Principal Systems Engineer

• Convert mission needs and CONOPS into clear, measurable, and verifiable acceptance criteria.
• Establish, manage, and configuration-control the technical baseline for the assigned thread.
• Evaluate interface control documents to map out and understand subsystem dependencies and interactions.
• Manage end-to-end requirements traceability utilizing a traceability matrix.
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams-including software, architecture, testing, and integration to resolve interface and requirements conflicts.
• Perform impact assessments on proposed changes regarding verification, baseline integrity, and traceability.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks, gaps, and system inconsistencies.

Minimum Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience).
• Proven senior-level systems engineering experience with complex, software-intensive mission systems.
• Strong background in translating operational concepts into testable system requirements.
• Demonstrated experience with requirements allocation, technical baseline management, and traceability matrices.
• Experience analyzing interface control documents and managing subsystem interfaces.
• Experience supporting system integration, verification, validation, and formal technical reviews.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting intelligence community, defense, space, or SIGINT mission systems.
• Familiarity with requirements management tools such as DOORS, Jama, or Cameo.
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and SysML.
• Experience working within Agile software development and DevSecOps environments.

Required Skills

• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience).
• Proven senior-level systems engineering experience with complex, software-intensive mission systems.
• Strong background in translating operational concepts into testable system requirements.
• Demonstrated experience with requirements allocation, technical baseline management, and traceability matrices.
• Experience analyzing interface control documents and managing subsystem interfaces.
• Experience supporting system integration, verification, validation, and formal technical reviews.

Preferred Skills

• Experience supporting intelligence community, defense, space, or SIGINT mission systems.
• Familiarity with requirements management tools such as DOORS, Jama, or Cameo.
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and SysML.
• Experience working within Agile software development and DevSecOps environments.

Security Clearance

• Level: Top Secret
• Health and Financial Foundation - Medical, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, disability coverage, and flexible spending accounts are described in the benefits page.
• Time Away and Flexibility Where Mission Permits - PTO, holidays, sick time, military leave, and flexible arrangements are supported where program and security requirements allow.
• Professional Development - The site references certification support, training, conferences, mentorship, internal mobility, and individual development planning.

Hiring process

1. Apply

2. Recruiter Review

   Recruiting reviews your resume for role alignment, technical background, clearance status where relevant, and program fit.

3. Interview

   Qualified candidates may meet program, technical, or delivery leaders to discuss experience and expectations for the role.

4. Offer

   When there is a match, the team coordinates offer, onboarding, clearance transfer or sponsorship details where contractually authorized.

Mission

Footbridge Federal delivers engineering, cyber, mission IT, analytics, and cleared program support for defense, intelligence, federal civilian, homeland security, and research missions.

Culture

Mission Context Matters

Candidates should expect work tied to defense, intelligence, federal civilian, homeland, and research missions rather than generic commercial delivery.

Small-Team Accountability

The culture copy emphasizes ownership, communication, and practical execution across teams that work close to customers and program outcomes.

Growth With Technical Credibility

Career content supports hands-on technical growth, certifications, internal mobility, and program leadership without forcing one career track.

Benefits & why work here

• Health and Financial Foundation - Medical, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, disability coverage, and flexible spending accounts are described in the benefits page.
• Time Away and Flexibility Where Mission Permits - PTO, holidays, sick time, military leave, and flexible arrangements are supported where program and security requirements allow.
• Professional Development - The site references certification support, training, conferences, mentorship, internal mobility, and individual development planning.