Senior System Engineer

Job Title: Senior Systems EngineerLocation: San Diego, California 92130Client: Major Medical Device clientDuration: 12 Months ContractThe Senior Systems Engineer serves as a key technical leader throughout the product lifecycle, translating customer and stakeholder needs into system requirements, managing technical risk, coordinating system integration activities, and ensuring successful verification and validation. This individual partners closely with cross-functional teams to drive product development, resolve complex system-level challenges, and continuously improve engineering processes and product performance.Key ResponsibilitiesLead system-level engineering activities throughout the product lifecycle, from concept through launch and sustaining.Translate customer and stakeholder needs into clear, testable, and traceable system and product requirements.Lead requirements development, management, and traceability activities across complex hardware, software, and integrated systems.Plan, facilitate, and document system-level risk assessments, hazard analyses, and design reviews to ensure risks are identified and appropriately mitigated.Lead system integration planning and execution, identifying and resolving system-level issues throughout development and sustaining activities.Own verification and validation strategy, planning, coordination, execution oversight, and traceability to ensure product requirements are met.Develop and execute reliability planning activities and support data-driven product quality improvements.Facilitate cross-functional collaboration among Reliability, Statistics, Software, Electrical, Mechanical, Quality, Regulatory, Manufacturing, Clinical, Marketing, and Operations teams.Serve as a technical leader on project core teams, helping identify technical risks, resource needs, and critical path activities required to achieve project milestones.Investigate and resolve complex system behavior issues, product performance concerns, and technical challenges across development and commercialized products.Mentor and guide less experienced engineers in systems engineering processes, tools, and best practices.Identify, champion, and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance engineering effectiveness, product quality, and development efficiency.Apply Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) methodologies and engineering best practices across all projects.QualificationsRequiredBachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, or a related technical discipline. A postgraduate degree is preferred.3-5+ years of relevant engineering experience, or an equivalent combination of advanced education and engineering experience.Demonstrated experience leading systems engineering activities for complex products or integrated systems.Strong understanding of the product development lifecycle from concept through launch.Experience with requirements development, requirements management, and requirements traceability.Experience planning and executing system-level verification and validation activities.Experience leading risk management activities, including FMEA, hazard analysis, and risk mitigation planning.Familiarity with system integration, reliability engineering, design reviews, and technical problem-solving.Excellent technical writing, communication, and presentation skills.Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across multiple engineering disciplines and business functions.Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.Ability to work independently while providing technical leadership within cross-functional teams.Strong attention to detail.PreferredExperience developing medical devices or products within a regulated industry.Experience leading systems engineering efforts on software-enabled or connected products.Experience with requirements management tools and model-based systems engineering concepts.Experience with statistical methods, Design for Six Sigma (DFSS), reliability engineering, or design optimization techniques.Experience driving technical leadership within cross-functional product development teams.Experience working in Agile or hybrid product development environments.Leadership ExpectationsSuccessful Senior Systems Engineers are recognized as technical leaders who:Drive systems thinking across complex product development efforts.Influence technical direction through data-driven decision making.Proactively identify and mitigate technical risks.Build strong cross-functional partnerships.Mentor and develop other engineers.Champion engineering excellence and continuous improvement.Balance customer needs, business objectives, technical feasibility, and regulatory requirements to deliver successful products.