Systems Engineer - Electronic Security Systems

About the role

The Systems Engineer, Electronic Security Systems (ESS) serves as the senior technical authority responsible for the engineering, integration, sustainment, modernization, and continuous improvement of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency's (PFPA) enterprise electronic security infrastructure. This position provides end‑to‑end systems engineering leadership across a complex portfolio of physical security technologies supporting the protection of one of the nation's most critical facilities. The Systems Engineer is responsible for the full lifecycle management of enterprise security solutions, including IP‑based Video Surveillance Systems (VSS), Access Control Systems (ACS), Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), Identity Management platforms, and Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) systems. Working closely with cybersecurity, network, operations, and security stakeholders, this role ensures the availability, reliability, interoperability, and scalability of mission‑critical security technologies.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead engineering authority for enterprise Video Surveillance Systems (VSS) and associated Electronic Security Systems (ESS), providing technical leadership across system planning, integration, sustainment, and modernization efforts.
• Provide full lifecycle systems engineering support, including requirements analysis, architecture development, design reviews, system integration, testing and validation, performance optimization, sustainment planning, and technology refresh initiatives.
• Develop and implement engineering strategies that enhance system reliability, operational effectiveness, cybersecurity resilience, interoperability, and long‑term maintainability of mission‑critical security infrastructure.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, industry trends, and evolving security requirements to identify opportunities for innovation and support future‑state ESS capabilities and strategic modernization objectives.
• Lead technical assessments, feasibility studies, and engineering analyses to develop implementation strategies for system enhancements, infrastructure upgrades, and new technology deployments.
• Monitor, assess, and continuously improve the performance, availability, and effectiveness of enterprise video surveillance and electronic security systems to ensure mission readiness and operational continuity.
• Analyze system health metrics, performance data, service‑level trends, incident reports, and failure patterns to identify risks, drive continuous improvement efforts, and support data‑driven decision‑making.
• Provide technical leadership for the diagnosis and resolution of complex system issues involving hardware, software, networking, cybersecurity, databases, and multi‑platform system integrations.
• Review and evaluate technical changes, configuration baselines, software releases, and system modifications to ensure compliance with operational requirements, security standards, and enterprise architecture objectives.
• Coordinate and oversee scheduled maintenance activities, emergency repairs, and technology refresh efforts to maximize system availability and minimize operational disruptions.
• Plan, manage, and execute ESS engineering, sustainment, and modernization projects from concept development through implementation, transition, and operational acceptance.
• Develop project plans, schedules, technical documentation, resource requirements, cost estimates, and risk mitigation strategies to support successful project delivery.
• Establish, maintain, and continuously refine program management and engineering artifacts, including technical roadmaps, lifecycle management plans, configuration documentation, strategic modernization plans, and systems engineering documentation.
• Collaborate with government stakeholders, operational users, cybersecurity personnel, network engineers, and vendor partners to ensure successful integration and support of enterprise security technologies.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, Security Engineering, or a related technical discipline and a minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience supporting enterprise electronic security systems; OR Master’s degree in a related technical discipline and a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience supporting enterprise electronic security systems; OR fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience designing, integrating, supporting, and managing large‑scale electronic security systems in lieu of a degree.
• Demonstrated experience supporting enterprise‑class physical security technologies, including IP‑based Video Surveillance Systems (VSS), Access Control Systems (ACS), Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), Identity Management Systems, Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) platforms, or comparable technologies.
• Experience applying systems engineering principles across the system lifecycle, including requirements analysis, architecture development, integration, testing, deployment, sustainment, and modernization.
• Proven ability to analyze complex technical issues, evaluate system performance, identify root causes, and develop effective engineering solutions in