Lead Systems Engineer - San Diego, CA

Lead Systems Engineer - Navy Security Systems / Force Protection and Anti-Terrorism Hardware and Software

If you seek a rewarding, high profile and challenging position supporting the U.S. Navy, Serco has a great opportunity for you! As the Lead Systems Engineer supporting our Navy Physical Security Systems work, you will be part of a dynamic team providing systems engineering, configuration management, technology refresh, and mission support for Navy physical and electronic security supporting force protection and anti-terrorism systems.

Bring your expertise and collaborative skills to make an impact on the safety and security of our sailors, installations, and mission-critical Navy assets. In this role, you will lead technical planning, system baseline management, RDT&E coordination, configuration database development, dashboard reporting, and cross-functional engineering support to help ensure Navy physical security systems remain reliable, modernized, supportable, and aligned with customer requirements.

In this role, you will:

• Lead systems engineering activities supporting Navy physical and electronic security for force protection and anti-terrorism systems. Systems include (but not limited to) Access Control, Surveillance, Intrusion Detection, Perimeter & Infrastructure, and Command & Control.
• Lead and manage RDT&E efforts, including evaluation of emerging technologies, technology refresh planning, prototype assessment, integration analysis, and transition support.
• Support test and evaluation planning, technology demonstrations, system assessments, engineering reviews, and fielding readiness activities.
• Manage system hardware and software baselines, including configuration identification, change control, status accounting, and configuration verification activities.
• Develop, maintain, and manage a systems configuration database for Navy physical and electronic security systems, including hardware, software, interfaces, site information, lifecycle status, and configuration relationships, for drawings, HW and SW system versions, end of life/end of support tracking, and technical refresh/reset timelines and rollouts.
• Develop and manage a status dashboard to provide visibility into system configuration, modernization status, operational readiness, technology refresh priorities, risks, issues, and customer decision points.
• Perform technical planning, system integration, verification and validation, risk analysis, supportability analysis, and effectiveness analysis for total systems.
• Translate customer requirements, operational needs, and technical constraints into integrated systems engineering solutions that balance performance, schedule, cost, cybersecurity, and sustainment considerations.
• Coordinate with Navy customers, program stakeholders, vendors, field activities, cybersecurity teams, logisticians, and engineering staff to support system modernization, sustainment, and issue resolution.
• Review engineering deliverables, technical documentation, test artifacts, configuration records, and status reports to ensure alignment with customer requirements and program expectations.
• Identify technical risks, configuration gaps, obsolescence concerns, and system performance issues; recommend corrective actions and modernization priorities.
• Prepare and present technical summaries, dashboards, engineering recommendations, and decision-support products for program leadership and Navy stakeholders.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and task coordination for systems engineers and other technical team members supporting the PS2 contract.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• U.S. Citizenship.
• Active or current DoD Secret clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret Clearance.
• Bachelor's degree in systems engineering. A degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related technical field maybe substituted provided all other requirements have been met.
• 10 or more years of relevant systems engineering experience supporting Department of War (DoW) contracts, in force protection, physical security, electronic security, command and control, communications, sensors, or related mission systems.
• Strong understanding of systems engineering principles, requirements management, interface coordination, integration, verification and validation, risk management, and lifecycle sustainment.
• Experience supporting RDT&E, technology assessment, technology refresh, prototype integration, system modernization, or fielding activities.
• Experience managing hardware and software baselines, configuration management processes, engineering change control, configuration status accounting, and associated technical documentation.
• Experience developing or managing technical databases, configuration repositories, dashboards, status trackers, or decision-support tools.
• Ability to communicate effectively with government customers, technical teams, vendors, and program leadership.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.
• Ability to travel as needed to support customer meetings, engineering reviews, field activities, or site assessments. (up to 25%)

Additional desired experience and skills:

• Master's degree in systems engineering or other related engineering field.
• Experience supporting Navy physical security, electronic security, access control, intrusion detection, video surveillance, perimeter security, and force protection systems.
• Knowledge of Navy or DoD acquisition, engineering, cybersecurity, logistics, sustainment, and configuration management processes.
• Experience with configuration management tools, database tools, data visualization tools, dashboards, Systems Modeling Language (SysML) and business intelligence platforms.
• Experience supporting system modernization planning, obsolescence management, technology insertion, and lifecycle refresh strategies.
• Experience preparing executive-level briefings, technical reports, engineering recommendations, and customer decision packages.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams and coordinating work across geographically dispersed stakeholders.
• Professional certification such as INCOSE ASEP/CSEP, PMP, Security+, or related technical certification.

If you are interested in supporting the U.S. Navy and working with a dedicated Serco team to modernize, sustain, and improve mission-critical physical and electronic security systems, then submit your application now for immediate consideration.



Serco Inc. (Serco) is the Americas division of Serco Group, plc. In North America, Serco's 9,000+ employees strive to make an impact every day across 100+ sites in the areas of Defense, Citizen Services, and Transportation. We help our clients deliver vital services more efficiently while increasing the satisfaction of their end customers. Serco serves every branch of the U.S. military, numerous U.S. Federal civilian agencies, the Intelligence Community, the Canadian government, state, provincial and local governments, and commercial clients. While your place may look a little different depending on your role, we know you will find yours here. Wherever you work and whatever you do, we invite you to discover your place in our world. Serco is a place you can count on and where you can make an impact because every contribution matters.

To review Serco benefits please visit: https://careers.serco-na.com/us/en/what-we-offer . If you require an accommodation with the application process please email: careers@serco-na.com or call the HR Service Desk at 800-628-6458, option 1. Please note, due to EEOC/OFCCP compliance, Serco is unable to accept resumes by email.

Candidates may be asked to present proof of identify during the selection process. If requested, this will require presentation of a government-issued I.D. (with photo) with name and address that match the information entered on the application. Serco will not take possession of or retain/store the information provided as proof of identity. For more information on how Serco uses your information, please see our Applicant Privacy Policy and Notice.

Serco does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies without being a contracted approved vendor. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Serco and will not be obligated to pay a placement or contract fee. If you are interested in becoming an approved vendor at Serco, please email Agencies@serco-na.com .

Serco is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.



Our Total Rewards package includes competitive pay, performance-based incentives, and benefits that promote well-being and work-life balance-so you can thrive both professionally and personally. Eligible employees also gain access to a wide range of benefits from comprehensive health coverage and health savings accounts to retirement plans, life and disability insurance, and time-off programs that support work-life balance. Program availability may vary based on factors such as contract type, location, hire date, and applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Salary range: The range for this position can be found at the top of this posting. This range is provided as a general guideline and represents a good faith estimate across all experience levels. Actual base salary will be determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the scope of the role, relevant experience, job-related knowledge, education and training, key skills, and geographic market considerations. For roles available in multiple states, the range may vary to reflect differences in local labor markets. In addition to base salary, eligible positions may include other forms of compensation such as annual bonuses or long-term incentive opportunities. Benefits - Comprehensible benefits for full-time employees (part-time employees receive a limited package tailored to their role):

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Robust vacation and sick leave benefits, and flexible work arrangements where permitted by role or contract
• 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Life insurance and disability coverage
• Optional coverages that can be purchased, including pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection
• Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits
• Employee Assistance Plan

To review all Serco benefits please visit: https://careers.serco-na.com/us/en/about-us .

Serco complies with all applicable state and local leave laws, including providing time off under the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act for eligible Colorado residents, in alignment with our policies and benefit plans. The application window for this position is for no more than 60 days. We encourage candidates to apply promptly after the posting date, as the position may close earlier if filled or if the application volume exceeds expectations. Please submit applications exclusively through Serco's external (or internal) career site. If an applicant has any concerns with job posting compliance, please send an email to: careers@serco-na.com .