Senior Systems Engineer

BLACKROCK STRATEGY INC•Washington, DC

17h•Onsite

About The Position

Serve as the technical authority driving Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled system architecture for a high-priority Research & Engineering (R&E) Multi Domain Collaborative Autonomy (MDCA) effort. Blackrock Strategy is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to operate in a Chief Engineer capacity, or a senior systems engineer ready to step into that role, leading the design, integration, and alignment of advanced AI-enabled systems within a complex, multi-organizational environment. This role sits at the intersection of AI-driven software development and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), ensuring technical direction is cohesive, scalable, and aligned across stakeholders. The position will interface directly with leading research and engineering organizations, including MIT Lincoln Laboratory and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, as well as government leadership and mission partners.

Requirements

Active TS clearance with SCI eligibility
10+ years of experience in systems engineering within Department of War (DoW), U.S. Intelligence Community (IC), or advanced Research & Development (R&D) environments
Demonstrated experience operating in a technical leadership or Chief Engineer–level role (or readiness to step into one)
Strong background in AI/ML-enabled systems or AI-based software development
Hands-on experience with MBSE tools and frameworks (SysML, Cameo, MagicDraw, or similar)
Experience with requirements development, interface definition, and system integration
Proven ability to work across multiple organizations and stakeholders in complex environments
Strong communication skills with the ability to brief senior leadership and technical teams

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting Research & Engineering advanced concepts, or emerging technology initiatives
Familiarity with autonomous systems, decision support systems, or advanced analytics platforms
Prior collaboration with organizations such as MIT Lincoln Labs or APL
Experience in system-of-systems architecture and integration
Experience with tools such as DOORS or other requirements management platforms

Responsibilities

Serve as Chief Engineer supporting Multi Domain Collaborative Autonomy (MDCA) initiatives across AI-enabled systems
Lead system architecture development, integrating Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning capabilities into mission systems
Define, decompose, and trace system requirements using Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodologies
Develop and maintain systems models using Systems Modeling Language (SysML) to support architecture decisions and system understanding
Apply Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools (e.g., Cameo, MagicDraw) to define and evolve architectures
Define system interfaces, data flows, and integration points across system components
Support verification and validation (V&V) planning to ensure system performance aligns with requirements
Interface directly with government stakeholders and senior technical leadership
Coordinate across external research and engineering partners (e.g., MIT Lincoln Labs, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL)).
Translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable guidance for leadership
Identify and mitigate technical risks, integration challenges, and architectural gaps
Support rapid prototyping, experimentation, and transition of advanced capabilities
Ensure alignment across system-of-systems architecture (multiple interconnected systems working together) and mission objectives