Principal Systems Engineer - Aerospace Sustainment Programs (Contract-to-Hire)

Principal Systems Engineer - Aerospace Sustainment Programs (Contract-to-Hire)

Our recruiting firm is partnering with a leading aerospace and defense organization seeking an experienced Principal Systems Engineer to support complex sustainment, modernization, and lifecycle engineering initiatives for mission-critical ground support equipment used in military operations.
This is a 6-12 month contract opportunity with strong potential for long-term conversion. The position offers the opportunity to work closely with engineering, manufacturing, maintenance, and government stakeholders to ensure technical integrity, configuration control, reliability, safety, and operational readiness of deployed systems.
The role is based in the greater St. Louis, Missouri area and offers a flexible onsite/hybrid work arrangement.

Key Requirements
Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical discipline
8+ years of systems engineering experience within aerospace, defense, military systems, heavy equipment, vehicle systems, or related industries
Experience supporting sustainment, lifecycle management, modernization, overhaul, repair, or depot maintenance programs
Strong understanding of systems engineering processes throughout the product lifecycle
Experience managing technical baselines, requirements, specifications, and configuration control activities
Familiarity with engineering change processes and technical review boards
Knowledge of system safety, reliability, maintainability, and risk management methodologies
Experience working in regulated environments supporting government or defense customers
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical communication skills
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Project, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint
Ability to travel occasionally within the United States
Experience with requirements management, reliability engineering, or configuration management tools is highly desirable
U.S. Citizenship required. This position requires the ability to obtain Security DoD clearance in a future.

Responsibilities
Lead systems engineering activities supporting sustainment and modernization efforts for fielded equipment and platforms
Maintain technical baselines and ensure engineering documentation remains accurate and current
Investigate operational issues, identify root causes, and develop corrective actions that improve reliability, availability, and mission readiness
Coordinate engineering changes, technical assessments, and configuration management activities
Develop and maintain engineering plans, processes, and technical documentation supporting program execution
Support safety, reliability, maintainability, and risk assessment activities
Participate in technical reviews, program reviews, and cross-functional engineering meetings
Collaborate with manufacturing, maintenance, supply chain, quality, and program management teams to improve operational efficiency
Analyze performance, maintenance, and operational data to identify trends and recommend improvements
Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams
Support customer interactions and communicate technical status, risks, and recommendations to stakeholders
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that enhance operational performance while maintaining system integrity

How This Role Can Benefit Your Career
Opportunity to support highly visible aerospace and defense sustainment programs
Exposure to advanced systems engineering methodologies and lifecycle management practices
Work alongside multidisciplinary engineering and operations teams
Gain experience influencing technical strategy, configuration control, and modernization efforts