Lead Systems Engineer

Help Build the Teams Behind Mission-Critical Technology

Great engineering organizations are built by great engineers.

We're seeking an experienced engineering leader to help grow and strengthen our Test Systems Engineering organization. In this unique role, you'll combine your technical expertise, leadership experience, and passion for developing people to help attract, hire, onboard, and mentor engineering talent supporting advanced aerospace and defense programs.

You'll partner closely with engineering and program leaders to identify critical skill needs, support workforce growth, and help develop the next generation of engineering talent. At the same time, you'll provide technical insight and guidance that helps ensure teams are aligned to program objectives, engineering standards, and long-term organizational goals.

This is an excellent opportunity for a senior engineer who enjoys mentoring others, influencing organizational growth, and helping build high-performing engineering teams.

Location: Tucson, AZ (Onsite)
Relocation Assistance Available
U.S. Citizenship Required
Active Secret Clearance Preferred | Ability to Obtain Required

Why Join Us?

• Play a key role in shaping the future of a growing engineering organization
• Influence hiring strategy and workforce development initiatives
• Help build teams supporting advanced aerospace and defense programs
• Mentor engineers and contribute to their professional growth
• Partner directly with engineering and program leadership
• Make a lasting impact on both people and programs

What You'll Do

• Lead and support technical hiring efforts across Test Systems Engineering teams
• Participate in candidate interviews, assessments, selection activities, and onboarding efforts
• Partner with engineering leadership to identify staffing needs and hiring priorities
• Help define technical skill requirements and workforce development strategies
• Mentor and support early-career and mid-career engineers
• Promote engineering best practices, technical standards, and organizational processes
• Support workforce planning and long-term organizational growth initiatives
• Provide technical insight that helps align staffing plans with program needs
• Collaborate across engineering disciplines to ensure teams have the skills and resources required for success
• Contribute to continuous improvement efforts focused on team performance, capability development, and organizational effectiveness

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related STEM discipline
• 10+ years of experience in engineering leadership, test systems engineering, systems engineering, or technical program execution
• Experience serving as a technical lead, IPTL, CAM, project lead, or engineering leader
• Strong understanding of engineering development processes and test systems environments
• Experience working within complex, multidisciplinary engineering organizations
• Strong communication, mentoring, and leadership skills
• Ability to influence and collaborate across multiple teams and stakeholders
• U.S. Citizenship required
• Active Secret Clearance or ability to obtain one

Preferred Experience

• Technical recruiting, interviewing, workforce planning, or staffing strategy
• Mentoring engineers and developing future technical leaders
• Test systems engineering, automated test equipment (ATE), or systems integration environments
• EVMS, IMS, and program execution processes
• Agile development methodologies
• Matrixed engineering organizations
• Full lifecycle engineering from requirements through sustainment
• Experience collaborating across software, electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering disciplines

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means building strong engineering teams, helping talented engineers grow, and ensuring the organization has the technical capabilities needed to deliver on critical customer commitments.

You'll serve as a trusted partner to engineering leadership, helping connect talent strategy with program execution while fostering a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous development.

If you're passionate about developing engineers, influencing organizational growth, and helping build teams that solve complex challenges, we'd love to hear from you.

Full compensation package is based on candidate experience and certifications

Pay Ranges

$57-$62 USD

At Quest Defense Systems and Solutions, we don't just build technology - we engineer the future. From next-generation aerospace solutions to cutting-edge defense systems, we tackle the toughest, mission-critical challenges that keep people safe and push the boundaries of innovation. This is where problem-solvers, innovators, and visionary thinkers come together to shape the future. With over 25 years of aerospace and defense engineering expertise, our commitment to delivering high-quality, transformative solutions sets us apart - not just as an industry leader, but as a driving force for impactful change. Together, we're not just leading the industry - we're revolutionizing it.

Quest Defense provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.