Systems Engineer (Interfaces & ConOps)

ThinKom Solutions•Hawthorne, CA

10d•$80,000 - $135,000

About The Position

ThinKom is hiring a Systems Engineer to drive system architecture, interface definitions, and hardware/software integration across advanced antenna platforms. Working within an Integrated Product Team (IPT), this role bridges RF, electrical, mechanical, and software engineering disciplines; defines Concepts of Operations (ConOps), interfaces, and system budgets; and develops test plans supporting Integration, Verification, and Validation (IV&V). The work supports multiple concurrent programs and product variants in demanding connectivity environments, including inflight connectivity, high-power microwave systems, and defense SATCOM. The engineer will own system specifications and customer compliance matrices, establish requirements traceability, define system interconnects and network architecture, and support verification and design reviews. The role also includes evaluating COTS components, preparing technical architecture and analysis packages, and ensuring engineering records comply with company procedures and configuration-management standards. The position involves up to 10% domestic or international travel. Work takes place in standard office and laboratory/integration environments, including areas with lab instrumentation, RF test environments, and light assembly. Occasional lifting of equipment or test fixtures weighing up to 50 pounds may be required, and irregular hours may occasionally be needed to support critical program milestones. Salary range: $80,000–$135,000.

Requirements

Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
At least 3 years of direct systems engineering experience on complex hardware/software systems.
Demonstrated experience authoring ConOps, system requirements, and ICDs with full requirements traceability.
Proven background defining cable, harness, and interconnect architectures, including RF/IF routing and M&C cabling.
Working knowledge of network architectures, TCP/IP, SNMP, and RESTful APIs.
Hands-on experience developing power, thermal, and network budgets, and ability to interpret RF and electrical schematics.
Experience using Python or Linux shell scripting for data parsing or system automation.
Proficiency with standard technical diagramming and office productivity tools.
Strong verbal and written technical communication skills, including experience presenting complex systems topics to customers, suppliers, and multidisciplinary teams.
Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD Security Clearance.
Comfort working around laboratory instrumentation, RF test environments, and light assembly areas.
Occasional lifting of equipment or test fixtures up to 50 pounds may be required.
May occasionally need to work irregular hours to support critical program milestones.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodologies or requirements management tools such as Cameo/MagicDraw, DOORS, or Jama.
Background in satellite communications (SATCOM), phased-array systems, or multi-beam antenna platforms.
Familiarity with RF chain analysis, link budgets, and customer-facing terminal-control protocols.
Experience navigating formal aerospace or defense development cycles, including DoD, FAA, or commercial space standards.

Responsibilities

Define system-level Concepts of Operations (ConOps), operational modes, and use cases, including multi-beam allocation, handovers, and beam combining without service interruption.
Author, maintain, and baseline system-level hardware and software Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
Define cable lists, interconnect diagrams, RF/IF cable sets, phase-matched cabling, and monitor-and-control (M&C) harnesses.
Evaluate customer- and supplier-facing interfaces, including terminal-control protocols and REST APIs, and assess software architecture and schedule impacts.
Establish operator interface requirements for multi-beam platforms in coordination with the software engineering team.
Own system specifications and customer compliance matrices; flow requirements down to subsystem teams and maintain end-to-end traceability through verification.
Develop and maintain system-level power budgets, size thermal and cooling requirements, and specify power distribution and network hardware.
Define system network architecture and IP addressing schemes with software and IV&V teams.
Produce and maintain system and subsystem block diagrams, interface architectures, and part-number structures across design revisions.
Evaluate and lead trade studies for COTS components to verify physical, functional, and environmental compatibility.
Author system test requirements, demonstration plans, and acceptance procedures; partner with IV&V to support execution and formal verification sign-off.
Prepare and present technical design, analysis, and architecture packages for internal milestones and customer design reviews, including SRR, PDR, and CDR.
Support multiple concurrent programs and product variants under assigned Program Managers.
Ensure engineering artifacts comply with company design procedures, configuration-management standards, and records-retention policies.
Travel as needed for customer support, supplier coordination, or test campaigns, up to 10% domestically or internationally.