"Systems Engineer, Senior- Steward Observatory"

Position Highlights

The University of Arizona's Steward Observatory invites you to apply to the role of Systems Engineer, Senior. The candidate must be experienced in working with multidisciplinary teams that have successfully delivered complex, high-precision opto-mechanical systems. The candidate will work on high level documentation such as the Requirements document, and all lower-level requirement documents that establish the baseline design of the subsystem. The candidate must have good communication skills and be able to represent the engineering team in a professional manner both internally and externally to Steward Observatory. The candidate is expected to be a motivated self-starter who can work with and lead engineers to resolve technical problems and establish approaches for solutions.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead systems-engineering activities for both ground-based and space-based instrumentation programs, including a high-visibility, privately funded space mission.
• Develop system architectures, technical strategies, and engineering processes that ensure mission success across the full project lifecycle.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and direction to multidisciplinary teams across mechanical, optical, electrical, software, and systems domains.
• Own the development, maintenance, and configuration control of the top-level Requirements Document and all lower-tier subsystem requirement specifications.
• Perform requirements decomposition, allocation, and traceability to ensure clarity, testability, and alignment with engineering and science objectives.
• Lead verification and validation planning, including the creation of verification matrices and compliance documentation.
• Establish and maintain system and subsystem design baselines, ensuring all changes follow formal configuration-management processes.
• Create and manage systems-engineering documentation, including architecture diagrams, interface control documents (ICDs), risk registers, and V&V plans.
• Oversee integration planning and readiness for both ground-based and spaceflight hardware, ensuring interface consistency and adherence to mission assurance requirements.
• Evaluate verification results and assess compliance with performance, reliability, environmental, and operational specifications.
• Facilitate and lead trade studies, engineering assessments, and decision processes that span multiple technical domains.
• Coordinate interface definition and problem resolution across engineering teams, external collaborators, and facility partners.
• Ensure alignment between subsystem designs and the overall system architecture.
• Identify technical risks, develop mitigation strategies, and maintain risk-management documentation.
• Guide root-cause analysis efforts, define corrective actions, and ensure proper documentation of technical resolutions.
• Present systems-engineering status, findings, and recommendations during internal reviews, technical interchange meetings, and external partner reviews.
• Represent the engineering team professionally in interactions with collaborators, vendors, and stakeholders associated with the privately funded space mission.
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences, including Directors, PIs, project managers, and leadership.
• Ensure systems-engineering practices comply with mission assurance standards relevant to both precision ground-based instruments and spaceflight hardware.
• Support readiness reviews including PDR, CDR, and design maturity assessments.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Systems/Industrial Engineering or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong background in Finite Element Analysis.

FLSA: Exempt
Full Time/Part Time: Full Time
Number of Hours Worked per Week: 40
Job FTE: 1.0
Work Calendar: Fiscal
Job Category: Research
Benefits Eligible: Yes - Full Benefits
Rate of Pay: $99,901-$129,871
Compensation Type: salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)
Grade: 12

Career Stream and Level: PC4
Job Family: Research Engineering
Job Function: Research

Type of criminal background check required: Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)
Number of Vacancies: 1

Open Until Filled: Yes
Documents Needed to Apply: Resume and Cover Letter