Senior DEPO Systems Engineer

PeopleTec is currently seeking a Senior DEPO Systems Engineer to support our Huntsville, AL location.

The Directed Energy Project Office (DEPO), part of the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), develops, integrates, and transitions High Energy Laser (HEL) weapon systems to meet Army operational needs. This position supports the Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) program as part of the government engineering team responsible for overseeing system performance, integration, and production activities. The systems engineer will focus on power and thermal considerations across the E-HEL system but will also work collaboratively with other engineers and contractors on the full system, ensuring all components and subsystems align with government interface and performance requirements. The incumbent will engage directly with prime contractors, subcontractors, and integration partners to confirm all components meet government specifications, interface standards, and system-level performance objectives. Additionally, the role includes technical support to warfighter training and integration activities and acquisition planning to ensure the system is both technically sound and operationally relevant. This position requires deep technical acumen, strong systems engineering leadership, and the ability to bridge design, integration, test, and fielding activities within a fast-paced, multi-stakeholder DoD program environment.

Duties:

Lead systems engineering activities related to power, thermal, and environmental performance for the E-HEL system.
• Ensure component and subsystem designs meet government interface specifications and integration standards.
• Coordinate with prime and subcontractor teams to validate design compliance, interface integrity, and performance across disciplines.
• Support system integration, verification, and validation planning and execution at both laboratory and field test levels.
• Participate in technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR), ensuring engineering rigor and adherence to system architecture and interface baselines.
• Provide technical input to acquisition strategies, training system development, and field integration plans.
• Advise DEPO leadership on engineering risks, trade-offs, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support development and execution of warfighter training events from a technical perspective, ensuring operational relevance and system safety.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (power, optics, thermal, mechanical, controls, and software) to ensure full system performance alignment.

Required Skills/Experience:

• 15+ years of engineering experience, with significant DoD systems engineering and technical leadership.
• Demonstrated experience leading system design, integration, and test for complex defense systems.
• Proficiency in systems engineering methodologies, digital engineering tools, and MBSE practices.
• Experience working within government-managed interface control environments, including participation in ICD and interface verification processes.
• Strong communication and leadership skills, with ability to brief senior Army and DoD leaders.
• Travel: 20%
• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Active U.S. DoD Secret clearance is required to perform this work. Candidates are required to have a Secret clearance upon hire, and the ability to maintain this clearance level during employment.

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical field.
• Master's degree preferred; additional experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree.

Desired Skills:

• Experience with directed energy systems or other complex weapon systems.
• Familiarity with Army acquisition pathways, including prototyping and rapid fielding.
• Experience leading cross-disciplinary engineering teams and coordinating with external stakeholders.

People First. Technology Always.

PeopleTec, Inc. is an employee-owned small business founded in Huntsville, AL that provides exceptional customer support by employing and retaining a highly skilled workforce.

Culture: The name "PeopleTec" was deliberately chosen to remind us of our core value system - our people. Our company's foundation was built on placing our employees and customers first. With an award-winning atmosphere, we have matured into a company that boasts the best and brightest across multiple technical fields.

Career: At PeopleTec, we value your long-term goals. Whether it's through our continuing-education opportunities, our robust training programs, or our "People First" benefits package, PeopleTec truly believes that our best investments are our people.

Come Experience It.

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EEO Statement

PeopleTec, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in its job application procedures. If you have any difficulty using our online system and you need an accommodation due to a disability, you may use the following email address, applicationhelp@peopletec.com and/or phone number (256.319.3800) to contact us about your interest in employment with PeopleTec, Inc.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, citizenship, ancestry, marital status, protected veteran status, disability status or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. PeopleTec, Inc. participates in E-Verify.