Systems Engineer - Senior (Infrared Sensing Technologies ICT)

Modern Technology Solutions Inc•Bath Township, OH

2d•Onsite

About The Position

MTSI is seeking a highly capable Senior Systems Engineer to support advanced Infrared (IR) sensing activities within an Integrated Capabilities Team (ICT) operating under AFLCMC/WA at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. The selected candidate will provide technical leadership and system‑level expertise across the development, integration, and fielding of next‑generation IR sensing capabilities for Air Force platforms and mission systems. In this role, you will support horizontal requirements definition, architecture development, system‑of‑systems integration, and technical assessments for IR sensors, infrared search and track (IRST) systems, multispectral/long‑wave/short‑wave infrared (LWIR/SWIR) sensing payloads, and associated processing and exploitation technologies. You will collaborate closely with program office personnel, industry partners, and cross‑functional engineering teams to ensure IR system performance meets operational needs, interoperability objectives, and mission assurance standards. Key responsibilities include conducting system engineering analyses, supporting technical baseline development, evaluating vendor designs, assessing integration and environmental/thermal risks, facilitating technical interchange meetings, and contributing to program documentation such as specifications, interface definitions, and verification plans. The Senior Systems Engineer will also provide direct support to the program office in areas including trade studies, capability maturation planning, test and evaluation coordination, and readiness reviews.

Requirements

Deep technical understanding of IR sensor architectures, detector technologies (e.g., MWIR, LWIR, SWIR), optical system design principles, image processing fundamentals, environmental/thermal effects, and system verification/validation methodologies.
Experience supporting secure or classified development, integration, or test environments involving advanced IR sensing payloads, IRST systems, or multispectral sensor systems.
Ability to work independently on complex engineering analyses, system evaluations, and integration activities, translating mission requirements into technically sound and compliant IR
Possess minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience
Experience working in a DoW program or product acquisition office or environment
Have no less than three (3) years’ experience in a Special Access Program (SAP) and/or Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) environment within the last five (5) years
Master of Science (MS)/Master of Arts (MA) or higher in a relevant engineering discipline.
In lieu of the MS/MA or higher in a relevant engineering discipline, a BS in a relevant engineering discipline and a MS/MA or higher, or an equivalent professional degree (for example, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Juris Doctor). An engineering technology degree does not meet this requirement.
In lieu of the MS/MA or higher or an equivalent professional degree, a BS/BA in a relevant engineering discipline and fifteen (15) years of experience in an engineering position with the DoD, other government agency, or DoD contractor.
Must possess an active DoD Top Secret (TS) security clearance with ability to obtain SCI
U.S. Citizenship is required for this position, due to contract requirements.

Responsibilities

Guide system engineering efforts for advanced IR sensing capabilities, including requirements refinement, technical analysis, and integration planning across the IR sensor and multispectral sensing portfolio.
Advise, assess, and maintain engineering approaches, architectures, and system models to support IR detection, tracking, target discrimination, and environmental/thermal performance.
Guide technical evaluation frameworks to verify IR system performance, calibration integrity, image quality, and mission effectiveness across laboratory, hardware‑in‑the‑loop, ground, and flight test environments.
Evaluate vendor IR system designs, detector technologies, optical assemblies, interface definitions, and integration plans to ensure alignment with program objectives, operational needs, and system‑of‑systems constraints.
Assess documentation, traceability, and configuration control for IR system requirements, analyses, verification activities, and technical review artifacts.
Collaborate closely with government, industry, and multidisciplinary engineering teams—including optical engineers, sensor developers, IR payload integrators, and test organizations—to ensure technical solutions meet Air Force standards and mission needs.
Evaluate system behavior, IR sensor performance, image processing outputs, and cross‑system interactions; proactively identify risks and guide the ICT and program office toward technically sound resolutions.
Provide mentorship and subject matter expertise to junior engineers and team members on IR sensing, optical systems, systems engineering processes, and integration best practices.
Evaluate technical assessments, risk analyses, readiness review materials, and engineering recommendations to program and ICT leadership.
Maintain awareness of emerging IR sensing technologies, digital engineering practices, and threat‑driven operational trends to inform capability development and continuous improvement efforts.