Lead Systems Engineer - Solid Rocket Motors (SRM)

X-Bow Systems•Huntsville, AL

About The Position

The Lead Systems Engineer (Systems Engineer IV/V) serves as the technical authority and lead systems architect for development and production programs. The role leads end-to-end systems engineering, design, architecture, qualification, and static or flight testing of advanced propellant manufacturing systems and/or novel solid rocket motor programs. The position establishes systems engineering processes, technical standards, documentation, and Model-Based Systems Engineering practices across the program lifecycle. It governs system architectures, requirements, interfaces, configuration baselines, verification and validation, and major technical reviews, while aligning multidisciplinary engineering teams and mentoring systems engineering staff. The role also directs technical risk and opportunity management, configuration and data management, and engineering change reviews, and serves as a primary technical interface for government, defense, and commercial customers. Hands-on hardware assembly, integration, and test work may be available. Work locations include Huntsville, Alabama, or Luling, Texas, with remote work supported in select states. Travel may be up to 20%, with additional travel potentially required for remote employees.

Requirements

Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering tools such as Cameo.
Demonstrated experience architecting complex system-level architectures and CONOPS, and executing multivariable system trade studies for aerospace or launch vehicle systems.
Extensive experience authoring, approving, and governing systems engineering artifacts, including System Requirements Documents, Interface Control Documents, and requirements verification compliance matrices.
Expertise in aerospace data management, configuration management, and baseline control workflows.
Proven experience leading and chairing major DoD or aerospace milestone reviews, such as SRR, PDR, CDR, and TRR, through successful customer closeout.
At least 6 years of systems engineering experience leading integrated product teams, major subsystems, or whole-system development programs.
U.S. citizenship, required due to DoD contract and ITAR/export-control requirements.
Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or an equivalent STEM discipline.

Nice To Haves

Extensive background in design, integration, qualification, and/or testing of solid rocket motors, tactical propulsion, launch vehicles, or energetic manufacturing facilities.
Direct systems engineering ownership across solid rocket motor subsystems, including cases, solid propellants or liners, ignition systems, nozzles, and/or control systems.
Hands-on experience with full-scale propulsion static hot-fire testing, test-range operations, data acquisition, and explosive safety standards such as DoD 4145.26-M.
Active DoD Secret security clearance.
Six to 12 or more years of experience in a related aerospace or defense engineering field.
Technical leadership in solid rocket motor, launch vehicle, or energetic system development, qualification, and flight or static-test execution.
Master's degree or Ph.D.

Responsibilities

Lead and establish systems engineering processes, technical standards, and documentation throughout the lifecycle of solid rocket motor programs.
Develop mission architecture and Concept of Operations (CONOPS), decompose system-level requirements, manage interfaces, and oversee enterprise verification and validation.
Architect, govern, and standardize Model-Based Systems Engineering models and digital engineering baselines, including system architectures, behavioral models, requirements traceability, and verification pipelines.
Define, negotiate, and baseline system and subsystem Interface Control Documents across motor assemblies and associated systems.
Establish and govern configuration baselines for development, flight, and static-test motor configurations; lead Functional and Physical Configuration Audits and engineering review boards.
Lead and chair technical milestone reviews, including SRR, PDR, CDR, and TRR; set entry and exit criteria, drive technical baseline closure, and present architectures to customer and executive leadership.
Align engineering disciplines to resolve technical challenges, make trade decisions, and capture opportunities.
Steer technical trade-offs across integrated product teams and maintain architectural integrity throughout design cycles.
Mentor systems engineering team members, provide technical leadership, establish best practices, and develop internal engineering capability.
Lead other advanced systems engineering activities for assigned programs.
Direct system- and component-level technical risk and opportunity management, including mitigation strategies.
Direct configuration management, data management, and engineering change order reviews.
Serve as a primary technical interface and engineering authority for USG, DoD, and/or commercial customer stakeholders.
Participate in hardware assembly, integration, and test operations as opportunities arise.