Sr. Systems Engineer

DroneUp is seeking a Sr. Systems Engineer focused on the complete lifecycle of safety-critical system requirements for unmanned aircraft systems, from initial identification and documentation through to end-to-end validation, verification, and deployment. This role requires a strong foundation in requirement development and management, with a high emphasis on ensuring traceability, testability, and cross-functional alignment. You will serve as a key liaison, working directly with internal teams and external suppliers to meet stringent system architecture and mission assurance goals. The successful candidate will bring technical rigor, effective communication with third-party vendors, and leadership in guiding the development process to success.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and document actionable, data-driven system requirements derived from stakeholder engagements, regulatory standards, and analytical insights.

• Own and manage the requirements lifecycle within the requirements management system, ensuring traceability from initial capture through design, development, testing, and final verification.
• Serve as the primary point of accountability for requirements management, facilitating discussions with cross-functional teams (including engineering, product development, and flight testing) to drive clarity, refinement, and approval.
• Drive alignment between internal stakeholders and third-party vendors, ensuring requirements are comprehensively understood, and changes are communicated and managed efficiently.
• Architect and oversee systems of systems across DroneUp’s hardware portfolio, ensuring robust integration and scalability of solutions.
• Support the verification and validation planning processes, ensuring requirements meet measurable, testable standards, and are linked to system performance or operational constraints.
• Maintain oversight of compliance, track non-compliant areas, and communicate risks to senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Facilitate retrospectives and lead continual improvement efforts in systems engineering practices, driving transformation towards agile and lean methodologies.
• Coordinate decision-making, issue resolution, and risk mitigation activities, actively engaging with internal stakeholders and third-party vendors to maintain project momentum and alignment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree (Master’s preferred) in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in systems engineering roles, with expertise in requirements management and traceability for safety-critical systems.
• Proficiency with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools and standards (e.g., UML, SysML), and requirements management tools such as DOORS or Jama.
• Proven track record in end-to-end project management, with specific experience in multi-disciplinary coordination and vendor management.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively to diverse stakeholders, both internal and external.
• Knowledge of Agile methodologies, systems development lifecycle (SDLC), and familiarity with transformation programs toward agile environments.

• Demonstrated experience leading requirements for safety-critical or airborne systems preferred.

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Basic & Voluntary Life Insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Legal Services
• Identity Protection
• Accident Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick, Holiday)

Salary

Just like drones themselves, your earning potential can soar to new heights, but it largely depends on your qualifications and expertise. If you are recognized as an industry expert, your earning potential can take true flight. The target salary range for this position is $145,000 to $185,000. Your unique qualifications and contributions to the field will play a significant role in determining your precise compensation. The total rewards for this position may also include; potential for annual bonuses, benefits package, paid time off, and more.

$145,000 - $185,000

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

DroneUp is committed to hiring and developing the most qualified individuals, regardless of sex, age, race, national origin, disability or other protected characteristics. DroneUp subscribes to the equal employment opportunity requirements of applicable law. It is the policy of DroneUp to ensure equal opportunity to all employees and applicants in all employment matters, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, placement, compensation, training, promotion, and separation. In these and all activities, DroneUp does not discriminate against any qualified individual because of sex, age, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, familial status, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual preference, gender identity disability, handicap, liability for service in the United States Armed Forces, veteran status, and/or any other legally protected characteristic.

Any individual who feels that he or she may have been discriminated against in violation of this policy is strongly encouraged to immediately contact his or her supervisor or any member of DroneUp management. Any member of DroneUp management who is notified of alleged discrimination is required to immediately report the incident to the HR Department.

DroneUp will thoroughly investigate all such claims with due regard for the privacy of the individuals involved. Any employee who knowingly retaliates against an employee who has reported workplace discrimination will be subject to immediate corrective action, up to and potentially including termination of employment. 

Security Responsibility Statement:  Employees are expected to provide a high level of security to any personal or private information accessed as part of their work, whether at a DroneUp facility or remotely.  This includes participating in security training, remaining sensitive to individual rights to personal privacy, and complying with company policies. Employees who have access to sensitive data that is protected by regulation, such as HIPAA, or by contract, such as credit card data, must comply with any additional requirements dictated by the governing regulations or associated contracts.