diff --git a/packages/catalog-model/examples/systems/artist-engagement-portal-system.yaml b/packages/catalog-model/examples/systems/artist-engagement-portal-system.yaml
index 8de3c00880..17fe21ba69 100644
--- a/packages/catalog-model/examples/systems/artist-engagement-portal-system.yaml
+++ b/packages/catalog-model/examples/systems/artist-engagement-portal-system.yaml
@@ -8,3 +8,4 @@ metadata:
 spec:
   owner: team-a
   domain: artists
+  type: service
diff --git a/packages/catalog-model/examples/systems/audio-playback-system.yaml b/packages/catalog-model/examples/systems/audio-playback-system.yaml
index 7430ae2ff5..f1edb7f17d 100644
--- a/packages/catalog-model/examples/systems/audio-playback-system.yaml
+++ b/packages/catalog-model/examples/systems/audio-playback-system.yaml
@@ -6,3 +6,4 @@ metadata:
 spec:
   owner: team-c
   domain: playback
+  type: feature-set
diff --git a/packages/catalog-model/examples/systems/podcast-system.yaml b/packages/catalog-model/examples/systems/podcast-system.yaml
index 47a2f7ac9f..77f53925c1 100644
--- a/packages/catalog-model/examples/systems/podcast-system.yaml
+++ b/packages/catalog-model/examples/systems/podcast-system.yaml
@@ -6,3 +6,4 @@ metadata:
 spec:
   owner: team-b
   domain: playback
+  type: feature-set
diff --git a/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/SystemEntityV1alpha1.test.ts b/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/SystemEntityV1alpha1.test.ts
index fd78633a89..915f455e79 100644
--- a/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/SystemEntityV1alpha1.test.ts
+++ b/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/SystemEntityV1alpha1.test.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ describe('SystemV1alpha1Validator', () => {
       spec: {
         owner: 'me',
         domain: 'domain',
+        type: 'system-type',
       },
     };
   });
@@ -84,4 +85,14 @@ describe('SystemV1alpha1Validator', () => {
     (entity as any).spec.domain = '';
     await expect(validator.check(entity)).rejects.toThrow(/domain/);
   });
+
+  it('accepts missing type', async () => {
+    delete (entity as any).spec.type;
+    await expect(validator.check(entity)).resolves.toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('rejects empty type', async () => {
+    (entity as any).spec.type = '';
+    await expect(validator.check(entity)).rejects.toThrow(/type/);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/SystemEntityV1alpha1.ts b/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/SystemEntityV1alpha1.ts
index 88d405ec5b..37ecee8f6c 100644
--- a/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/SystemEntityV1alpha1.ts
+++ b/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/SystemEntityV1alpha1.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ export interface SystemEntityV1alpha1 extends Entity {
   spec: {
     owner: string;
     domain?: string;
+    type?: string;
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/catalog-model/src/schema/kinds/System.v1alpha1.schema.json b/packages/catalog-model/src/schema/kinds/System.v1alpha1.schema.json
index 2cdbc37076..f91fe751dc 100644
--- a/packages/catalog-model/src/schema/kinds/System.v1alpha1.schema.json
+++ b/packages/catalog-model/src/schema/kinds/System.v1alpha1.schema.json
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@
       },
       "spec": {
         "owner": "artist-relations-team",
-        "domain": "artists"
+        "domain": "artists",
+        "type": "service"
       }
     }
   ],
@@ -45,6 +46,12 @@
               "description": "An entity reference to the domain that the system belongs to.",
               "examples": ["artists"],
               "minLength": 1
+            },
+            "type": {
+              "type": "string",
+              "description": "The type of system. There is currently no enforced set of values for this field, so it is left up to the adopting organization to choose a nomenclature that matches their catalog hierarchy.",
+              "examples": ["product", "service", "feature-set"],
+              "minLength": 1
             }
           }
         }