Lead System Engineer

Lead Systems Engineer (Orbital Launch)

About the Opportunity

My client is an innovative manufacturer developing next-generation launch systems for commercial and defense applications. Following significant growth and successful ongoing flight programs, they are expanding their engineering team to support the development of an orbital launch vehicle.

This is an opportunity to take a leading technical role within a highly ambitious and fast-moving environment, working on complex engineering challenges that directly influence vehicle integration, testing, and launch success.

The Role

My client is seeking a Lead Systems Engineer to serve as the technical authority at vehicle level for an orbital launch program. The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining the overall technical coherence of the launch vehicle, managing system interfaces, and ensuring alignment across multiple engineering disciplines.

Working closely with teams across avionics, software, propulsion, structures, guidance, navigation & control (GNC), and other technical functions, you will help drive system-level decisions and support the successful delivery of the program.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide vehicle-level systems engineering leadership across the orbital launch program.
• Own and manage system interfaces between engineering disciplines.
• Identify and manage technical dependencies, assumptions, constraints, and integration risks.
• Develop and maintain MBSE models, system architectures, requirements, and interface definitions.
• Lead technical reviews and cross-functional discussions to resolve complex engineering challenges.
• Support system-level trade studies and decision-making processes.
• Coordinate engineering teams to ensure subsystem activities remain aligned with overall program objectives.
• Track and drive closure of system-level issues through integration and verification phases.

Requirements

• Strong understanding of Model-Based Systems Engineering ( MBSE ) principles and methodologies.
• Solid knowledge of launch vehicles or rocket systems
• Experience owning system interfaces and managing cross-functional technical stakeholders.
• Ability to balance detailed subsystem understanding with an end-to-end system perspective.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to facilitate technical decision-making.
• Demonstrated track record delivering complex engineering projects successfully.

Please note that this role is best suited to individuals who enjoy working in a high-growth, high-performance environment with a high degree of autonomy and ownership