Systems Engineer 5

Engineering

Systems Engineer 5 CEDAR RAPIDS, IA Posted: 8/20/2026

Job Description

Job ID#:

225110

Job Category:

Engineering

Position Type:

Associate - W2

Shift:

1

PDS Defense, Inc. is seeking a Systems Engineer 5, in Cedar Rapids, IA. Job ID#225110

Job Description:

The System Solutions team is seeking a Senior/Principal Systems Engineer with a strong foundation in systems engineering principles and experience developing complex aerospace systems. This role will lead the definition, development, and deployment of innovative engineering solutions that improve the systems engineering lifecycle across the organization.

The ideal candidate will combine strong systems engineering expertise with hands-on experience in DevSecOps, engineering automation, and modern development practices.

You will work across multidisciplinary teams to improve requirements management, system architecture, verification, validation, and certification processes while driving the adoption of CI/CD pipelines, toolchain integration, and engineering automation that enable more efficient and scalable engineering solutions.

Experience with aerospace development standards such as ARP4754, digital engineering and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is highly desirable.

If you are passionate about modernizing systems engineering through automation, collaboration, and innovative technologies, we encourage you to apply.

This is an onsite position based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Qualifications You Must Have:

• ****Experience in multiple areas of the systems engineering lifecycle, including requirements development, design, integration, verification, validation, and technical documentation. Ideal candidate will have experience across the full development lifecycle for civil certification programs

• ****Experience or familiarity with DevSecOps

• ****Experience with requirements management tools (Jama, Polarion, DOORS)

• ****Develop automation with scripting languages (Python, Bash, PowerShell) and thoroughly test implementations.

• ****Experience with Git or other version control systems.

• ****Experience working in aerospace or another highly regulated engineering environment.

• ****Ability to collaborate across teams and work within Eastern Time Zone core and global teams, including India Standard Time

• Experience/Interest on CI/CD pipelines.

• Hands-on experience applying ARP4754 throughout the system development lifecycle.

• Experience working in a configuration-controlled environment, including problem reports and change requests.

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work through complex technical issues.

• Confidence working autonomously with limited oversight.

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to work with internal teams, external suppliers and stakeholders.

• Practical project management capability, including the ability to manage smaller projects, work packages or technical processes.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Experience/Interest in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) principles and tools such as Cameo/MagicDraw/Teamwork Cloud and SysML modeling.

Benefits offered to vary by the contract. Depending on your temporary assignment, benefits may include direct deposit, free career counseling services, 401(k), select paid holidays, short-term disability insurance, skills training, employee referral bonus, affordable medical coverage plan, and DailyPay (in some locations). For a full description of benefits available to you, be sure to talk with your recruiter.

Job Requirements

Minimum Security Clearance:

No Clearance

Military connected talent encouraged to apply.

VEVRAA Federal Contractor / Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals / Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visit http://www.tadpgs.com/candidate-privacy/ or https://pdsdefense.com/candidate-privacy/

The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

• The California Fair Chance Act

• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance

• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers

• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

VEVRAA Federal Contractor / Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals / Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled