The Weapon Systems Engineering Department (N261) is dedicated to delivering world-class engineering solutions and technical leadership to enhance Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) capabilities. Its mission is to enable resilient, adaptive, and scalable weapon systems that counter emerging threats and safeguard national security and the homeland.

The Department is seeking a highly motivated and experienced systems engineer with STEM-related education and experience to serve as a Lead Strategic Missile Defense Systems/C2 Engineer. The successful candidate will support the MDA Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) strategic defense weapon system, along with the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) that replaces the legacy deployed Ground Based Interceptors (GBI).

Roles & Responsibilities:

The Lead Strategic Missile Defense Systems/C2 Engineer will be responsible for delivering high value/high impact outcomes within a diverse and growing work program which is evolving toward a strategic IAMD mission area. The successful candidate will collaborate with other technical SMEs within the portfolio as well as other FFRDCs and UARCs while performing a variety of technical analyses of current and emerging sensors, radars, Command and Control Battle Management Communications (C2BMC) integration, NGI integration with Ground Weapons System (GWS), and the GMD C2/Fire Control (GFC) capability.

In addition, they will bring innovative solutions through a variety of trade studies, deep-dive analysis, algorithm development/assessment, interface assessments, and technical reviews. The lead engineer will discover and resolve capability gaps in the existing GMD system of systems and provide recommendations to the FFRDC/UARC teams and government sponsors.

Highly competitive candidates must bring a strong technical background and depth of domain knowledge and experience to advance the department's strategic growth in IAMD (for our people and our mission) in one or more of the following ways:

• Drive innovation in next generation weapon system technology/applications
• Advance weapon systems integration within IAMD Architectures
• Lead technical efforts to ensure weapon systems are integrated into broader IAMD frameworks, enabling interoperability across sensors, interceptors, and Command/Control elements
• Develop and refine architectures that optimize the role of weapon systems in multi-layered defense strategies, including regional and global missile defense postures

In addition, specific responsibilities might include (but are not limited to):

• Lead tasks which include planning and execution of the work, leading teams, and developing and presenting results to the sponsor.
• Perform analyses of current and future GMD design (and how that design integrates into the MDS) and derive results from modeling and simulation tools, develop data-driven actionable recommendations, and present findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Identify additional project opportunities to expand the technical work portfolio through sponsor and internal engagement.
• Lead system engineering efforts and staff and advise the sponsor on C2/GFC algorithms, MDS performance, Interface Design, hardware design, operations, requirements, interoperability and integration concepts and challenges.
• Work closely across sponsor directorates, leveraging knowledge and resources, ensuring consistency of effort, and fostering teamwork among the sponsor, SETA staff, FFRDCs/UARCs, Other Government Agencies, and Prime Contractor(s)

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a STEM Bachelor's degree; or 6 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD with 3 years' experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of applied systems engineering, analysis, or algorithm development, as well as relevant domain knowledge and technical skills in missile and space systems (to include C2 and fire control concepts).
• Strong, demonstrated technical presentation and written communication skills with senior sponsors.
• Experience with DoD missile and space systems development; including assessing systems against performance requirements, conducting trade studies, and supporting flight tests.
• Experience working with FFRDCs and UARCs.
• Experience with MATLAB.
• Active DoD SECRET (or above) clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret 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 requires a minimum of 4 days a week on-site.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to develop and assess C2 algorithms, to include deep-dive performance analyses
• Detailed knowledge of the GFC C2BMC, and the Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) System Track (BST).
• Experience using Python
• A passion for developing and maintaining a knowledge of battle management and fire control technologies and strategies through continued learning, active engagement with academia and industry, and a desire to remain hands-on.
• Experience working with distributed teams across a variety of technical and work areas.
• Recognized as a thought leader and team player, adept at providing leadership and fostering consensus
• Active TS/SCI clearance

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):
Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):
Top Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint:
$146,400 - $183,000 - $219,600 Annual

Work Location Type:
Onsite