Principal Systems Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Overview

Principal Systems Engineer

LOCATION : Hanscom AFB, MA

Salary Range : $145-$160,000 annually*

*depending on experience, certifications, and qualifications

JOB STATUS:  Full-time

CLEARANCE : Top Secret with SCI Eligibility

TRAVEL:  Limited, as needed

Astrion has an exciting opportunity for a Principal Systems Engineer providing support to the Command, Control, Communications, and Battle Management Division (C3BM).

Command, Control, Communications, and Battle Management (C3BM) has been tasked with delivering an integrated Department of the Air Force (DAF) Battle Network providing resilient decision advantage and enabling the USAF, USSF, Joint, and Coalition Force to win against the pacing challenge. C3BM supports execution in many different focus areas. C3BM’s main efforts are Architecture and Systems Engineering (ASE), Operational Response Team (ORT), and multiple mission integration teams such as Air, Maritime, and multiple acquisitions consisting of both the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) and Space.

The selected candidate will provide systems engineering support across the acquisition lifecycle and will be aligned to the Data Mission Integration Team (MIT). The MIT is responsible for translating operational requirements into technical solutions, developing integrated architectures, assessing risks, supporting acquisition execution strategies, and coordinating test and evaluation activities to ensure capabilities are delivered to operational users.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS:

• Citizenship: Must be a US citizen
• Clearance : Must have and be able to maintain an active Top Secret level clearance and be SCI eligible.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS : 

Education: Bachelor's or Master's Degree

Years of experience: 20+ years of experience with 12+ years of DoD related experience

• Systems Engineering across the acquisition lifecycle
• DoD and USAF systems engineering experience
• System-of-Systems Architecture Development
• Mission Integration and Enterprise Architecture
• Requirements Development and Analysis
• Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM)
• Risk Assessment and Mitigation Planning
• Cloud-based systems, including management and projection of cost and performance
• Agile methodologies, CI/CD, DevSecOps, and DevOps principles
• Knowledge of systems acquisition and program management processes as defined in DoDI 5000.02 and DoDI 5000.75
• Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis
• Technical Documentation and Executive Brief Development

• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and deliver results with minimal oversight
• Critical thinker capable of identifying issues and developing practical solutions
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to communicate technical concepts to senior leadership and stakeholders
• Ability to proactively engage customers and provide well-developed recommendations
• Strong organizational and leadership abilities

RESPONSIBILITIES :

Duties to include, but not limited to:

• Requirements Management & Traceability:
  • Expertise in managing complex requirement hierarchies (using tools like DOORS or Jira), ensuring traceability from operational needs down to subsystem technical specifications.
  • Expertise in developing System Requirements Documents (SRDs) and similar documentation to provide clear direction and expectations to program and platform development teams. 
• DoD Architecture & Frameworks: Familiarity with standard DoD frameworks (UAF, DoDAF) and an understanding of how to apply them to system-of-systems integration.
• Cross-Functional Communication & Translation: The ability to translate highly technical specifications into operational impacts for military stakeholders, senior leaders, and non-technical counterparts.
• Systems Lifecycle Navigation: Working knowledge of the systems engineering "V" model, DoD 5000 series acquisition principles, and agile systems engineering principles.
• Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Proficiency: Practical ability to develop/analyze architectures using SysML (Cameo Systems Modeler/MagicDraw) and integrate models with broader Digital Engineering ecosystems.
• Architecture Development: Develop and maintain structural, behavioral, and parametric models that define system capabilities and interfaces.
• Trade Studies & Analysis: Conduct rigorous trade-space analyses to evaluate alternative architectures against cost, schedule, performance, and risk metrics.
• Verification & Validation (V&V): Develop test matrices and verification plans to ensure delivered systems meet the baseline requirements and operational intent.
• Stakeholder Alignment: Act as the technical liaison between government program offices, prime contractors, and operational users to resolve technical conflicts and drive consensus.
• Provide systems engineering support throughout the acquisition lifecycle, including requirements analysis, architecture development, system integration, sustainment, and disposal activities.
• Support Mission Integration Team (MIT) activities by translating operational and functional requirements into technical requirements.
• Participate in architecture definition efforts to ensure integration and interoperability across the DAF Battle Network enterprise architecture.
• Review current DoD architecture models and support development of future-state architectures that enable sensor-to-shooter connectivity.
• Drive interoperability and integration efforts across Program Executive Offices (PEOs), weapon systems, and mission partners.
• Conduct capability risk assessments and support development of mitigation strategies in coordination with stakeholders.
• Support development of execution management strategies and transition capability requirements to the acquisition community.
• Support development of test and evaluation strategies in coordination with acquisition and test organizations.
• Capture and analyze current-state and future-state architectures driven by mission and engagement scenarios.
• Engage with joint and coalition stakeholders to support development of integrated multi-domain architectures.
• Document requirements for the DAF Battle Network (DBN) Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) environment.
• Evaluate existing ICAM solutions across DBN programs against established requirements.
• Identify preferred ICAM solutions and assess capability gaps against documented requirements.
• Support development of Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&Ms) to address identified capability gaps.
• Draft and maintain ICAM strategy documentation and support implementation activities across participating programs.
• Support development of technical briefings, engineering documentation, reports, recommendations, and acquisition artifacts for Government leadership.