presentations, and project reviews as required.
• Maintains awareness of applicable aerospace regulations, industry standards, and engineering best practices.
• Assists with recruiting, interviewing, and evaluating engineering candidates.
• Responsible for maintaining overall technical integrity and configuration control throughout the program lifecycle.

Requirements

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Required Qualifications

• U.S. Person status required.
• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of aerospace engineering experience with increasing technical leadership responsibilities.
• Minimum of 5 years of systems engineering experience leading complex aerospace or aviation-related development programs.
• Strong understanding of systems engineering processes, requirements management, architecture development, integration, verification, and validation.
• Demonstrated experience working across mechanical, electrical, software, and test engineering disciplines.
• Understanding of flight vehicle architectures, avionics systems, propulsion systems, controls, sensors, communications systems, and vehicle integration principles.
• Experience coordinating with external development, manufacturing, or production partners.
• Proven ability to make sound technical decisions while balancing performance, schedule, cost, and risk considerations.
• Strong problem-solving, root cause analysis, and technical troubleshooting capabilities.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to effectively lead technical discussions with engineering teams, customers, suppliers, and executive leadership.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Experience developing highly integrated aerospace systems from concept through production.
• Experience with MBSE methodologies and requirements management tools such as IBM DOORS.
• Familiarity with aerospace certification, compliance, and safety assessment processes.
• Experience with system safety analyses including FHA, FMEA, and fault tree methodologies.
• Experience supporting flight test programs and system validation activities.
• Understanding of software development lifecycle processes and embedded systems development.
• Pilot certificate or flight operations experience is a plus.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, bend, and stretch consistent with a typical engineering office and laboratory environment.
• Must be able to inspect assemblies, prototypes, and engineering hardware.
• Must be able to lift and carry components weighing up to 30 pounds.
• Must be able to travel periodically to supplier, manufacturing, and test locations.
• Must be able to participate in integration, ground test, and flight test activities as required.
• Must be able to operate standard computer equipment and engineering development tools.

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

• Learn Company products, technologies, and development programs within six (6) months.
• Learn Company procedures and engineering processes within three (3) months.
• Gain working knowledge of the IA Quality System within three (3) months.
• Develop familiarity with applicable aerospace standards, certification considerations, and compliance requirements.
• Maintain current knowledge of industry advancements involving aerospace systems, controls, avionics, propulsion technologies, sensors, and advanced manufacturing methods.
• Continuously expand understanding of emerging technologies relevant to future product development initiatives.

All IA positions may include duties beyond those outlined within a description or generally expected within the business; however, employees are expected to raise questions regarding any task that may exceed their professional qualifications or physical capabilities.

All IA associates are expected to take responsibility for the safety of themselves and their colleagues, the security of company facilities, and the protection of proprietary information and technologies.

Why Join Innovative Aerosystems?

At Innovative Aerosystems, you will be part of a focused team tackling complex aerospace challenges with the agility and influence that only a smaller organization can provide. You will have the opportunity to shape system architecture, influence product strategy, collaborate directly with manufacturing partners, and see your engineering decisions become reality in a next-generation aerospace platform. This is a hands-on leadership role where your contributions will have a visible and lasting impact on the success of the program.

Innovative Aerosystems (IA) is an Equal Employment Opportunity and VEVRAA Employer. IA is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibits discrimination against all individuals based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Moreover, IA is committed to company-wide affirmative action to employ and advance individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.