Associate Systems Engineer

University of Dayton•Dayton, OH

About The Position

The University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) Space Power Systems Office develops advanced power technologies for next-generation space exploration missions. Its multidisciplinary teams research, design, prototype, test, and qualify space power systems for sponsors including NASA, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and commercial industry. UDRI is seeking an early-career Systems Engineer to support development of advanced radioisotope power systems, spacecraft power architectures, thermal systems, and related aerospace technologies. Working with experienced engineers and scientists, the successful candidate will participate in systems engineering, digital engineering, hardware integration, testing, and technology maturation from concept development through prototype demonstration. The position provides progressive experience in systems engineering, design, analysis, assembly, integration, and qualification, with opportunities to develop technical breadth across engineering disciplines and increasing technical responsibility.

Requirements

B.S. degree in Systems Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
At least two years of engineering experience.
Fundamental understanding of engineering principles.
Familiarity with CAD software.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work effectively on multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Must be a U.S. citizen due to requirements of research contracts with the U.S. federal government.
Ability to obtain a DoD Secret Clearance.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Materials, Systems Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
Internship, co-op, undergraduate research, or graduate research experience.
Exposure to systems engineering principles.
Familiarity with CAD software.
Exposure to MATLAB, Python, LabVIEW, or similar engineering software.
Familiarity with model-based systems engineering concepts.
Experience participating in engineering design projects.
Interest in aerospace systems, spacecraft, power systems, or energy technologies.

Responsibilities

Assist in developing system requirements, interface definitions, verification methods, and technical documentation.
Support development and maintenance of system architectures and technical baselines.
Participate in engineering trade studies and technical evaluations.
Apply systems engineering, MBSE, and digital engineering tools under senior engineer mentorship.
Support structural, thermal, electrical, and reliability analyses; assist in interpreting results and documenting recommendations.
Support development of verification and validation plans.
Support assembly, integration, checkout, and testing of prototype hardware.
Assist in preparing test procedures, data packages, and technical documentation.
Participate in laboratory testing and data collection.
Help investigate technical issues identified during assembly and testing.
Participate in technical meetings with government and industry sponsors.
Prepare technical presentations and engineering documentation.
Support proposal preparation and technical reports.
Develop technical knowledge in systems engineering, spacecraft power systems, and qualification methodologies through mentoring and project experience.
Improve engineering skills through formal training and hands-on project participation.