Principal Systems Engineer

Position Summary:

The NDT Systems Engineer is positioned within R&D and responsible for the end-to-end technical definition, development, integration, and validation of radiographic imaging systems used in industrial NDT applications. This role serves as the technical bridge between hardware, software, physics, regulatory requirements, manufacturing, suppliers, and customer needs to ensure robust, compliant, and high-performing imaging solutions

Position Responsibilities:

System Architecture & Design

• Define system-level requirements and architectures for NDT imaging systems, including sources, detectors, imaging chains, mechanics, software, and safety subsystems.
• Translate customer, regulatory, and business needs into verifiable system requirements and specifications.
• Develop system block diagrams, interface definitions, and risk analyses.

Technical Leadership & Integration

• Lead system integration activities across multidisciplinary teams (electronics, mechanical, software, physics, manufacturing, and service).
• Ensure proper performance allocation and verification across subsystems (image quality, dose, resolution, reliability, thermal, and safety).
• Troubleshoot complex system-level issues related to imaging performance, source-detector interactions, and environmental factors.

Image Quality & Performance

• Support the definition and validation of imaging performance metrics (e.g., SNR, MTF, sensitivity, dynamic range).
• Collaborate with imaging scientists and application engineers to optimize RT system performance for X-ray and gamma sources.
• Analyze test data and customer feedback to drive system improvements.

Compliance, Safety & Standards

• Ensure system designs meet applicable NDT, radiation safety, and international standards (e.g., ASTM, ISO, EN, ASME, where applicable).
• Support hazard analyses, including radiation safety and functional safety considerations.
• Contribute to regulatory documentation and technical files.

Verification, Validation & Lifecycle Support

• Define verification and validation plans, including lab and field testing during both product development and transfer to manufacturing. 
• Support product launches, sustaining engineering activities, and customer issue resolution.
• Provide technical guidance to manufacturing, quality, service, and applications teams throughout the product lifecycle.

Required Skills & Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in systems engineering, electrical engineering, physics, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, or related STEM discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in any STEM discipline, including 7+ years in systems engineering for complex electro-mechanical or imaging systems.
• Strong understanding of industrial radiography principles, including X-ray and/or gamma imaging systems.
• Experience with requirements definition, system modeling, integration, and verification.
• Proven ability to lead technical discussions across cross-functional teams.
• Excellent analytical, documentation, and communication skills.

Desired Skills:

• Master’s degree in a relevant technical field.
• Hands-on experience with digital radiography (DR) detectors, image processing pipelines, or radiation sources.
• Familiarity with NDT standards and inspection workflows.
• Experience working in regulated or safety-critical environments.
• Exposure to tools such as DOORS, JAMA, SysML, Azure DevOps, or similar requirements management tools.
• Experience supporting customer-facing technical issues or field deployments.

Work Environment:

Traditional Office Environment:  This position is primarily an office setting with standard temperature and humidity controls, moderate to light noise, fluorescent lighting, primarily sitting with standing desks available, extensive computer and keyboard use, etc.