Summary: The Systems and Operations Department (L626) within MITRE's Systems Engineering Division in the Center for Engineering and Analysis delivers innovative, mission-focused solutions using a multidisciplinary systems engineering approach to address sponsor challenges critical to national security missions. Our core focus areas include mission integration, lifecycle systems engineering, and acquisition systems engineering. Our teams develop, assess, and transition engineering solutions, provide strategic technical vision, and deliver data-informed recommendations that enable sponsor mission success from tactical through enterprise levels.
Roles & Responsibilities: The Systems and Operations Department is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to support government sponsor mission needs across complex and evolving national security environments. The selected candidate will provide principal-level technical and strategic leadership for international intelligence partnerships, leading cross-functional MITRE teams to translate sponsor and partner priorities into integrated, secure, and interoperable capabilities.
The selected candidate will be expected to:
- Lead systems engineering efforts focused on interoperability, data sharing, and mission integration across U.S. and allied/partner nation systems, with a deep understanding of coalition operational concept
- Apply systems engineering methods across the capability lifecycle, including mission analysis, concept development, architecture definition, requirements development, integration, verification planning, deployment readiness, and technical transition
- Translate sponsor priorities and partner mission needs into mutually beneficial capability roadmaps, engagement plans, and work program opportunities, including scoped concepts, sequenced activities, measurable outcomes, and transition paths.
- Develop and maintain in-depth understanding of the NRO Systems Engineering Division international partnership portfolios, including strategy, organization, leadership, investments, authorities, and issues; identify partner-specific challenges that can be addressed by MITRE; and provide informational updates to the broader N970: Global Intelligence leadership team.
- Identify and address "gaps and seams" in architectures, interfaces, and processes between U.S. and allied capabilities, driving solutions that improve combined operational effectiveness and resilience
- Develop and manage complex system-of-systems architectures that account for differing doctrine, policy, security constraints, and technical standards among U.S. and coalition partners
- Maintain awareness of MITRE's current and planned work supporting international intelligence partners and identify opportunities to connect related efforts, reuse proven methods, and reduce duplication.
- Lead coordinated assessment efforts with cross-functional MITRE contributors to evaluate partner capability maturity, mission readiness, interoperability, and institutional capacity, and translate findings into prioritized recommendations and investment roadmaps.
- Plan and carry out a regular tempo of sponsor and authorized partner engagements in support of Division international strategy, partner network expansion, capability development priorities, and work program goals.
- Represent MITRE at relevant bilateral and multilateral forums, partner engagements, and technical conferences through MITRE-sponsored channels to maintain awareness of emerging requirements, capabilities, mission applications, and partnership trends.
- Engage sponsor and authorized partner technical, operational, acquisition, and policy stakeholders to understand mission requirements and operating constraints, including classification and disclosure, releasability, sovereignty, data sharing, interoperability, workforce, procurement, and policy-driven boundaries.
- Serve as a technical advisor to senior U.S. and allied leadership on risks, trade-offs, and opportunities associated with coalition system integration and combined mission threads
- Mentor junior engineers and cross-functional teams on best practices for engineering in a coalition environment, including stakeholder engagement, technical diplomacy, and working within multinational governance structures.
Basic Qualifications- Minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 8 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD with 5 years' experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience
- Experience supporting complex national security, intelligence, defense, or civil space missions and applying systems engineering or closely related engineering practices to mission and capability challenges.
- Demonstrated experience leading coordination among multiple government organizations, sponsors, technical teams, and mission partners.
- Experience developing executive-ready briefings, decision papers, meeting materials, correspondence, and action tracking for senior leaders.
- Ability to translate complex technical, operational, policy, and acquisition issues into clear recommendations for technical and nontechnical audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, identify risks and dependencies, and drive cross-functional teams toward measurable outcomes.
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to work on-site at MITRE and/or sponsor locations in the Northern Virginia area and travel occasionally, including internationally, as mission needs require.
- Must have an active Top Secret/SCI with CI polygraph U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government's eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
- This position has an on-site requirement of 5 days a week on-site.
Preferred Qualifications- Master's degree in international relations, national security studies, space policy, engineering, systems engineering, business administration, or a related field.
- Experience supporting international space cooperation, coalition operations, allied engagements, or multinational planning forums.
- Knowledge of U.S. national security space, commercial space, intelligence, GEOINT, space domain awareness, satellite communications, or related mission areas.
- Experience coordinating with organizations such as the DoD, Intelligence Community, National Reconnaissance Office, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, U.S. Space Force, NASA, Department of State, or allied space organizations.
- Experience with systems engineering, enterprise architecture, capability development, requirements analysis, or acquisition planning for space or intelligence systems.
- Experience developing and facilitating governance bodies, working groups, tabletop exercises, or senior-level stakeholder engagements.
This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):Top Secret/SCI/Polygraph
This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):Top Secret/SCI/Polygraph
Salary compensation range and midpoint:$162,400 - $203,000 - $243,600 Annual
Work Location Type:Onsite
