Specialist, Systems Engineer

You will be a Specialist Systems Engineer leading the team responsible for designing, developing, and verifying our next-generation spaceflight systems. Guided by our core value, Safety Above All, we actively manage the unique risks of human spaceflight through disciplined engineering, rigorous design practices, and daily commitment to quality.This role blends deep technical ownership with people leadership, driving engineering excellence while supporting and developing a high-performing team of systems engineers.If you thrive on building innovative products, solving complex interdisciplinary challenges, and turning big ideas into reality, we’d love to meet you.

Position is in Tustin, CA with a 4 day on-site and 1 day remote work schedule.

Relocation assistance available.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing systems engineering team committed to technical rigor and continuous improvement.
• Drive end-to-end requirements management, including capture, decomposition, allocation, traceability, and change control throughout the full lifecycle.
• Oversee system architecture definition, modeling, and interface management to enable seamless subsystem integration.
• Lead verification and validation planning, execution, and documentation aligned with aerospace.
• Ensure disciplined configuration management, documentation control, and compliance with certification and regulatory requirements.
• Apply quality engineering practices: defect tracking, root cause analysis, corrective/preventive actions, and lessons learned.
• Guide risk management, trade studies, and technical decision-making to maximize safety, reliability, and performance.
• Incorporate industry-proven systems engineering processes (ie: V-model, DO‑178/254, ARP4754A) and lead major design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, etc.).
• Establish clear vision, goals, and expectations while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and growth-oriented team culture.
• Ensure accuracy, completeness, and integrity of engineering deliverables across the system lifecycle.
• Partner closely with Engineering, Program Management, and Technical Leadership to ensure cohesive execution.
• Lead projects, resource planning, cross-functional project coordination.
• Projects include, but are not limited to the design and development of space flight vehicles.

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 12+ years of systems engineering experience; master’s with 8+ years; or PhD with 5+ years.
• Proven experience in requirements definition, integration, and verification for aerospace systems (avionics, structures, mechanical, electrical, or interiors).
• Strong knowledge of systems engineering processes (V‑diagram), requirements management tools, and milestone reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR).