Description: The Principal Systems Engineer functions as a senior technical authority responsible for architecting, integrating, and sustaining large-scale, packet-based hardware and software systems in secure, mission-critical environments. This role leads end-to-end system lifecycle activities leveraging COTS and GOTS technologies to support high-throughput analytic platforms, including XKEYSCORE and comparable distributed processing systems. The position provides advanced technical leadership across integration, automation, performance optimization, and operational sustainment while ensuring compliance with classified system standards.
Key Responsibilities:- Architect, integrate, test, deploy, and sustain packet-based hardware and software systems utilizing COTS and GOTS solutions in large-scale distributed environments supporting XKEYSCORE or similar mission platforms.
- Lead end-to-end systems integration across compute, storage, network, and software components to ensure interoperability, scalability, resilience, and optimized analytic performance.
- Develop and execute system integration, validation, verification, and deployment strategies to ensure operational readiness and compliance with technical and mission requirements.
- Design, maintain, and enhance BASH and PERL automation scripts to support system provisioning, configuration management, and lifecycle maintenance of core servers and clustered computing environments.
- Drive automation initiatives and process improvements to improve system reliability, efficiency, and long-term maintainability across distributed infrastructures.
- Provide senior-level technical leadership and advanced troubleshooting support, including system upgrades, patching, performance tuning, and lifecycle sustainment in operational settings.
- Deliver technical training and mentorship to administrators, operators, and engineering teams while enforcing security, compliance, and configuration management requirements for classified systems.
Qualifications:- Minimum of twenty (20) years of Systems Engineering experience supporting programs of comparable size, scope, and complexity.
- Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related technical discipline; five (5) additional years of relevant Systems Engineering experience may substitute for a degree.
- Demonstrated experience integrating, sustaining, or supporting large-scale analytic, SIGINT, or mission processing systems (e.g., XKEYSCORE or equivalent) in high-availability, secure environments.
Requirements: - U.S. Citizenship is required for all applicants. CTP is an equal opportunity employer and abides by applicable employment laws and regulations. All applicants and employees are subject to random drug testing in accordance with Executive Order 12564. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a security background investigation and polygraph.
- Certification Requirements:
This position requires an active Security Clearance with appropriate Polygraph. 
