Engineer Senior Principal Systems – Lead Systems Engineer - EO/IR

About the role

The Lead Systems Engineer provides program-level systems engineering leadership for advanced EO/IR system development. They ensure alignment between mission needs, system architecture, and subsystem performance while guiding the program through design, integration, and validation.

Responsibilities

• Lead systems engineering execution for EO/IR system development programs.
• Ensure alignment between mission requirements, architecture, and performance.
• Enable successful integration, calibration, and validation of EO/IR systems.
• Strengthen engineering rigor in requirements, modeling, and verification.
• Integrate technical, cost, and schedule performance across program execution.
• Lead development and management of system requirements, decomposition, and allocation.
• Ensure alignment between optical, sensor, processing, and mechanical subsystems.
• Support development and maintenance of the technical baseline and system architecture.
• Guide the program through key technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR).
• Coordinate across multidisciplinary teams to ensure end-to-end system performance.
• Support development and execution of verification, validation, and calibration strategies.
• Perform or guide system-level performance analysis and trade studies.
• Identify and manage technical risks and integration challenges.
• Serve as a Control Account Manager (CAM) and/or Work Package Manager (WPM) supporting Earned Value Management (EVM) execution, including planning, status, variance analysis, and corrective action planning.
• Support customer interactions and technical briefings.
• Mentor engineers and reinforce systems engineering discipline.
• Maintain a regular and predictable work schedule.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships within the department, the Strategic Business Units, Strategic Capabilities Units and the Company.
• Interact appropriately with others in order to maintain a positive and productive work environment.
• Perform other duties as necessary.

Requirements

• BS degree or higher in Engineering or a related technical field is required plus 8 or more years related experience.
• A current, active TS/SCI security clearance is required.
• 8+ years of experience in EO/IR, sensor systems, or related domains.
• Experience leading systems engineering efforts on complex development programs.
• Solid understanding of EO/IR system architectures and performance drivers.
• Experience supporting design reviews, integration, and system validation.
• Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM) and integration of technical, cost, and schedule performance, including CAM and/or WPM responsibilities.
• Ability to work across multidisciplinary teams and influence technical direction.
• Excellent communication skills with experience supporting technical reviews and customers.

Qualifications

• MS in Engineering, Physics, or related technical field preferred.
• Experience with imaging systems, focal plane arrays, or optical system design.
• Familiarity with image processing, calibration, and sensor performance modeling.
• Experience with modeling and simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB or equivalent).
• Experience with MBSE / digital engineering tools (e.g., Cameo, SysML).
• Experience supporting development-to-production transitions.

Skills

• Strong systems engineering skills.
• Technical expertise in EO/IR systems.
• Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM).
• Ability to work across multidisciplinary teams.
• Effective communication and customer interaction skills.

Benefits

Full-Time Salary Range: $132962 - $226035
Employee Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; life and accident insurance; employee assistance program; legal plan; and other perks including discounts on home, auto, and pet insurance. Additionally, there is an employee recognition program and other incentives based on position level and job specifics.