Battelle delivers when others can’t. We conduct research and development, manage national laboratories, design and manufacture products and deliver critical services for our clients—whether they are a multi-national corporation, a small start-up or a government agency.
We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.
Job Summary
We are seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to support the design, integration, evaluation, and transition of complex technical capabilities for government and mission-focused customers. This role will apply systems engineering expertise, technical leadership, and project execution experience to support system architecture, requirements development, interoperability, technical analysis, test planning, and operational integration.
The ideal candidate brings strong systems thinking, experience across hardware and software environments, and the ability to solve complex engineering challenges in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. This position includes both hands-on technical execution and customer-facing delivery through analysis, integration planning, technical reporting, and stakeholder coordination.
This role requires domestic and international travel, including occasional multi-day or weeklong trips, to support customer meetings, site visits, technical reviews, capability assessments, and key program activities. Travel may be more frequent during startup phases or critical delivery periods.
What Will Help You Succeed
• Strong systems thinking, engineering judgment, and problem-solving ability.
• Comfort working through ambiguity, evolving requirements, and multidisciplinary technical challenges.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to balance technical depth and project execution.
• A collaborative, proactive approach to technical leadership, client engagement, and team support.
Responsibilities
Systems Engineering and Technical Integration
• Apply multidisciplinary engineering expertise to design, integrate, and evaluate complex technical systems.
• Support system architectures, technical concepts, interface definitions, and integration approaches across hardware, software, communications, sensors, networks, and data systems.
• Translate operational and technical needs into requirements, specifications, and implementation plans.
• Support design, build, integration, and documentation activities for assigned system elements and technical components.
Technical Analysis and Problem Solving
• Select appropriate engineering and analytical methods for complex technical problems.
• Compile, evaluate, and interpret design, test, and performance data to support engineering decisions.
• Assess system constraints, performance considerations, risks, tradeoffs, and implementation options.
• Identify technical issues, analyze root causes, and develop practical, innovative solutions.
Requirements, Testing, and Evaluation
• Support requirements collection, decomposition, analysis, traceability, and validation.
• Develop engineering artifacts such as requirements matrices, interface documents, architecture views, trade studies, test plans, and technical assessments.
• Support prototype, pilot, experimentation, test, and evaluation planning and execution.
• Define technical success criteria, test objectives, data collection needs, and evaluation methods.
• Document findings, lessons learned, recommendations, and corrective actions to support refinement and transition.
Technical Leadership and Project Support
• Lead technical projects or major project phases within schedule and budget constraints.
• Provide technical direction to engineers and support staff assigned to project work.
• Coordinate day-to-day technical activities to meet milestones, deliverables, and project objectives.
• Review technical progress, quality, risks, and performance across assigned tasks.
• Train and mentor junior staff to strengthen technical development and project execution.
Client Engagement, Reporting, and Business Support
• Prepare and present technical reports, briefings, and presentations for clients and stakeholders.
• Communicate with clients regarding technical scope, schedules, deliverables, risks, and quality expectations.
• Build productive relationships with internal teams, external partners, and customer stakeholders.
• Contribute technical content to proposals, customer-facing solution development, and business development activities.
• Support internal research, technical forums, conferences, and other activities that advance innovation and organizational visibility.
Key Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in systems engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, robotics, physical science, or a related technical field with 8+ years of related experience; master’s degree with 5+ years; PhD with 2+ years; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Depending on contract or business needs, the role may require up to 10 years of related experience and/or specialized skill sets.
• Experience applying systems engineering, integration engineering, test engineering, or related disciplines to complex systems or programs.
• Experience developing or supporting requirements, specifications, architectures, interfaces, integration plans, technical analyses, or test documentation.
• Experience compiling and interpreting technical, design, or test data to support engineering decisions.
• Ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams, including engineering, test, operations, and program leadership.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical information to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required for meetings, site assessments, technical reviews, and key program activities.
• Active security clearance, or ability to obtain and maintain one, as required by the program.
• Ability to satisfy contract-specific security, access, compliance, and export-related requirements.
Preferred Qualifications
• 10+ years of engineering experience supporting complex technical systems, integration, or mission-focused development efforts.
• Experience supporting defense, national security, test and evaluation, experimentation, or operational integration programs.
• Experience with requirements traceability, systems architecture methods, interface control, configuration management, and technical governance.
• Familiarity with network architecture, communications systems, data architecture, interoperability, cross-domain integration, and cybersecurity principles.
• Experience supporting rapid prototyping, technology maturation, transition planning, live/virtual/constructive environments, mission integration, instrumentation, test infrastructure, or data visualization and analysis environments.
• Experience preparing technical proposal content or leading technical tasks within cost and schedule constraints.
• Master’s degree or PhD in a related technical field beyond the minimum qualification threshold.
Compensation Data
Battelle is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The base compensation range for this role is $128,000 - $183,000, in addition to eligibility for an annual short term incentive compensation target and comprehensive benefits package. A candidate’s salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to education, relevant work experience, skills, and certifications. Salary ranges may vary based on geographic location and market conditions.
Benefits: Live an Extraordinary Life
We care about your well-being, not just on the job. Battelle offers comprehensive and competitive benefits to help you live your best life.
• Balance life through a compressed work schedule : Most of our team follows a flexible, compressed work schedule that allows for every other Friday off—giving you a dedicated day to accomplish things in your personal life without using vacation time.
• Enjoy enhanced work flexibility, including a hybrid arrangement: You have options for where and when you work. Our Together with Flexibility model allows you to work 60% in-office and 40% remote, with Monday and Tuesday as common in-office days, dependent on team and position needs .
• Take time to recharge : You get paid time off to support work-life balance and keep motivated.
• Prioritize wellness : Stay healthy with medical, dental, and vision coverage with wellness incentives and benefits plus a variety of optional supplemental benefits.
• Better together : Coverage for partners, gender-affirming care and health support, and family formation support.
• Build your financial future : Build financial stability with an industry-leading 401(k) retirement savings plan. For most employees, we put in 5 percent whether you contribute or not, and match your contributions on top of that.
• Advance your education : Tuition assistance is available to pursue higher education.
A Work Environment Where You Succeed
For brilliant minds in science, technology, engineering and business operations, Battelle is the place to do the greatest good by solving humanity’s most pressing challenges and creating a safer, healthier and more secure world.
You will have the opportunity to thrive in a culture that inspires you to:
• Apply your talent to challenging and meaningful projects
• Receive select funding to pursue ideas in scientific and technological discovery
• Partner with world-class experts in a collaborative environment
• Nurture and develop the next generation of scientific leaders
• Give back to and improve our communities
Vaccinations & Safety Protocols
Battelle may require employees, based on job duties, work location, and/or its clients’ requirements to follow certain safety protocols and to be vaccinated against a variety of viruses, bacteria, and diseases as a condition of employment and continued employment and to provide documentation that they are fully vaccinated. If applicable, Battelle will provide reasonable accommodations based on a qualified disability or medical condition through the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Rehabilitation Act or for a sincerely held religious belief under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (and related state laws).
Battelle is an equal opportunity employer. We provide employment and opportunities for advancement, compensation, training, and growth according to individual merit, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, genetic information, disability, veteran-status veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable Federal, state, or local law. Our goal is for each staff member to have the opportunity to grow to the limits of their abilities and to achieve personal and organizational objectives. We will support positive programs for equal treatment of all staff and full utilization of all qualified employees at all levels within Battelle.
The above statements are intended to describe the nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, activities and skills required of staff members. No statement herein is intended to imply any authorities to commit Battelle unless special written permission is granted by Battelle's Legal Department.
For more information about our other openings, please visit www.battelle.org/careers