What are the responsibilities and job description for the Systems Engineer position at Spectra Defense Technologies?
Position Overview
We are seeking a versatile and customer-focused Systems Engineer to support the technical definition, development, and integration of Spectra’s embedded mission systems. This role serves as a bridge between engineering and customer engagement, ensuring that functional, environmental, and compliance requirements are met throughout the full product lifecycle. The ideal candidate possesses strong communication skills, systems-level thinking, and deep technical expertise across both hardware and software domains.
Scope of Responsibility
Core Objectives
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, see, and hear. The employee is frequently required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
Occasional travel (10–15%) required for customer meetings, technical reviews, or field support.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
Office environment with temperature control, may be exposed to chemicals related to the manufacturing process. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Spectra provides Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.
We are seeking a versatile and customer-focused Systems Engineer to support the technical definition, development, and integration of Spectra’s embedded mission systems. This role serves as a bridge between engineering and customer engagement, ensuring that functional, environmental, and compliance requirements are met throughout the full product lifecycle. The ideal candidate possesses strong communication skills, systems-level thinking, and deep technical expertise across both hardware and software domains.
Scope of Responsibility
Core Objectives
- Translate customer and program requirements into system-level specifications and architectures.
- Support pre- and post-sales technical coordination, proposal development, and solution delivery.
- Define, document, and manage system requirements, interface control documents (ICDs), and configuration baselines.
- Collaborate with Engineering, Program Management, and Quality to ensure solutions meet cost, schedule, and technical performance requirements.
- Perform system-level design, risk assessments, and trade studies to select optimal configurations.
- Participate in integration, verification, and validation activities, ensuring traceability to customer objectives.
- Support proposals, technical presentations, and on-site product evaluations.
- Assist with root cause analysis, troubleshooting, and sustainment of deployed systems.
- Working knowledge of embedded systems, network architectures, and rugged electronics.
- Proficiency in requirements management, system modeling, and documentation tools.
- Understanding of systems engineering standards (e.g., INCOSE, MIL-STD-881, 498, or DOORS processes).
- Strong verbal and written communication skills for both technical and customer-facing audiences.
- Ability to lead or participate in technical reviews, risk assessments, and cross-functional planning.
- Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
- 5 years of experience in systems engineering, preferably in defense, aerospace, or embedded electronics environments.
- Familiarity with proposal support, DoD acquisition processes, and environmental qualification standards (e.g., DO-160, MIL-STD-810) is a strong plus.
- Methodical and curious: Enjoys solving complex systems challenges with clarity and foresight.
- Collaborative and diplomatic: Navigates diverse teams and aligns technical and customer expectations.
- Accountable and organized: Tracks deliverables and follows through on every commitment.
- Detail-conscious with big-picture perspective: Understands how components interact and affect mission success.
- Resilient under pressure: Keeps calm and communicative in high-stakes environments.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, see, and hear. The employee is frequently required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
Occasional travel (10–15%) required for customer meetings, technical reviews, or field support.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
Office environment with temperature control, may be exposed to chemicals related to the manufacturing process. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Spectra provides Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.