Chief Systems Engineer Jobs

Explore Chief Systems Engineer (CSE) opportunities for experienced professionals who lead the design, integration, and performance of complex systems. CSEs bring technical teams together, translate mission and business needs into system architectures, and guide programs from concept through deployment. Browse vetted roles on Ladders, including positions paying $100,000 or more.

What Does a Chief Systems Engineer Do?

A Chief Systems Engineer establishes technical direction across a program or organization. Typical responsibilities include defining system requirements and architecture, overseeing system integration, managing technical risks, and ensuring that solutions meet performance, safety, security, and regulatory expectations. CSEs often work across engineering disciplines and serve as a key technical partner to program leaders, customers, and executives.

Industries Hiring Chief Systems Engineers

Chief Systems Engineers are sought in aerospace, defense, national security, software, telecommunications, transportation, energy, and other industries that develop or operate complex, interconnected systems. Job requirements vary by sector and may involve specialized standards, certifications, or experience with particular technologies and mission environments.

Skills and Qualifications

Employers commonly seek extensive systems engineering experience, a record of technical leadership, and the ability to communicate clearly with both engineering teams and senior stakeholders. Relevant strengths may include systems architecture, requirements management, integration and verification, model-based systems engineering, risk management, and lifecycle planning. Many positions require a bachelor's or advanced degree in engineering or a related field; specific education and clearance requirements depend on the role.

Explore CSE Jobs on Ladders

Find Chief Systems Engineer openings that align with your expertise, leadership goals, and preferred industry. Ladders focuses on vetted professional opportunities with salaries of $100,000 or more, helping experienced candidates discover senior-level roles and take the next step in their careers.

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$100K - $152K *

Elevate your career by solving complex electrical engineering challenges in nuclear power. Engage with multi-disciplinary teams to ensure project delivery, from design through installation, while supp...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$188K - $282K *

Join a team that's dedicated to driving technical sales excellence by managing and developing the Solutions Engineering team, ensuring alignment with company goals and fostering a customer-focused env...

Olympia Fields, ILRemote

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $160K *

Lead day-to-day reliability for our SRE-DevOps team, ensuring production AWS environments are secure and well-documented. Collaborate on automation, incident response, and compliance while working ind...

CanadaRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$190K - $210K *

Transform the contract management landscape for large-scale data center projects. Oversee RFx processes, negotiate contracts, and ensure compliance while collaborating with cross-functional teams to m...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Empower customer success by leading a dynamic team across the Americas, enhancing client relationships, driving product adoption, and championing customer feedback to influence strategic direction and...

Dallas, TXRemote

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Grow a dynamic team driving OpenRouter’s provider ecosystem, managing innovations across diverse models and endpoints, ensuring quality and efficiency in inference services for millions of requests da...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$250K - $275K *

Transform client engagements by delivering innovative cloud data security solutions. Leverage your technical expertise to drive sales, manage complex projects, and collaborate with cross-functional te...

Washington DC, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$125K - $150K *

Drive secure network segmentation by designing and managing compliant architectures. Leverage advanced security tools to ensure policy-driven connectivity across global environments while leading oper...

Georgia, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Drive Navy revenue growth as you partner with executives to innovate and execute forward-thinking GTM strategies, transforming opportunities into impactful contracts while navigating complex defense e...

RemoteRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$125K - $174K *

Lead and optimize field survey operations across California, ensuring technical excellence, safety, and efficiency. Mentor field leaders, establish best practices, and enhance team capabilities to del...

Santa Ana, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$110K - $130K *

Join our team to validate and enhance data migration processes through comprehensive testing, ensuring quality and performance in a dynamic Agile environment. Your expertise will drive successful syst...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$130K - $170K *

Champion mission-critical initiatives in Air Force programs, driving strategic and operational excellence while collaborating with stakeholders to ensure timely project execution and resource allocati...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$118K - $180K *

Join a team that's redefining nuclear power engineering by designing innovative systems and leading projects that enhance plant operations and safety. Collaborate with clients and drive impactful modi...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$118K - $180K *

Lead engineering projects in nuclear power systems design, focusing on modifications, analyses, and vendor evaluations. Collaborate with clients and teams to deliver innovative solutions that enhance...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$174K - $252K *

Lead the development of large-scale infrastructure solutions, optimizing cloud technologies and enhancing software products. Collaborate with teams to deliver mission-critical services for diverse cus...

Cambridge, MARemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$95K - $115K *

Drive quality assurance initiatives by overseeing computer system validation processes, ensuring compliance with GxP regulations, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance validation pr...

Kentucky, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Build your career as a Software Architect, driving Cloud-Native solutions for the Royal Canadian Navy. Collaborate on innovative projects, enhance operational readiness, and develop cutting-edge train...

Ottawa, ONRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$166K - $200K *

Champion innovative solutions by leading cross-functional teams to enhance operational efficiency and drive project success across multiple departments, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and fos...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$100K - $120K *

Drive impactful employee and change communications across the organization, enhancing engagement and understanding. Collaborate with leaders to create clear messaging and effective strategies that sup...

Alabama, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$135K - $160K *

Shape the future of healthcare technology by leading a talented software team to build scalable APIs and enhance critical infrastructure, ensuring high-quality deliverables that impact millions of pat...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $160K *

Unlock your potential as a Joint Exercise Planner, enhancing training realism through integrated Live-Virtual-Constructive methods. Collaborate with military forces to synchronize capabilities across...

Hawaii, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$130K - $150K *

Shape the future of healthcare technology by leading clinical strategy initiatives to enhance drug diversion prevention and ensure patient privacy compliance. Drive impactful relationships, educate st...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$107K - $195K *

Transform enterprise communications as a Senior VoIP Engineer, leading design, integration, and deployment of collaborative solutions, while driving project execution and mentoring engineers to delive...

United StatesRemote

1 month ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$98K - $167K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of federal access by leveraging your DevOps expertise to manage cloud infrastructure, automate deployments, and ensure security compliance while collaborating with...

Reston, VARemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$75K - $175K *

Advance application security initiatives by leading manual code reviews, penetration tests, and threat modeling. Work closely with clients to strengthen their secure development processes, delivering...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Chief Systems Engineer do?question toggle

    A Chief Systems Engineer provides technical leadership for complex systems, guiding architecture, requirements, integration, verification, and risk management across a program or organization.

  • What qualifications are typically required for Chief Systems Engineer jobs?question toggle

    Requirements vary, but employers commonly look for substantial systems engineering experience, technical leadership, and a bachelor's or advanced degree in engineering or a related field. Some roles require industry-specific expertise, certifications, or security clearance.

  • Which industries hire Chief Systems Engineers?question toggle

    Common industries include aerospace, defense, national security, software, telecommunications, transportation, and energy, as well as other fields involving complex systems.

  • How much do Chief Systems Engineer jobs pay?question toggle

    Compensation depends on factors such as industry, location, experience, and scope of responsibility. Ladders features vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more.

  • Where can I find Chief Systems Engineer jobs paying $100,000 or more?question toggle

    Browse Chief Systems Engineer listings on Ladders to explore vetted professional opportunities with salaries of $100,000 or more.