Systems Engineer - Air Delivered PlatformsPay Range: $140 - $160,000 annually
Job Summary: We are seeking a systems engineer to support the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center Air Delivered Platforms Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base. This role is focused on the integration of aircraft and weapon systems, with emphasis on systems engineering, test planning, test execution support, and analysis of test results. The work sits at the point where engineering rigor meets operational applications, requiring someone who can understand technical requirements, evaluate integration challenges, and help develop practical solutions for complex air-delivered weapon system programs. You will collaborate with engineering, test, program management, and government stakeholder teams. You'll review technical requirements, understand how aircraft and weapon system interfaces affect integration and test, and turn complex data into clear recommendations. This is not a narrow documentation role; it requires technical judgment, disciplined analysis, and the ability to support decisions on programs where safety, security, reliability, and mission performance matters. You'll be working full-time onsite at KAFB, located in Albuquerque, NM.
Responsibilities:- Support aircraft and weapon system engineering and integration activities for air-delivered nuclear weapon systems, including analysis of integration issues and development of technically sound recommendations.
- Support test planning, test coordination, and test analysis for aircraft systems, weapon systems, and associated integration activities.
- Analyze test results, system performance data, and engineering inputs to identify risks, gaps, technical issues, and potential corrective actions.
- Develop, review, and maintain system requirements specifications, interface control documentation, and related engineering artifacts for assigned systems and programs.
- Support feasibility studies, trade studies, gap analyses, and sensitivity analyses to inform program decisions across performance, cost, schedule, and risk.
- Maintain traceability between top-level system requirements, lower-level requirements, design decisions, test activities, and qualification evidence.
- Apply systems engineering judgment to assess proposed technical solutions against operational needs, program objectives, and integration constraints.
- Provide configuration management and requirements management support, including review of requirement changes and assessment of downstream impacts.
- Prepare technical reports, briefings, analysis summaries, and decision-support materials for government stakeholders.
- Coordinate with government, laboratories, and contractor organizations as needed to support data management, reporting, and weapon system acceptance activities.
Qualifications and Experience:- Active Top Secret security clearance, with ability to obtain SCI.
- Bachelor's degree in STEM discipline or a related technical field. Equivalent work experience in lieu of education may be considered (18 or more years of work experience).
- 10 or more years of relevant professional experience.
- Experience with model based systems engineering for complex technical programs.
- Experience with test planning, test execution support, test data review, or test analysis.
- Ability to evaluate technical information, identify integration issues, and communicate findings clearly to technical and programmatic audiences.
- Strong working knowledge of requirements management, traceability, configuration management, and engineering documentation practices.
- Ability to work independently on complex assignments with limited daily direction.
- Ability to work 100% onsite at KAFB.
- Ability to access and work on classified government networks, including SIPRNET, as required.
Preferred Qualifications:- Experience with aircraft systems, weapon systems, or aircraft-to-weapon integration with DoD, DOE, NNSA, or national laboratory programs.
- Familiarity with B61, W80, Long Range Standoff Weapon, Air-Launched Cruise Missile, bomber or fighter aircraft integration, or related air-delivered weapon system programs.
- Experience with model-based systems engineering, Systems Modeling Language, or other requirements and architecture tools.
- Experience preparing technical products for design reviews, qualification reviews, acceptance activities, or senior technical decision forums.
Compensation & Benefits: The expected base salary range for this role is $140 - $160,000 annually. Actual
compensation will be determined based on factors including skills, experience, qualifications, and location.
