Senior Systems Engineer

Role overview

This senior systems engineering position supports a critical space-domain mission for an Intelligence Community customer under a long-term contract now in its second year. The role functions as a Systems Engineering Technical Advisor (SETA), bridging government stakeholders, development contractors, and operational end users across the full systems engineering life cycle—from concept of operations development through capability delivery, testing, and transition to operations. Based in Chantilly, VA, the work centers on overhead systems and space-domain technologies that inform high-stakes policy decisions.

Responsibilities

- Translate high-level mission needs and product development strategies into system-level requirements and detailed implementation specifications for multi-disciplinary engineering teams. - Coordinate end-to-end integration of hardware and software elements, designing interfaces so system components function as a coherent whole. - Develop verification procedures, customer acceptance test plans, and validation methods that confirm compliance with government standards and contractual requirements. - Engage directly with operational users to capture requirements, support training, and lead end-to-end testing for new capabilities, configurations, and concept demonstrations. - Participate in conceptual design, design reviews, and traceability analysis ensuring requirements are met through compliance verification and validation. - Contribute to baseline architecture capture as the program transitions products and processes into a customer-provided Digital Engineering ecosystem.

Requirements

- Active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph, with the ability to maintain it. - Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or related technical field with 8–10 years of experience; Master's with 6–8 years; or PhD with 3–5 years (four years of relevant HW/SW systems development or acquisition experience may substitute). - 3–5 years of experience with space and ground communications systems, including a working understanding of RF communications theory. - Demonstrated success working within collaborative engineering teams and interfacing with government customers. - Background spanning requirements development, systems integration, testing, verification, and validation.

Nice to have

- Prior SETA experience supporting Intelligence Community customers in Chantilly, particularly with readiness and requirements processes. - Hands-on experience with commercial or government acquisition of satellite ground segment hardware/software or satellite-based field-set communications equipment. - Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or Computer Science. - Familiarity with digital engineering concepts used to capture system baseline architecture.

Benefits and work setup

Projected compensation range is $110,204.91–$191,624.96, influenced by contract wage determinations, experience, skills, and federal labor categories. Benefits include health insurance, life insurance, paid time off, holiday pay, short- and long-term disability, retirement and savings plans, learning and development opportunities, and wellness programs. The position is on-site in Chantilly, VA, supporting a federal government contract.