Lead Systems Engineer, Defense Programs

Job DescriptionPosition Title: Lead Systems Engineer, Defense ProgramsPosition Description: Protingent Staffing has an exciting direct hire Lead Systems Engineer, Defense Programs opportunity.Job Responsibilities: Capture & Business Development:Lead capture engineering on defense pursuits, from early customer discovery through proposal submissionIdentify and develop the technical discriminators that separate Longshot from conventional and non-conventional competitorsShape technical solutions that align to customer requirements, acquisition strategy, and evaluation criteriaPartner with business development and program management on pursuit strategy, bid decisions, and teamingDebrief the internal team on what the customer actually said, and what it means for the roadmapSystems Engineering:Conduct trade studies across cost, performance, risk, schedule, and supportability to defend solution choicesPerform requirements analysis, functional decomposition, and architecture development for defense applications of our launch platformDefine and document system interfaces, requirements traceability, and verification and validation plansProposal & Program Documentation:Author and review technical white papers and responses to RFIs, BAAs, and RFPsBuild and lead SRR, PDR, CDR, and TRR packages, including the analysis and traceability behind themDraft statements of work, work breakdown structures, milestone definitions, and integrated master schedule inputsDevelop CDRL deliverables and ensure compliance with applicable Data Item DescriptionsCustomer-Facing Communication:Track and report technical performance measures, risks, and opportunitiesPrepare and deliver technical briefings to program offices, service leadership, and senior government stakeholdersBuild capability briefings and quad charts that hold up to technical scrutiny Job Qualifications:Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical field5+ years of experience in systems engineering within aerospace and defense programs.Direct experience with DoW/DoD customers and programs (hypersonics, long-range strike, missile defense, or space access), including capture engineering and developing technical solutions for defense acquisitionExcellent technical writing and communication skills, including preparing and delivering briefings to DoW/DoD customers, program offices, and senior leadershipStrong understanding of DoD acquisition lifecycle (MDD, MSA, TMRR, EMD, P&D) and systems engineering processes (requirements, architecture, V&V)Experience with requirements management and traceability tools (DOORS, Jama, or equivalent)Ability to work fully onsite at our Alameda, CA facility, with up to 25% travel to test sites, government partner sites, bases, conferences, and tradeshows. Preferred Job Qualifications:Proven track record of writing technical white papers, proposals, PDR/CDR packages, and other program deliverablesJob Details:Job Type: Full-time, Direct-HireSalary Range: $160K-$200KLocation: Alameda, CA (Onsite).ITAR obligations are associated with this role, U.S. citizenship, U.S. legal permanent resident status, or protected person status under 8 U.S.C.1324b(a) (1), (3) is required.About Protingent: Protingent is a niche provider of top Engineering and IT talent to Software, Electronics, Medical Device, Telecom, and Aerospace companies nationwide. Protingent exists to make a positive impact and contribution to the lives of others as well as our community by providing relevant, rewarding, and exciting work opportunities for our candidates.