Systems Engineering Lead

ZettaJoule is seeking a Systems Engineering Lead to establish and lead systems engineering practices for its reactor/plant design program. The role focuses on requirements management, system architecture, interface management, verification & validation, and configuration/change control across the full engineering lifecycle. Key responsibilities: Build and implement systems engineering processes, procedures, and best practices. Establish and manage plant-level requirements, system boundaries, architecture, and requirements flow-down. Define and manage interfaces between engineering disciplines and systems. Oversee verification/validation, technical reviews, configuration management, and change control. Select, configure, and administer requirements management/MBSE tools such as DOORS, Innoslate, Polarion, or Cameo. Maintain the technical/design baseline and support the Project Manager with technical strategy, priorities, and resources. Help ensure the overall plant design is integrated, constructable, and maintainable. Ideal candidate: BS in Engineering (Systems Engineering preferred). 6+ years of Systems Engineering experience. Experience with a modern SE lifecycle framework. Hands-on experience with requirements management or MBSE tools. Experience implementing SE processes/toolchains for energy, nuclear, or large industrial projects. Preferred extras: SysML/MBSE, INCOSE certification, startup experience, and Japanese proficiency. Important requirement: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident due to applicable export-control and nuclear technology requirements. In one line: This is a senior systems engineering/process leadership role focused on building the SE infrastructure and controlling requirements, interfaces, architecture, and technical baselines for a complex reactor/energy project.

Systems Engineering Lead

Location: Houston, TX or Remote

Employment Type: Full Time

Reports To: Director of Program Management

About Us

We are a next-generation nuclear technology startup pioneering the commercialization of High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGRs) — a proven, safe, and transformative technology for delivering ultra-high-temperature heat and enabling a carbon-neutral future.

Our mission is to deploy the world’s first global fleet of Advanced Modular Reactors, redefining how clean energy powers industries, communities, and economies.

As a fast-growing company in its early stage, every team member — whether in engineering, program management, partnerships, operations, or business development — plays a direct role in

shaping our technology, culture, and impact. You’ll join a collaborative, mission-driven team of internationally recognized experts and innovators working together to bring advanced nuclear

energy to the world.

The Role

The Systems Engineering Lead will be a key contributor to ZettaJoule’s reactor design activities, responsible for establishing processes, procedures, and best practices for systems engineering

and requirements management and managing plant-level requirements across the full design lifecycle. Working at the intersection of engineering disciplines, this role translates owner and

regulatory requirements into actionable system-level specifications, manages interface definitions across design teams, and verifies that requirements are satisfied as the design matures. The Systems Engineer Lead also supports project management by maintaining the technical baseline in a structured configuration management environment.

Key Responsibilities

● Develop, document, and implement systems engineering (SE) processes and supporting procedures (requirements management, interface management, configuration management, verification & validation, technical reviews, change control).

● Evaluate, select, configure, and administer SE tooling such as requirements management and model-based systems engineering (MBSE) platforms.

● Establish and maintain initial plant requirements in conjunction with Owner, Engineering Group Leads, and project teams.

● Establish and maintain system architecture and product breakdown structure.

1. Define system boundaries for technical ownership, hierarchy, and scope.
2. Oversee proper flow-down and decomposition of requirements to systems.
3. Identify and implement system interface requirements working with the various system designers.
4. Oversee integration of systems to ensure a constructable, maintainable plant.

● Define and provide oversight of verification activities and criteria for requirements in conjunction with project teams.

● Establish systematic configuration management across the plant

1. Maintain and control the design baseline.
2. Develop and implement change management process at appropriate project phase.
3. Ensure the design basis is appropriate, consistent, and documented.
4. Manage requirements in a suitable software tool and database.

● Support the Project Manager to define technical strategy, resource allocation, and prioritization.

What You Bring

● BS in Engineering required; degree in Systems Engineering preferred.

● Minimum 6 years of experience as a systems engineer.

● Working knowledge of a modern SE lifecycle framework.

● Hands-on experience configuring and using at least one requirements management or MBSE tool (Innoslate, DOORS/DOORS Next, Polarion, Cameo/MagicDraw, or equivalent)

● Experience deploying new SE processes or infrastructure to support energy or large industrial projects

Citizenship

U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent resident status is required. Access to EAR-controlled and 10 CFR 810-governed nuclear technology requires authorization consistent with U.S. export control

law.

Even Better

● Experience standing up or significantly improving an SE process or toolchain for early

startups

● SysML / MBSE modeling experience.

● INCOSE certification (ASEP / CSEP / ESEP)

● Professional proficiency in Japanese.

Why Work for Us

● Competitive salary.

● Flexible hours & remote options.

● Health/Life/Disability benefits.

● Vacation/Sick leave.

● Work alongside internationally recognized experts shaping the future of nuclear energy.

EEO Statement

ZettaJoule is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.