Systems Engineer Jobs in Cambridge, MA
Systems Engineer jobs in Cambridge, Massachusetts are concentrated in Kendall Square, East Cambridge, and the MIT corridor, where demand from defense contractors, life sciences firms, and tech companies keeps openings active year-round. Employers hiring right now include Draper, Lila Sciences, and Philips. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Halo is a technology company building the future of haircare for all textures. We create category-defining products built for the complexities others overlook.
We're building HaloBraid, the world's first braid-assist device. It helps stylists finish braids five times faster, flawlessly and gently. This is one of the hardest unsolved problems in robotics, applied to a $270B salon services industry, and integrating computer vision, compliant fiber manipulation, and novel mechanisms.
Billions of hours are spent braiding hair each year; HaloBraid gives that time back. We're moving from R&D into deployment with salons, and we're backed by leading investors.
You will
Understand the full HaloBraid machine and its architecture: identify design, tolerance, assembly, serviceability, and dependency issues, and drive them to resolution.
Personally deliver IC engineering: own a subassembly from 3D CAD through pilot and toward production-ready parts.
Review design work across the team to reduce complexity and raise design standards.
Build strong test/experiment/decision frameworks
Apply DFM/DFA judgment and prepare for pilot builds, supplier engagement, and contract-manufacturer handoff.
Mentor engineers, set practical best practices and standards, and strengthen our engineering culture without becoming process-heavy.
Collaborate with electrical, industrial design, manufacturing, and suppliers.
You have
10+ years, or equivalent depth, in electromechanical product development
Strong mechanical architecture and product-design judgment: you can see the whole system and its tradeoffs.
A track record of delivering designs that made it through pilot or production.
An ability to review CAD and identify design, assembly, and serviceability issues.
A strong experiment / test / decision-making framework
Fluency with control drawings, tolerances, assemblies, and manufacturability.
Taken a product or a major subsystem from prototype toward production.
A desire to mentor other engineers without adding bureaucracy
Desired skills (optional)
BOM ownership
Supplier searches with technical and cost recommendations: CM / supplier interface experience.
Product roadmap input
Production-transfer experience.
People-management experience.
Robotics or mechatronics experience.
Production embedded / electrical interface awareness.
Who You Are
User-centric. You want to build things people actually use and love.
Low ego, adaptable, collaborative.
A fast, honest iterator. You learn through testing and user feedback, and you follow through on what you suggest.
Driven by the mission. A hard, unsolved robotics problem that gives millions of people their time back is your idea of a good challenge.
A clear communicator
Benefits of Working With Us
100% medical premium coverage, comprehensive dental and vision benefits.
Meaningful equity.
12 company holidays and unlimited PTO.
Free parking onsite.
Onsite Work
This is an onsite position at our office/lab in Cambridge, MA. You must have authorization to work in the US.
Don't Meet Every Requirement?
If you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align with every single line, we encourage you to apply anyway.
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization.
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Find Systems Engineer JobsSystems Engineer Job Market in Cambridge
Who's Hiring
- Draper98

- Lila Sciences33

- Philips16

- Halobraid16

- Flagship Pioneering16

Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
Systems Engineer Jobs in Cambridge: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a systems engineer job in Cambridge?
Focus your search on Kendall Square and East Cambridge, where defense contractors, biotech companies, and research-driven tech firms cluster. Employers in Cambridge tend to value hands-on experience with complex systems integration, familiarity with government or regulated environments, and the ability to work alongside research teams. Tailoring your application to show cross-functional technical work gives you a clear edge in this market.
Which companies hire systems engineers in Cambridge?
Cambridge systems engineer roles are posted by Draper, Lila Sciences, and Philips and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Cambridge attracts a mix of large defense primes, university-affiliated research organizations, and venture-backed hardware and life sciences companies, all of which hire systems engineers at multiple levels.
Are there remote systems engineer jobs in Cambridge?
Yes, though availability depends heavily on the role. Systems engineering work that involves physical hardware, lab environments, or classified facilities is typically on-site, while model-based systems engineering, documentation, and analysis work can be done remotely. About 25% of systems engineer openings tied to Cambridge are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with the most flexibility found in software-defined systems and enterprise architecture roles at Cambridge tech companies.
How can I get a systems engineer job in Cambridge with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Cambridge is through a junior or associate systems engineer role at one of the many defense or aerospace contractors based in Kendall Square and East Cambridge, several of which recruit directly from MIT and Harvard. Internships or co-ops at these firms convert into full-time offers regularly. Gaining familiarity with model-based systems engineering tools and contributing to open-source hardware or systems projects strengthens an entry-level profile considerably.
Which industries hire the most systems engineers in Cambridge?
The sectors hiring the most systems engineers in Cambridge are Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Cambridge's dense concentration of defense contractors, biotech firms, and university research spinouts creates consistent demand for systems engineers who can work at the intersection of hardware, software, and regulated technical environments.
Related Jobs in Massachusetts
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