Lead Systems Engineer

Lead Systems Engineer
Senior Level | Westminster, CO | Competitive Salary | $100,000 - $140,000 | Clearance: Secret with the ability to obtain SAP

Lead the successful execution of the Helios program as it progresses through the final phases of development toward first-unit delivery. Serve as the technical authority responsible for systems engineering execution, technical baseline management, host integration, stakeholder coordination, and the resolution of technical debt to ensure a successful transition from development to operational deployment.
A Day in the Life - What you'll do

• Lead Systems Engineering activities supporting the Helios program through final development, integration, verification, and first-unit delivery milestones.
  
• Serve as the primary technical liaison between the program team, Chief Engineer, customers, and key stakeholders to ensure alignment of technical objectives, schedules, and mission requirements.
  
• Define, develop, and maintain program-specific Use Cases, Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), system requirements, and supporting engineering artifacts for a Level 3 subsystem.
  
• Assess legacy engineering documentation, processes, requirements, and technical artifacts to identify technical debt, gaps, inconsistencies, and compliance risks.
  
• Develop and implement corrective Systems Engineering actions that improve technical rigor, traceability, documentation quality, and program readiness.
  
• Ensure technical baseline integrity throughout design maturation, integration, testing, and delivery activities.
  
• Coordinate closely with mechanical, electrical, software, manufacturing, integration, and test teams to ensure cross-disciplinary compliance and technical alignment.
  
• Support architecture reviews, design reviews, technical interchange meetings, and customer-facing engineering discussions.
  
• Facilitate requirements allocation, verification planning, risk management, and technical decision-making across the program lifecycle.
  
• Monitor system-level performance, interfaces, and integration activities to ensure successful host platform integration and mission effectiveness.
  
• Lead issue resolution efforts by evaluating technical risks, identifying root causes, and driving corrective actions across engineering disciplines.
  
• Support program leadership in balancing technical performance, schedule commitments, and customer expectations during critical delivery phases.
  
• Mentor engineering team members on Systems Engineering best practices while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and technical excellence.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or another STEM discipline from an accredited institution.
  
• 8+ years of Systems Engineering experience supporting complex aerospace, defense, space, or advanced technology programs.
  
• Demonstrated experience leading programs through advanced development, integration, test, and delivery phases.
  
• Experience developing and managing Use Cases, CONOPS, system requirements, interface definitions, and technical baselines.
  
• Proven ability to identify and remediate technical debt, documentation deficiencies, process gaps, and engineering compliance issues.
  
• Experience serving as a primary technical interface between engineering teams, customers, and executive leadership.
  
• Strong understanding of systems lifecycle processes including requirements management, architecture development, integration, verification, validation, and risk management.
  
• Experience coordinating engineering efforts across mechanical, electrical, software, integration, and test disciplines.
  
• Foundational experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodologies and engineering models.
  
• Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills with the ability to drive technical decisions in fast-paced development environments.
  
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams while maintaining technical integrity, schedule performance, and mission success.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting spacecraft, satellite payloads, aerospace platforms, missile defense systems, or other complex mission-critical systems.
  
• Experience managing programs approaching production, operational deployment, or first-unit delivery milestones.
  
• Experience with Cameo Systems Modeler, SysML, or other MBSE toolsets.
  
• Experience supporting host platform integration activities and interface management.
  
• Familiarity with requirements management tools such as Jama Connect.
  
• Experience conducting system architecture reviews, design reviews, and engineering readiness assessments.
  
• Knowledge of Digital Engineering methodologies and model-centric development environments.
  
• Experience supporting customer technical reviews and government acquisition programs.
  
• Master's degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Management, or a related technical discipline.
  
• INCOSE certification or advanced Systems Engineering training.

Who is Caribou Thunder?

Caribou Thunder is a HUBZone-certified small business providing advanced technical and engineering services to the U.S. Department of War and its mission partners.

35+ states and 20+ countries. We've delivered trusted solutions for over two decades - strengthening national readiness across missions on land, undersea, in the air, and throughout LEO, MEO, GEO, and deep space.
Why Caribou Thunder? TEAM THUNDER - Mission Focused. Delivery Proven. Ready to Serve.

Employee Advocacy
Mission Proven
Global Reach
Skilled Teams
Modern Tools
Empowering Culture

Our engineers and innovators ensure capability from sea floor to space frontier - delivering on time, maintaining compliance, and performing with precision in high-consequence environments.

We specialize in Engineering Services, Cybersecurity, Software Development, Modeling & Simulation, Digital Engineering, and Artificial Intelligence - disciplines powering the nation's most complex technical missions.
Employee Advocacy + Benefits

Our people are the heart of Caribou Thunder. We invest in their growth, flexibility, and well-being - knowing their success drives ours.

Benefits include:

• Premium Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
  
• 401(k) with 6% Company Match
  
• Flexible PTO & Work Schedule
  
• Education & Certification Reimbursement
  
• Support for Military Leave
  
• Work-Life Balance & Traditional Family Values

Your future, your flexibility, your well-being - we invest in you. Apply and let's connect.