Systems Engineer Level 3

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Model-Based Systems Engineer (MBSE) Level 3 to support advanced aerospace and defense programs within a leading national security organization. You'll join a high‑impact Systems Engineering & Integration team driving next‑generation autonomous and weapons system development across highly complex, proprietary programs. This role is ideal for engineers who thrive in fast-paced environments and want to contribute directly to mission-critical, cutting-edge systems. This role is fully onsite in St. Louis, Missouri or Seattle, Washington. Candidates must hold an active secret clearance.

Responsibilities Include:

• Support cross-functional engineering teams in developing advanced autonomous and complex systems aligned with program milestones and customer expectations.

• Implement and mature Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodologies within a Digital Engineering ecosystem.

• Develop and maintain system architectures, requirements, and interfaces using tools such as Cameo, MSOSA, and SysML.

• Execute full lifecycle systems engineering activities, including:

• Requirements decomposition & traceability

• System architecture modeling

• Interface definition & management

• Operational and environments analysis

• Specification development

• Trade studies and technical assessments

• Risk identification & mitigation

• Verification, validation, and test planning

• Certification planning & execution

• Support technical reviews, documentation, and customer-facing deliverables.

• Collaborate with SMEs across multiple engineering disciplines to integrate complex system capabilities.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, or related technical field.
• 5+ years of engineering experience with a Bachelor's, 3+ years with a Master's, or relevant experience with a PhD.
• Hands-on experience with MBSE, Cameo/MSOSA, and/or SysML.
• Active Secret Clearance (required prior to start).
• Ability to work 100% onsite in St. Louis or Seattle.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience supporting proprietary or classified aerospace/defense programs.
• Background in autonomy, mission systems, or advanced weapons system development.
• Familiarity with Digital Engineering pipelines and model-based lifecycle integration.
• Strong communication skills and comfort working with multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Salary Range: $90,000-$160,000 depending on experience
• Full Benefits: Cigna Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, PTO, Sick Leave if required by law, and Holidays