Systems Engineer Sr Principal

Description

Position Description

The successful candidate will support technology transition and acquisition for next-generation national security space, air, and ground systems—advancing capabilities from applied research through program baseline insertion. This role requires a professional who can bridge technical and acquisition domains to ensure successful program execution in a fast-paced, mission-critical environment.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Provide analytical, engineering, technical, and administrative guidance to USG leadership in the execution of special communications capabilities

• Seek new, unique, and innovative data application concepts, engineering techniques, and technology applications through the 'interpretation and analysis of data and processes

• Serve as technical SME to respective users/developers by providing technical and scientific assistance as necessary to meet mission tasks objectives

• Advise on acquisition strategies, contracting approaches, and compliance regulations

• Prepare, review, and update acquisition documentation such as acquisition strategies, requests for information, statements of work, performance work statements, and source selection plans

• Display exceptional project management skills to fully integrate into current and future national and DOD systems

• Provide technical and programmatic inputs during source selections, contract modifications, and performance evaluations 

• Monitor contract performance, track deliverables, and identify schedule, cost, and performance risks

• Recommend and implement solutions to ensure schedule, cost, and technical objectives are met

• Support milestone and readiness reviews by developing briefings; decision memoranda, and risk assessments

• Support milestone reviews, readiness assessments, and risk management activities by developing data driven analyses and briefing materials 

• Coordinate with contracting officers, program control officers (finance), legal counsel, and technical stakeholders to resolve acquisition-related issues

• Collaborate with IC and DOD entities on joint development projects for issues encompassing both Titles 50 and 10

• Conduct liaison with IC and DOD partners to gather requirements and collaborate on technology developments

• Serve as liaison between financial, acquisition, and technical teams to ensure alignment of program objectives and resources

• Represent the program office in internal and external meetings, providing technical, acquisition, and financial updates and recommendations

• Contribute to meetings, working groups, and program reviews

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Active TS/SCI with Polygraph

• STEM/Technical Bachelors and fourteen (14) years or more experience; Masters degree and twelve (12) years or more experience; 

  PhD or JD and nine (9) years or more experience

• Understanding of SIGINT and GEOINT systems and technologies enabling special communications

• Knowledge of IC/DoD acquisition processes and contract lifecycle management

• Demonstrated technical program/project management and leadership experience, including organizational infrastructure and process development

• Proven ability to work effectively in fast-paced, dynamic environment

• Proficiency with MS Office applications

• Strong briefing, writing, and interpersonal skills

• Aptitude for on-site SETA work With USG stakeholders, self-motivated team player, flexible and adaptable in ever-changing situations

Desired Qualifications:

• 15+ years with national space and ground systems and capabilities, especially SIGINT/GEOINT

• 10+ years with DOD or commercial communications satellite operations

• Industry experience building electronic/photonics hardware for space/terrestrial environments

• Experience supporting SIGINT technology maturation programs

• Demonstrated ISR systems and associated data network experience

• Experience coordinating with IC and DOD R&D organizations

• Experience establishing and leading technical review processes (e.g., Technical Review Board, ERB) to assess program readiness and manage technical risks prior to government fund expenditure

• Experience developing and implementing strategic technology initiatives (e.g., Photonics, Quantum, Processing) and organizational implementation strategies

• Experience influencing and expanding strategic initiatives across multiple organizational offices

• Knowledge of RF engineering principles, wideband receiver architectures, digital signal processing, phased arrays, and RF systems testing

• Familiarity with USG data processors, systems, and tools for processing, displaying, and analyzing intelligence data

• Familiarity with IC and DOD acquisition, budget, and contracting processes

• Knowledge of program management tools

• Advanced proficiency with MS Excel application (Pivot tables and complex analysis)