Systems Engineer – Laboratory Systems Engineering & Integration (XLab)

Astrion•Houston, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Systems Engineer will support the development, integration, and sustained operation of XLab, a multi-user test and integration laboratory supporting NASA and commercial space exploration initiatives. XLab is envisioned as a shared technical environment for developing, integrating, testing, and verifying systems and technologies for lunar surface operations and future exploration architectures. The role provides systems engineering and integration leadership across laboratory infrastructure, test systems, and customer-provided hardware and software, with particular emphasis on RF communications, avionics, software integration, and associated interfaces. The engineer works in a dynamic, multi-customer environment, balancing customer objectives with laboratory capabilities, operational constraints, technical risks, and long-term sustainability. They serve as a key technical interface among laboratory personnel, NASA stakeholders, commercial partners, and customer engineering teams, advocating for technically sound solutions while enabling customer objectives.

Requirements

Typically requires a bachelor's degree in Engineering and normally 5–10 years of related experience; a license or certification may be required.
Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
Demonstrated experience performing systems engineering, systems integration, or technical engineering leadership in complex hardware/software environments.
Working knowledge of RF communications, avionics systems, software integration, or related electrical/electronic systems, with sufficient technical breadth to evaluate cross-disciplinary interfaces and integration challenges.
Experience developing or evaluating technical requirements, interface definitions, integration plans, verification approaches, and engineering trade studies.
Demonstrated ability to assess technical risks, evaluate competing requirements, and develop practical engineering solutions within established resource and schedule constraints.
Experience coordinating technical activities across multiple engineering disciplines, organizations, customers, or stakeholders.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical issues, constraints, risks, and recommendations to technical and nontechnical audiences.
Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound engineering judgment, and constructively challenge assumptions or proposed approaches when warranted.
U.S. citizenship and successful completion of a background check are required.

Nice To Haves

Experience with NASA, Department of Defense, aerospace, or commercial spaceflight programs.
Experience supporting integration and testing of RF communications, command and data handling, avionics, flight software, ground support equipment, or hardware-in-the-loop systems.
Familiarity with laboratory operations, test facilities, integration laboratories, or other shared technical infrastructure supporting multiple users or programs.
Experience with spacecraft, lunar surface systems, exploration architectures, or other complex system-of-systems environments.
Familiarity with configuration management, technical baseline control, engineering change processes, and integration readiness reviews.
Experience working with external customers, commercial partners, or geographically distributed engineering organizations.
Experience conducting technical trade studies, resolving competing stakeholder priorities, or negotiating engineering solutions across organizational boundaries.
Familiarity with NASA systems engineering principles, technical review processes, and applicable engineering standards.

Responsibilities

Lead systems engineering and integration activities supporting the development, implementation, and evolution of XLab capabilities, infrastructure, and customer test configurations.
Coordinate integration of RF communications, avionics, flight and ground software, instrumentation, and supporting test equipment within a shared laboratory environment.
Develop, evaluate, and maintain technical requirements, interface definitions, integration plans, and verification approaches for laboratory systems and customer applications.
Evaluate compatibility and interoperability of customer-provided equipment, software, and interfaces with existing laboratory infrastructure and capabilities.
Identify technical dependencies, integration risks, resource constraints, and potential conflicts associated with concurrent customer activities.
Support laboratory architecture development, capability planning, technical readiness assessments, troubleshooting, and resolution of integration challenges.
Collaborate with laboratory configuration management personnel to establish and maintain technical baselines, interface documentation, equipment configurations, and change control processes.
Assess proposed laboratory modifications and customer integration requests for potential impacts to existing capabilities, other users, safety, security, and operational continuity.
Serve as a primary technical interface between XLab personnel and NASA, commercial, and other external customers regarding integration requirements, laboratory capabilities, and technical constraints.
Facilitate technical discussions and negotiate integration approaches that balance customer objectives, laboratory resources, schedules, and established technical baselines.
Evaluate competing customer requirements and priorities, developing technically defensible recommendations that account for broader laboratory impacts and long-term objectives.
Represent and advocate for laboratory technical interests during planning, requirements development, design reviews, and integration discussions.
Establish clear expectations regarding laboratory capabilities, technical limitations, customer responsibilities, integration readiness, and execution timelines.
Identify and communicate the consequences of proposed technical decisions, including impacts to laboratory availability, configuration stability, future capabilities, and other customer activities.