Systems Engineer

Job Title: Systems Engineer Job Description
This Systems Engineer role focuses on modernizing, sustaining, and integrating complex ground-based radar systems that support critical national security and space domain awareness missions. You will translate operational needs into detailed technical solutions, use advanced modeling and analysis tools, and ensure that upgrades and modifications meet stringent performance, cost, and schedule objectives. The position offers the opportunity to work on highly impactful, no-fail mission systems within a collaborative, hybrid work environment.
Responsibilities
- Develop and implement approved modernization efforts for ground-based radar systems while meeting performance, cost, and schedule objectives.
- Transition new technologies into existing fielded radar systems, ensuring compatibility, reliability, and mission effectiveness.
- Translate operational requirements into system-level requirements, and decompose system requirements into detailed technical requirements and performance standards.
- Use MATLAB to analyze radar system and mission data, characterize system performance, and support trade studies and design decisions.
- Verify through analysis and testing that system modifications meet operational performance requirements and mission needs.
- Perform functional analysis and timeline analysis to understand system behavior, interfaces, and performance across the full mission lifecycle.
- Conduct detailed trade studies to evaluate alternative designs, architectures, and implementation approaches.
- Allocate requirements across hardware, software, and interfaces, and support interface definition and documentation.
- Investigate system deficiency reports and isolate root causes across hardware, software, and system interfaces.
- Drive corrective actions to closure, coordinating with multidisciplinary teams to resolve issues on fielded or operational systems.
- Support interface and data architecture definition and refinement for complex radar and mission systems.
- Contribute to systems integration activities, ensuring that hardware, software, and data flows operate cohesively in integrated environments.
- Analyze system operational performance and recommend improvements to enhance reliability, resilience, and mission effectiveness.
- Support hardware and software test and evaluation of classified systems, including planning, execution, and analysis of test activities.
- Participate in integration lab activities, including setup, configuration, testing, and troubleshooting of system components.
- Apply Model-Based Systems Engineering practices and tools to capture, manage, and communicate system architectures and requirements.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams using agile methodologies to deliver incremental capabilities and sustainment solutions.
Essential Skills
- 5+ years of systems engineering experience on complex hardware and software systems, including custom-developed hardware and software, COTS/GOTS components, and specialty engineering solutions.
- Hands-on experience using MATLAB and/or Simulink for modeling, simulation, and analysis of system and sensor data.
- Proficiency with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools and practices, including CAMEO and SysML.
- Demonstrated troubleshooting experience on fielded or operational systems, including root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions.
- Experience translating operational requirements into system-level and technical requirements.
- Experience developing and/or sustaining national security, no-fail mission systems.
- Familiarity with requirements analysis and management for complex systems.
- Ability to work with or within agile methodologies for systems development and sustainment.
- Eligibility for a U.S. government security clearance, with the ability to obtain and maintain at least a Secret-level clearance.
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering preferred; other STEM degrees such as Computer Science, Physics, or Aerospace considered with relevant experience.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience supporting ground-based radar systems or similar mission-critical sensor systems.
- Exposure to data architecture and interface design for complex mission systems.
- Experience with hardware and software test and evaluation in classified or secure environments.
- Familiarity with tools and methodologies for simulation, verification, and validation of complex systems.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary engineering teams and stakeholders.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and documentation skills to support trade studies, design decisions, and system reviews.
Work Environment
This role operates in a hybrid work environment with approximately 75% onsite and 25% remote work. You will split your time between working from home and working in an office and integration lab setting. Onsite work includes hands-on support of ground-based radar and mission systems, participation in integration and test activities, and collaboration with engineering teams in secure facilities. The program focuses on sustaining, protecting, and integrating mission systems related to ground-based radars that deliver resilient space capabilities and early warning during conflicts. The work environment emphasizes mission-critical reliability, collaboration, and continuous improvement, with access to advanced modeling, simulation, and systems engineering tools in a structured, professional setting.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Colorado Springs, CO.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $68.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a hybrid position in Colorado Springs,CO.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 6, 2026. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

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regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

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San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
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It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
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