Senior Systems Engineer

Senior Systems EngineerWilder Systems · Austin, TX · On-siteAbout the roleOwn the technical envelope of our robotic systems from requirement capture through customer acceptance, with the verification, integration, and qualification discipline that to take a prototype to a product. You define what "done" means, design the tests that prove it, run the integration campaigns where subsystems become a system, and execute the qualification tests. We deliver robotic cells to defense and commercial aerospace customers with a wide variety of applications and requirements. This at times is a hands-on role. You will write test protocols and may need to execute them. Additionally, you will mentor the junior engineers who are learning SE best practices. What you'll doLead integration and qualification of robotic systemsDefine the integration build-up sequence: component-level, subsystem-level, system-level, with explicit entry/exit criteria, test points between stages, and regression strategy when something changes upstreamArchitect process flows under requirement and cost constraintsPlan and execute the qualification campaign across project lifecycleRun interface verification (mechanical, electrical, software) at each integration stage; isolate and diagnose interface failuresExecute and define geometric and process calibrations on integrated robotic cells: TCP, payload, vision-to-robot, etc.Lead anomaly RCAs when the integrated system doesn't behave as the subsystems predictedDesign and execute testsAuthor formal test protocols covering response variables, factor classification, design type, pre-requisites, procedure, expected results, and statistical analysisOwn gauge and measurement system capabilities.Execute the tests yourself when the situation calls for it, and supervise execution when it doesn'tAnalyze test data, construct report, defend the result with insights in customer reviewsOwn the SE lifecycleConOps, requirements, architecture, ICDs, V&V planning, integration, qualification, transition to operations for one or more active programsAuthor the verification & validation strategy: what gets analyzed, inspected, demonstrated, tested;Run and support technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, PAT, FAT, FAI) internally and with customers;Mentor and build the practiceMentor junior systems and applications engineers: review their requirements, redline their test protocols, coach them through customer reviewsHelp shape how the SE function grows as Wilder scalesCross-disciplinePartner with mechanical, and software leads; arbitrate on conflicting requirements and prioritiesSupport/perform the analyses that sit above any single discipline: requirements budgets (cycle time, accuracy, availability), trade studies, FMEAs, hazard analyses, reliability rollupsContribute to proposals and capture: turn RFPs into credible technical baselines and SOWsWhat we needBachelor's or preferably Master's in Robotics, Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical Engineering or related discipline8+ years in systems engineering on hardware-software systems delivered to demanding customers preferably in the Aerospace, Maritime, or Automative sectorDeeply technical, hands-on robotics fluency (FANUC, Yaskawa, KUKA, ABB, or UR)Demonstrated ownership of integration and qualification campaigns on multi-subsystem robotic or mechatronic systems Hands-on competence: comfortable executing tests, troubleshooting on the integrated cell, running calibrations, and pulling data with a scope, a tracker, or a Python script as the situation demandsFull SE lifecycle ownership demonstrated on at least one complex programFluency in requirements as a discipline: INCOSE-style quality, allocation, traceability, change control, verification mappingStrong V&V instincts: deliberate choice between analysis, inspection, demonstration, and testDOE literacy: factor classification (design / held-constant / nuisance), blocking, randomization, fractional factorial resolution, ANOVA/ANCOVA, power and sample size, measurement system analysisExperience running formal acceptance campaigns: FAI, PAT, FAT, with customer witnessesFamiliarity with NASA SE Handbook / NPR 7123.1, MIL-STD-961, or comparable process frameworksPython fluency or similar for test data analysis and lightweight toolingTrack record mentoring junior engineers and bringing them up the learning curveUp to 10-25% travel to customer sites; U.S. citizen status required.