Lead Systems Engineer

The MITRE Corporation • Honolulu, HI

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

Why choose between doing meaningful work and having a fulfilling life? At MITRE, you can have both. That's because MITRE people are committed to tackling our nation's toughest challenges—and we're committed to the long-term well-being of our employees. MITRE is different from most technology companies. We are a not-for-profit corporation chartered to work for the public interest, with no commercial conflicts to influence what we do. The R&D centers we operate for the government create lasting impact in fields as diverse as cybersecurity, healthcare, aviation, defense, and enterprise transformation. We're making a difference every day—working for a safer, healthier, and more secure nation and world. Our workplace reflects our values. We offer competitive benefits, exceptional professional development opportunities for career growth, and a culture of innovation that embraces adaptability, collaboration, technical excellence, and people in partnership. If this sounds like the choice you want to make, then choose MITRE - and make a difference with us.
Are you looking for a great opportunity to grow your career, apply your technical skills, and gain experience being embedded with US military staff conducting operations in the Pacific? Are you flexible, adaptable, and hungry for challenges? MITRE works to solve the most challenging national and international security problems across the Globe by partnering with the US Department of Defense (DoD) to apply advanced capabilities to real world operational needs in the near-term while also strategically positioning the DoD to address critical longer-term challenges.
MITRE is looking for energetic and talented people to join our team working across our sponsors in the U.S. Indo-Pacific and the US to solve critical sponsor challenges for a safer world. We have a current opening with our team in Hawaii working across the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), the air component to the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). The ideal timing for candidate relocation for this position is February-March 2026, with a tour length of 3 years (with possible assignment extensions). This is a Lead Engineer level position, but more senior staff will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Although staff relocation is not expected to occur until late winter/early spring 2026, this role has an immediate need and selected staff would be eligible to start in the role once selected.
The All-Domain Integration Department (N174) within MITRE’s Air and Space Force Center (ASFC) is seeking to fill a Lead Systems Engineering position that would supporting multiple MITRE projects focusing on the systems architecture integration/convergence of PACAF intelligence, surveillance, and recognizance (ISR) and Command and Control (C2) systems with the Department of the Air Force (DAF) modernized IT initiatives. This will require collaborating both CONUS and OCONUS across the Pacific with technical and operational teams to design and implement integrated systems that meet project objectives and stakeholder requirements.
Qualified candidates will have a moderate-to-strong background working with the Department of War coupled with demonstrable experience in one or more of the following technical and/or mission-focused competencies: 1) modernized IT; 2) command & control (C2); 3) data architecture; 4) capability experimentation / testing & evaluation (T&E); 5) intelligence, surveillance, & reconnaissance (ISR).
Selected candidates will also demonstrate the following:
Interpersonal Skills. Provide and support team leadership by partnering closely with both senior military leaders and action officers to identify operational and engineering challenges, potential solutions, and communicate project goals and impacts clearly and effectively.
Collaboration. Work within a team environment that leverages a robust network of MITRE and other professional connections to engage and collaborate with engineers and planners, subject matter experts, international program (foreign military sales) specialists, and defense acquisition professionals. Continue to leverage a pipeline of MITRE technical expertise from the Labs, capabilities from the MITRE Platforms, and transitioned R&D from the MIP into project delivery.
Senior Sponsor Experience. Comfortably and respectfully engage with both US and foreign nations’ senior military leaders and engineers, as well as commercial executives and managers.
Flexibility. Be able to modify and alter course as the environment and sponsor priorities shift. Understand the power of reach-back and be an effective conduit to bring the talent forward to execute at the right time.

Requirements

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline such as Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Computer), Physics, Statistics, Mathematics, or related fields; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or PhD with 3 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Proven experience with Department of the Air Force C2 missions and systems
• Proven experience with US Department of Defense systems of systems integration, with a strong background in designing and implementing complex systems
• Demonstrated knowledge in commercial and military modernized IT systems
• Demonstrated knowledge in network and communication architectures
• Track record of collaboration across multiple organizations
• Flexible, self-starter with a desire to continually learn and master new concepts and technologies (“comfortable in discomfort”)
• Active Top-Secret clearance and ability to obtain and maintain access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) as well as NATO Secret
• U.S. Citizenship required
• This position requires a minimum of 50% hybrid on-site presence.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience with ISR operations and capabilities (airborne and overhead)
• Prior experience with C2 operations and capabilities
• Prior experience with being in a forward command position
• Demonstrated ability to facility, engage, and communicate across warfighter, acquisition, and headquarters communities
• Current knowledge of emerging technology being adopted into acquisition programs and/or the INDOPACOM theater.
• Current knowledge of DAF IT modernization efforts and roadmaps
• Demonstrated capability for strategic planning and ability to provide actionable plans to government sponsors
• Master’s degree in related field
• Ability to travel for extended periods (2 weeks or greater) prior to relocation up to 50% of the time

Responsibilities

• supporting multiple MITRE projects focusing on the systems architecture integration/convergence of PACAF intelligence, surveillance, and recognizance (ISR) and Command and Control (C2) systems with the Department of the Air Force (DAF) modernized IT initiatives
• collaborating both CONUS and OCONUS across the Pacific with technical and operational teams to design and implement integrated systems that meet project objectives and stakeholder requirements
• Provide and support team leadership by partnering closely with both senior military leaders and action officers to identify operational and engineering challenges, potential solutions, and communicate project goals and impacts clearly and effectively.
• Work within a team environment that leverages a robust network of MITRE and other professional connections to engage and collaborate with engineers and planners, subject matter experts, international program (foreign military sales) specialists, and defense acquisition professionals.
• Continue to leverage a pipeline of MITRE technical expertise from the Labs, capabilities from the MITRE Platforms, and transitioned R&D from the MIP into project delivery.
• Comfortably and respectfully engage with both US and foreign nations’ senior military leaders and engineers, as well as commercial executives and managers.
• Be able to modify and alter course as the environment and sponsor priorities shift.
• Understand the power of reach-back and be an effective conduit to bring the talent forward to execute at the right time.

Benefits

• competitive benefits
• exceptional professional development opportunities for career growth
• annual incentive as a lump sum payment, less tax withholding, and other applicable deductions 3 years with the possibility of extension for up to two additional years (maximum of five years total), subject to business needs and management approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees