System Engineer

We are seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to support complex aerospace and avionics programs in Rockford, IL. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in Systems Engineering, requirements management, system architecture, integration, verification, and aerospace certification.

This role will work closely with customers and cross-functional engineering teams to define and manage system requirements, integrate hardware and software, develop verification activities, and support certification throughout the product lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end Systems Engineering activities, including requirements definition, execution, review, documentation, disposition, and closure of findings.
• Develop and maintain system requirements, architecture, interfaces, and technical documentation.
• Manage and update requirements in Polarion and/or DOORS based on project work packages and JIRA tasks.
• Translate customer and subsystem needs into clear, traceable system-level requirements.
• Allocate requirements across software, hardware, and other engineering disciplines.
• Serve as the System Integrator for avionics solutions, coordinating integration of systems, software, hardware, and subsystems.
• Develop system verification plans, test cases, test procedures, and verification methods.
• Perform requirements-based verification and validation in accordance with ARP4754A/B and DO-178B/C processes.
• Support system certification activities and ensure required engineering documentation and verification evidence are complete.
• Coordinate cross-functional engineering activities to ensure technical scope and program schedules are met.
• Interface directly with customers to capture requirements, clarify design details, resolve technical issues, and answer engineering questions.
• Identify, document, disposition, and drive closure of system-level findings and discrepancies.
• Maintain configuration-controlled system requirements, architecture, test documentation, and engineering artifacts.
• Support Configuration Management and change-control processes.
• Participate in system, requirements, design, integration, and technical reviews.
• Control and maintain the Systems Integration Facility (SIF) and ensure system configurations conform to approved requirements.
• Apply Agile/JIRA methodologies to manage engineering work packages and track deliverables.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) or equivalent technical education.
• Proven experience in Systems Engineering within aerospace, avionics, defense, aircraft systems, or embedded systems.
• Strong experience with requirements engineering and management.
• Hands-on experience with Polarion and/or DOORS.
• Experience with system architecture, system integration, and interface management.
• Experience developing and executing system verification and testing.
• Working knowledge of ARP4754A/B and DO-178B/C.
• Experience with configuration management and controlled engineering documentation.
• Experience working on at least one complex engineering or aerospace program.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with JIRA and Agile development methodologies.
• Knowledge of aerospace system certification processes.
• Experience working directly with customers and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Experience with Systems Integration Facilities (SIF).
• Previous Collins Aerospace experience is a plus.
• Experience supporting aerospace certification and compliance activities.