Systems Engineer

About Shift5

Shift5 is the observability platform for onboard operational technology (OT). We’re a rapidly growing scale-up that specializes in cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, and compliance for OT systems across defense, aerospace, and rail. We are a collaborative, passionate, and driven cadre of dynamic, multidisciplinary experts focused on helping our customers’ fleets run smarter and safer by accessing and democratizing the volumes of onboard OT data generated by transportation, freight fleets, defense fleets, and other critical infrastructure. Come join us.

Shift5 is seeking a Systems Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will be the bridge between our engineering teams and our real-world deployments. You will be responsible for overseeing how our system integrates into various DoW platforms, ensuring that all our subsystems-from embedded software, hardware, and cabling to visualization applications, networking schemes, and cloud environments-meet rigorous compliance and customer requirements. This role is hands-on and execution-oriented, focusing on systems engineering execution across one or more programs, including requirements management, system architecture, technical baseline control, and the delivery of formal systems artifacts (CDRLs/SDRLs) in support of U.S. Department of War (DoW) programs.

This position is based out of our headquarters in Rosslyn, VA, but is open to remote candidates based out of San Diego, CA, Colorado Springs, CO, or Ogden, UT, and requires up to 30% travel to support customer site integrations and testing.

What You'll Do

• Platform Integration & Technical Execution: Define and design the integration of Shift5 software and hardware into customer platforms, including data interfaces, execution environments, OS-level configuration, network topology (TCP/IP, tactical radio/RF), encryption/key management, environmental qualification (MIL-STD), SWaP, cabling, and A-kit development. Identify and manage technical risks and dependencies.

• Requirements & Technical Baseline Management: Own and maintain system-level technical baselines across assigned programs. Oversee tracking, testing, and verification of compliance and customer requirements. Develop, decompose, and manage requirements documents (SRDs, SRSs, ICDs) and evaluate design updates for downstream program impact.

• CDRL & Technical Artifact Development: Lead the development, review, and delivery of formal systems engineering and Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) artifacts for government acquisition programs, including V&V Plans, System Architecture/Design Documents, Configuration Management artifacts, and Technical Manuals.

• System Architecture & Design: Lead end-to-end, cross-discipline technical execution across software, platform, cyber, data science, and integration teams. Serve as the technical authority for system-level decisions across hardware, software, network, and platform interfaces.

• Verification, Validation & Test: Define system-level verification strategies, acceptance criteria, and testing execution. Perform system-level analyses including latency, throughput, network bandwidth allocation, platform stability, system safety, and fault tolerance (FMECA, Single-Point Failure).

• Program & Customer Engagement: Serve as a primary technical interface with customer engineering, PMOs, and certification authorities. Lead content development for formal technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRRs) and define entry/exit criteria for milestone events.

What Success Looks Like

• Mission-Critical Integration: You seamlessly bridge engineering teams and DoW platform deployments, ensuring complex hardware, software, and network subsystems meet strict airworthiness, safety, and compliance standards.

• Rigorous Baseline Control: You independently own and manage technical baselines, CDRL deliverables, and requirements traceability with zero friction across fast-moving defense acquisition programs.

• Cross-Disciplinary Technical Authority: You serve as a trusted technical lead across software, cyber, hardware, and platform teams, translating complex operational constraints into robust, scalable architecture designs.

• Customer & Program Execution: You build high-trust relationships with customer PMOs and engineering authorities, successfully navigating technical gates (PDR, CDR, TRR) to advance platform capabilities.

What We’re Looking For

Required:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.

• Experience: 5+ years of experience in systems, integration, or software engineering, preferably within the aerospace, defense, or high-reliability electronics sectors.

• Government Acquisition Knowledge: Familiarity with common government contract documentation according to DIDs (SRD, SRS, IDD, ICD, SDD, CSA, etc.).

• Technical & Integration Skills: Strong understanding of configuration management, software/OS integration (Linux/Unix), network architectures (TCP/IP, routing, VLANs), radio/RF communications, encryption protocols, and basic hardware/cabling integration in safety-critical/airworthiness environments.

• Testing & Verification: Demonstrated experience with common system verification methods (Test, Inspection, Demonstration, Analysis), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) lab environments, and software-in-the-loop setups.

• Security Clearance: Active Security Clearance.

• Soft Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to coordinate across diverse engineering disciplines, project managers, and external government stakeholders.

Preferred:

• Industry & Quality Standards: Familiarity with industry design standards such as DO-178 and DO-254.

• Quality Frameworks: Familiarity with quality standards such as AS9100 and ISO 9001.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $143,000 - $156,000

• Bonus program and equity in a fast-growing startup

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their families

• Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions

• Employer-paid Life and Disability Insurance 

• Uncapped paid time off policy

• Flexible work & remote work policy

• Tax-deferred public transit benefits with Metro SmartBenefits (DC/MD/VA) 

We are committed to building an inclusive culture of belonging that embraces the diversity of our people and represents the communities in which we work and the customers we serve. We know the happiest and highest performing teams include people with diverse perspectives and ways of solving problems. We strive to attract and retain talent from all backgrounds and create workplaces where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.  

Shift5 is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability, age, marital status, ancestry, projected veteran status, or any other protected group or class. 

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