Senior Systems Engineer (SAFe/Air Platform Modernization)

Description

Senior Systems Engineer (SAFe / Air Platform Modernization)

Location: Scott AFB, IL
Security Clearance: Active Secret or higher is required
Job Type: Full-Time
Position Summary

We are seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to support modernization efforts for Mobility Air Force (MAF) and Combat Air Force (CAF) platforms. In this role, you will serve as the technical lead within an Agile Release Train , translating complex mission requirements into executable technical specifications.

This position focuses on system integration, interface design, and API architecture , ensuring reliable data exchange between enterprise systems, ground stations, and airborne platforms. The ideal candidate has experience working within the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and supporting the transition from legacy systems to modern, open architectures .

Requirements

Key Responsibilities
Interface Design & Contract Definition

• Define and manage technical system contracts and interfaces between integrated systems.
• Architect REST APIs and data exchange mechanisms to support interoperability between legacy avionics and modern software containers.
• Design data mobility architectures that enable dynamic mission re-planning and secure data transfer between enterprise systems and airborne platforms.
• Develop and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and OpenAPI specifications to guide integration teams.

SAFe & Agile Execution

• Collaborate with Product Management to decompose Epics into Features and User Stories with clear acceptance criteria.
• Participate in Program Increment (PI) Planning to identify dependencies across systems and capabilities.
• Validate functionality during System Demos , ensuring APIs and system interfaces operate as intended.

Modernization & Capability Delivery

• Support development of platform-agnostic warfighter capabilities , including web or tablet-based applications.
• Create technical architecture diagrams using tools such as draw.io to clearly communicate system designs.
• Manage requirements and technical baselines using Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence, BitBucket) .

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical field.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in systems engineering or technical integration.
• Active Secret or Top Secret security clearance required.
• Strong experience designing system interfaces and technical contracts .
• Experience working with REST APIs, JSON/XML payloads, and service-oriented architectures .
• Knowledge of containerization technologies , including Docker and Kubernetes .
• Familiarity with programming concepts and languages (Java preferred).
• Experience supporting Air Force platforms, avionics systems, or tactical data integration .
• Experience working in Agile or SAFe development environments .

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Team Awareness Kit (TAK) including ATAK, WinTAK, or TAK Server.
• Familiarity with Open Mission Systems (OMS) standards.
• Experience with DevSecOps tools such as Zarf for air-gapped software delivery.
• Familiarity with SysML v2 modeling.
• Knowledge of tactical data links , including Link 16 , SATCOM, or edge computing environments.