Senior Principal Project Leader – National Space Program – System Engineering Directorate

Roles & Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and technical leadership as a trusted advisor to the sponsor and help shape the full scope of work for the System Engineering Team
• Build and sustain strong relationships with NSP senior leadership, division leadership, branch chiefs, and government stakeholders across the mission space
• Define and execute technical objectives based on sponsor priorities and mission outcomes, with an emphasis on areas where MITRE can deliver the greatest value through its technical depth and cross-cutting capabilities
• Translate overall project strategy into clear, actionable outcomes, deliverables, and technical products
• Identify and integrate relevant research and innovation efforts from across MITRE, including internal innovation programs, to strengthen project impact and advance sponsor objectives
• Ensure the technical quality of products and recommendations by establishing clear team expectations aligned with division quality practices, conducting in-progress reviews, incorporating peer review, implementing effective knowledge management, and participating in regular program execution reviews
• Partner with MITRE staff resourcing organizations to develop and execute a mission-focused staffing strategy for the project
• Collaborate across MITRE and with sponsors to identify, assess, and inform operational trade space decisions for the NSP mission
• Lead project administration activities, including financial tracking, project documentation, meeting coordination, status reporting, facility management, task tracking, and contributor expectation setting
• Oversee staff management activities, including onboarding and access coordination for required systems, networks, collaboration environments, and classified facilities
• Collaborate across the NSP work program with other PLs to ensure cohesive, well-aligned delivery

Basic Qualifications

• Typically requires a minimum of 12 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 10 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 7 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Degree in space cybersecurity, system engineering, physics, applied mathematics, aerospace, software development for engineering/physical systems, mechanical engineering, or related discipline.
• Background or experience with the National Reconnaissance Office, its strategy, missions, and priorities.
• Understanding of space-related physics and engineering concepts, for example, orbital mechanics, satellite propagation, space-based ISR, satellite communications, space domain awareness, etc.
• Knowledge of enterprise data architectures.
• Knowledge of Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) and associated tools, techniques, and processes.
• Ability to proactively formulate key analytical questions to drive modeling, simulation, experimentation, and prototyping.
• Proficiency in DoD and IC space sponsors and their role in the development, acquisition, and operational lifecycle and the ability to work across to achieve higher level strategic objectives.
• Experience with understanding & presenting technical studies to senior decision-makers to drive action and outcomes.
• Must have an active Top Secret/SCI w/Poly U.S Government issued Security Clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD with research experience in Space Cyber Security or Systems Engineering.
• Experience with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) – to include AI strategy and engineering.
• Knowledge of intelligence operations, the intelligence lifecycle, and intelligence systems.
• Experience developing or applying systems architecture frameworks, architecture views, interface models, operational models, or enterprise architecture products.
• Experience advising the federal government on acquisition lifecycle activities (emphasizing software acquisitions), including SOW/SOO development, market research, acquisition planning, technical evaluations, source selection support, or adoption of innovative acquisition approaches.
• Experience with digital engineering, mission engineering, enterprise architecture, software-intensive systems, cloud-based systems, data platforms, cybersecurity, or command-and-control systems.