Systems Engineer

Systems Engineer

Job Title:

Systems Engineer

• Nuclear Physical Protection SystemsJob DescriptionThis role leads the architecture, detailed design, and integration of nuclear physical protection systems, including access control, intrusion detection, and video surveillance solutions for industrial and nuclear power plant environments.

The systems engineer designs highly reliable, closed systems with redundant network architectures and no single point of failure, ensuring strict compliance with 10 CFR 73 and other nuclear industry regulations. The position combines hands-on technical leadership in system architecture, integration, and development oversight with responsibility for documentation, vendor coordination, and lifecycle support. This is an opportunity to deepen expertise in a niche field, with training provided on nuclear-specific regulations, while working in a small, highly specialized engineering team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture and detailed design of nuclear physical protection systems in compliance with 10 CFR 73 and nuclear power plant regulatory requirements
• Design small to mid-size, completely closed systems that typically include two servers and 5-8 workstations, with no Internet, no wireless, and no cloud computing
• Create redundant network designs for servers, workstations, and field equipment to eliminate single points of failure and ensure high availability
• Develop network designs that integrate hardware, software, communications, sensors, actuators, and HMIs into cohesive, high-reliability system solutions with long-term operability
• Confirm that all designed systems meet nuclear power plant industry regulatory compliance and physical protection requirements
• Provide clear technical written and verbal direction to vendors, integrators, and internal development teams throughout the project lifecycle
• Author, maintain, and control comprehensive system documentation, including architecture descriptions, design specifications, configuration baselines, and operational procedures
• Support system development activities such as configuration definition, design reviews, and technical baseline control to ensure consistency and traceability
• Collaborate closely with colleagues, and when needed, supervise or direct junior team members forming the technical project team
• Participate in Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), installation oversight, and system commissioning activities
• Resolve technical issues identified during integration, testing, or operational use, including hardware, software, and network-related problems
• Support lifecycle activities, including system upgrades, modifications, and obsolescence management, to maintain long-term system operability
• Lead or support the design, integration, and development of physical access control, intrusion detection, and video surveillance systems in industrial and nuclear plant environments
• hands-on technical leadership to physical security systems using camera equipment, door access devices, and related field hardware rather than cloud-based or heavy IT/cybersecurity solutions
• Prepare and review CAD-based drawings and system diagrams using tools such as Visio or AutoCAD to document system architecture and layouts
• Develop and maintain network architecture and topology documentation, including VLAN or virtual networking configurations
• Write and compile basic software or code, including firmware development in an Arduino environment, to support system integration and custom functionality
• Contribute to technical writing and documentation for system designs, configurations, test procedures, and operational manuals
• Travel occasionally to customer sites for walkdowns, technical meetings, and brief installation oversight activities.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, such as Systems, Electrical, Software, or a related discipline
• 10+ years of experience designing and integrating systems, preferably in industrial or critical infrastructure environments
• Proven experience leading the design and integration of physical protection systems, including access control, intrusion detection, and video surveillance
• Strong knowledge of systems engineering principles, including requirements definition, architecture design, integration, verification, and validation
• Hands-on experience with C, C++, and Python for system-related development or integration tasks
• Demonstrated ability to design redundant network architectures with no single point of failure for servers, workstations, and field equipment
• Strong knowledge of networking and virtual networking concepts, including network architecture and topology (such as VLANs)
• Experience with closed, air-gapped systems with no Internet, no wireless, and no cloud computing components
• Proficiency in creating CAD drawings and system diagrams using tools such as Visio or AutoCAD
• Working knowledge of Linux operating systems (such as Ubuntu, Red Hat, or Debian) and Microsoft Windows
• Ability to write and compile basic software or code to support system integration and customization
• Experience participating in FAT, SAT, installation oversight, and system commissioning
• Ability to provide clear technical written and verbal guidance to vendors, integrators, and internal teams
• Experience authoring, maintaining, and controlling system documentation for complex engineered systems.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working with physical access control systems, intrusion detection systems, and video surveillance solutions in industrial or nuclear environments
• Familiarity with QNX or similar real-time operating systems
• Experience with PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) and their integration into broader control and security systems
• Strong technical writing skills for producing detailed design documents, configuration guides, and operational manuals
• Experience in nuclear power, energy, or emergency operations center (EOC) environments
• Experience designing or supporting high-reliability systems with long-term operability requirements
• Experience writing firmware in an Arduino environment for custom hardware or integration tasks
• Comfort working in small, highly specialized engineering teams w individuals take broad ownership of design, test, and integration activities
• Willingness and ability to travel occasionally (including out-of-state) for customer site visits, walkdowns, meetings, and brief installation oversight
• Interest in developing or expanding expertise in nuclear-specific regulations, with training support available.

Work EnvironmentThe role is based within a small, specialized engineering team of approximately seven people that performs its own design, testing, and assembly in-house. The systems you design and support are completely closed, traditional infrastructure environments with no Internet connectivity, no wireless networks, and no cloud computing, emphasizing highly controlled, secure, and reliable operations. Work involves close collaboration with colleagues in a hands-on engineering setting, w you engage directly with hardware, software, and network components, as well as CAD tools and documentation systems. Occasional travel, including out-of-state trips, is required for customer site visits, walkdowns, technical meetings, and short periods of installation oversight. The environment emphasizes high reliability, regulatory compliance, and long-term system operability, offering the opportunity to work in a niche field and develop deep expertise in nuclear physical protection systems.

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