Systems Engineer

Overview

Nakupuna Companies is seeking a Systems Engineer to function as the Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) Engineer for Platform Delivery Office (PDO) 20 (Surface Fleet Delivery) Program Office (previously known as PMW 760), to support the Government in establishing and implementing repeatable modular architecture practices across Navy mission systems and shipbuilding activities.


The Model-Based Systems Engineer supports full-lifecycle engineering and integration of Navy C4I capabilities across new construction, platform modernization, fielding, and sustainment. The position develops and uses models, architecture products, engineering data, and digital artifacts to align requirements, interfaces, technical products, schedules, and platform constraints across product offices, warfare centers, ship-design organizations, shipbuilders, and other technical stakeholders.

The engineer applies MBSE, digital-engineering, and systems-engineering practices to support system and System-of-Systems requirements, design, analysis, interoperability, verification, validation, and technical decision-making. The position also supports MOSA objectives through defined interfaces, reusable standards, modular solutions, open architecture practices, and future technology insertion.

A key area of emphasis includes integration of modular cabinets, equipment enclosures, and related infrastructure within shipboard constraints involving space, weight, power, cooling, cabling, environmental conditions, maintenance access, and construction schedules. The engineer evaluates technical maturity, identifies dependencies and integration risks, supports issue resolution, and provides Government leadership with clear assessments and recommendations.

Responsibilities

The following reflects management's definition of essential functions for this job but does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned.


Systems Engineering and Integration

• Support full-lifecycle systems engineering and platform integration for Navy C4I capabilities across new construction, modernization, fielding, and sustainment.
• Analyze requirements, interfaces, dependencies, mission threads, technical baselines, and integration risks across systems and platforms.
• Coordinate physical, electrical, functional, and operational integration across product offices, platform organizations, warfare centers, ship-design teams, shipbuilders, and other technical stakeholders.
• Evaluate technical alternatives and provide recommendations addressing performance, interoperability, cost, schedule, supportability, cybersecurity, and lifecycle considerations.

Model-Based and Digital Engineering

• Develop, review, and maintain system and System-of-Systems models, architecture products, diagrams, engineering data, and digital artifacts in accordance with applicable standards and Government guidance.
• Apply modeling to support requirements, design, analysis, integration, verification, validation, interoperability, and acquisition decision-making.
• Use model data to improve traceability across engineering disciplines and support development of a connected digital thread.
• Coordinate information, resources, technical products, and stakeholder inputs needed to meet MBSE and digital-engineering objectives.
• Support adoption of model-based practices and effective use of Government-designated digital engineering environments.

Architecture and Modular Systems

• Support MOSA principles, modular architectures, open standards, defined interfaces, reusable solutions, and future technology insertion across applicable systems and platforms.
• Coordinate development and integration of modular cabinets, enclosures, equipment configurations, and related infrastructure within platform constraints.
• Assess space, weight, power, cooling, cabling, environmental, maintenance, installation, and schedule considerations affecting system integration.
• Support development, transition, and deployment of standardized modular solutions, including the Family of Modular Cabinets and related infrastructure initiatives.

Technical Coordination and Leadership Support

• Lead or support technical interchange meetings, working groups, design reviews, and engineering forums used to define interfaces, resolve issues, and synchronize stakeholder activities.
• Track technical maturity, risks, dependencies, required decisions, and delivery of engineering artifacts against program and shipyard milestones.
• Coordinate PDO 20 engineering support contractors on a non-supervisory basis by aligning work, integrating technical inputs, identifying gaps or conflicts, and consolidating status and recommendations.
• Prepare technical assessments, architecture products, briefings, reports, schedules, and decision-support materials for Government engineering leadership.
• Perform contractor support without assuming Government approval, acceptance, technical authority, personnel management, or decision-making responsibilities.

Qualifications

Skills/Qualifications:

Technical Qualifications

• Working knowledge of MBSE principles and their application across the systems-engineering and acquisition lifecycle.
• Knowledge of Systems Modeling Language or Unified Modeling Language.
• Experience developing or maintaining system models, architecture products, digital artifacts, interface products, or related engineering data.
• Experience with cross-platform collaborative MBSE or digital-engineering environments such as Cameo Systems Modeler, MagicDraw, Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect, Rational Rhapsody, System Architect, or comparable tools.
• Knowledge of Department of Defense Architecture Framework, Unified Architecture Framework, or comparable architecture frameworks.
• Strong understanding of systems-engineering lifecycle processes, system integration, interoperability, interface management, and technical risk management.
• Working knowledge of MOSA principles, modular architectures, open standards, and technology-insertion objectives.
• Experience developing or reviewing system requirements, architecture products, interface documentation, engineering specifications, and technical-data packages.
• Knowledge of physical system integration involving equipment enclosures, power, cooling, cabling, space, weight, environmental requirements, maintainability, and installation constraints.
• Ability to interpret engineering models, drawings, specifications, interface products, schedules, and technical-status information.
• Familiarity with Navy C4I systems, shipboard environments, ship design, ship construction, platform modernization, or comparable complex systems integration.

Professional Qualifications

• Strong technical judgment, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to integrate model data, specialist inputs, requirements, interfaces, and technical evidence into clear engineering recommendations.
• Ability to evaluate alternatives and balance performance, interoperability, modularity, cost, schedule, security, supportability, and lifecycle considerations.
• Ability to coordinate multiple interdependent engineering activities across product, platform, and technical organizations.
• Ability to work through incomplete or evolving information while documenting assumptions, dependencies, and risks.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Ability to prepare concise models, architecture views, technical assessments, briefings, reports, and decision-support products.
• Ability to lead technical coordination and influence outcomes without formal supervisory authority.
• Ability to establish trusted working relationships within a matrixed Government and contractor environment.

Education/Experience:

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in engineering, operations research, mathematics, statistics, computer science, physical science, or another technical discipline requiring advanced quantitative analysis.

Experience Level: At least three (3) years of professional experience performing Model-Based Systems Engineering. Relevant experience should include one or more of the following:

• Development or maintenance of system or System-of-Systems models.
• Architecture development or analysis.
• Requirements modeling and traceability.
• Interface definition and management.
• System interoperability analysis.
• Digital engineering or digital-thread implementation.
• Verification and validation support.
• Complex system or platform integration.
• Technical decision support using model-based evidence.

Equivalent Experience Substitution: A relevant graduate degree may support evaluation of overall candidate strength but should not automatically replace the MBS2 requirement for three years of professional MBSE experience unless the governing contract permits such substitution. Candidates with substantially greater systems-engineering or integration experience but limited formal MBSE experience should be evaluated against the contract's labor-category requirements before selection.

Military Experience: Military experience is not required. Experience gained through Navy, Marine Corps, or other military service may be beneficial when it includes relevant exposure to shipboard systems, C4I capabilities, platform integration, maintenance, modernization, or operational environments.

• Prior service as a Navy Engineering Duty Officer, Surface Warfare Officer, Limited Duty Officer, Chief Warrant Officer, electronics specialist, information-systems technician, fire-control specialist, or other technical warfare specialist.
• Shipboard experience involving C4I, combat systems, network infrastructure, electronics, integration, installation, maintenance, or modernization.
• Experience supporting new construction, availabilities, testing, certification, or fleet introduction.

Government Experience: Prior Government or Government-contracting experience is strongly preferred but not required. Representative examples of particularly valuable experience include:

• Experience supporting Navy or Marine Corps acquisition programs
• Experience working in an integrated Government and contractor organization
• Familiarity with Navy technical authority, configuration-management, cybersecurity, engineering-review, and acquisition processes
• Experience preparing material for Government technical leaders and senior acquisition executives.

Domain Experience: Relevant Navy, Department of Defense, or comparable complex systems-integration experience is strongly preferred. Candidates without direct Navy experience should demonstrate transferable experience with modular architectures, open systems, complex platforms, physical and digital interfaces, or multi-organization engineering integration. Representative examples of particularly valuable experience include:

• NAVWAR, PAE Mission Systems, PAE Maritime, PEO C4I, PEO IWS, affiliated program offices, Naval Sea Systems Command, warfare centers, shipyards, or Navy laboratories.
• Surface-ship or submarine C4I integration
• Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy programs
• Future-ship design and new-construction integration
• Family of Modular Cabinets or comparable standardized enclosure programs
• Open architecture, modular hardware, common infrastructure, or mission-system hosting environments
• Mission engineering, system-of-systems engineering, or platform capability baselines

Software Proficiency: Proficiency with every listed tool is not required. Experience with one or more of the following, or comparable platforms, would be particularly valuable:

• Cameo Systems Modeler or MagicDraw.
• Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect.
• IBM Rational Rhapsody.
• System Architect or comparable architecture tools.
• Requirements-management platforms such as IBM Engineering Requirements Management DOORS.
• Digital-engineering repositories, model-management environments, or architecture databases.
• Configuration-management, document-control, and engineering-data environments.
• Microsoft Visio, Project, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Teams, and SharePoint.

Candidates should demonstrate the ability to learn and work effectively within Government-designated modeling, data, collaboration, and digital-engineering environments.

Physical Requirements: The ideal candidate must at a minimum, be able to meet the following physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation:

• Ability to perform repetitive motions with the hands, wrists, and fingers.
• Ability to engage in and follow audible communications in emergencies.
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods at a desk and work on a computer.

The Nakupuna Companies use a market-based compensation strategy to ensure that our employees are compensated within applicable market ranges commensurate with multiple factors, including but not limited to the individual's particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements, and position location. The projected compensation range for this position is $115,000.00 to $160,000.00 (annualized USD). The salary range displayed represents the typical salary range for this position and is just one component of Nakupuna Companies total compensation package for employees.