Systems Engineer

Job Title: Systems Engineer Job Description
The Systems Engineer collaborates closely with customers to define, develop, and refine requirements for complex electro-mechanical systems, primarily large cabinet-based solutions that house servers, data systems, consoles, racking, network and communication equipment, cabling, and video/GUI displays. This role provides technical leadership across system development, analysis, and design, recommends optimizations and improvements, and supports the creation of prototypes that integrate seamlessly with other systems, including modeling and simulation efforts. The position requires a degreed engineer who can work across mechanical, electrical, and systems/software disciplines in a hands-on, small-team environment.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate directly with customers to develop, clarify, and document system requirements and solutions through creative thinking and technical expertise.
- Transform customer requirements into clear, detailed specifications for complex electro-mechanical products, including large racking cabinets containing servers, networking equipment, cabling, and video/GUI displays.
- Lead and participate in the initial design and requirements phase, typically lasting 2–3 months, and support the final design review and transition into production over 9–12 months, including refresh and upgrade cycles every two years.
- Develop and perform systems engineering evaluations and trade studies, and provide recommendations for system implementation and optimization.
- Coordinate and perform additions and changes to hardware, software, and attached systems, including investigation, analysis, recommendation, configuration, installation, and testing of new components.
- Provide direct support in day-to-day hardware and software development activities, including evaluating system utilization, monitoring response times, and serving as primary support for detecting and correcting operational problems.
- Participate in planning, design reviews, technical reviews, and implementation activities for new hardware and operating systems within new and existing system designs.
- Maintain and enforce system design standards to ensure consistency, reliability, and compliance with project requirements.
- Work closely with electrical, mechanical, and software engineering teams to develop detailed designs and prototypes for ruggedized cabinets, displays, consoles, and GUI-based systems.
- Assist in testing, validation, and analysis of systems, and contribute to continuous improvements in performance, reliability, and maintainability.
- Integrate systems across software, electrical, and mechanical domains, and collaborate with customers on design changes, updates, and enhancements.
- Define and present the functional design of products to internal teams and external stakeholders, ensuring clear communication of system architecture and functionality.
- Define, document, and manage product requirements, and verify and document that the final product meets all defined requirements.
- Use requirements tracking tools to manage and trace requirements throughout the product lifecycle, ensuring full coverage and compliance.
- Provide technical guidance, training, and support to engineering staff as designated by project leads, fostering knowledge sharing and best practices.
- Support production, installation, and customer operations, including production support, customer support, and installation support for complex systems.
- Contribute to proposals, cost estimation, and configuration management activities to support project planning and execution.
- Support environmental qualification and testing activities to ensure systems meet operational and regulatory requirements.
- Participate in obsolescence management, helping to identify and plan for replacement or upgrade of components and technologies.
- Work effectively in a small systems group within a small to medium-sized company, taking a hands-on approach and comfortably wearing multiple hats across disciplines.
Essential Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or Software-related engineering (BSEE, Systems, or BSME).
- Approximately 6–12+ years of experience working with hardware sets, including circuit boards, cabling, connectors, enclosures, electro-mechanical devices, and server/racking equipment.
- Strong knowledge of ruggedized equipment, including displays, consoles, GUIs, and racking cabinets used in demanding environments.
- Experience with video distribution and transmission systems, including signal processing for specialized displays such as submarine or other mission-critical environments.
- Solid understanding of overall system architecture and the internal workings (“guts”) of complex electro-mechanical systems.
- Demonstrated ability to develop requirements and solutions through direct customer collaboration and creative problem solving.
- Experience working with cross-functional technical teams (mechanical, electrical, software) to develop designs and prototypes.
- Hands-on experience assisting with testing, validation, analysis, and system improvements for hardware and integrated systems.
- Product development experience in electro-mechanical systems, ideally similar to cabinet-based server, networking, and display solutions.
- Ability to take responsibility across multiple disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, and software aspects of system design.
- Proven capability to define, document, and manage product requirements, and to verify that end products meet those requirements.
- Experience with requirements tracking tools (such as DOORS or similar custom tools) for managing and tracing requirements.
- Excellent technical communication skills, both internally and externally, to move programs forward and align stakeholders.
- Strong organizational skills to manage complex projects, documentation, and multi-disciplinary coordination.
- Flexibility and versatility to work in a small systems group and small/medium-sized company, with a hands-on, team-oriented approach.
- Ability to be a team player who is comfortable wearing multiple hats and contributing across different phases of the development lifecycle.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- 2–10 years of experience with hardware sets, circuit boards, cabling, connectors, enclosures, electro-mechanical devices, and server/racking equipment is noted as relevant for similar roles.
- Experience with ruggedized cabinets, consoles, displays, and GUI-based systems used in defense, aerospace, medical, or capital equipment environments.
- Background in video distribution and transmission systems, including signal processing for specialized display applications, is a strong plus.
- Any experience working on military or navy-related projects or systems is considered a plus.
- Experience in industries such as defense, aerospace, medical diagnostic or surgical room equipment, or capital equipment/machines is highly relevant.
- Project management and configuration management experience to support planning, execution, and control of complex engineering programs.
- Experience with environmental qualification and testing of hardware and systems to meet operational and regulatory standards.
- Experience contributing to proposals and cost estimation activities for engineering projects and system development.
- Background in production support, customer support, and installation support for complex systems, including on-site or remote assistance.
- Experience with obsolescence management, including planning for component and technology refreshes and upgrades.
- Functional expertise in areas such as power analysis, mechanical design, artificial intelligence, or other specialized disciplines, especially when spanning multiple technical domains.
- Systems engineering program management experience, including coordinating activities across requirements, design, validation, and delivery.
- Experience with cabling design (copper, fiber, USB) for data and video transmission and distribution in cabinet-based systems.
- Experience working with high-tech information and communication systems, particularly in demanding or mission-critical environments.
Work Environment
This role operates in an engineering and laboratory environment focused on requirement validation, system design, and hardware/software integration. You will work closely with a small, collaborative systems group within a small to medium-sized organization, where a hands-on approach and the ability to contribute across multiple disciplines are highly valued. The work centers on high-tech information and communication systems, including large cabinet-based solutions that house servers, networking equipment, cabling, and ruggedized video and GUI displays. The company culture emphasizes family-friendly flexibility, teamwork, and a supportive environment that encourages technical excellence and innovation.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Burnsville, MN.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $52.00 - $70.00/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 Burnsville,MN.
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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Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
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