Senior Systems Engineer

Gormat•Annapolis Junction, MD

20d

About The Position

The Senior Systems Engineer provides strategic systems engineering, technical governance, and enterprise integration support to PAE JCWA (Joint Cyber Warfare Architecture). This highly visible SETA position serves as a trusted advisor to leadership, supporting architecture development, systems engineering governance, Agile execution, and cross-functional coordination across JCWA programs. The role combines technical expertise, strategic thinking, process discipline, and communication skills to support complex systems-of-systems development in a DoD environment. The role collaborates with the Chief Architect, Technical Development Advisory, Operational Value Stream Leads, and engineering teams to develop and mature JCWA systems engineering documentation and the JCWA Next-generation Reference Design. It supports governance, enterprise architecture, systems integration, technical decision-making, and evaluation of enterprise capabilities, including JCWA Identity, Credential, and Access Management initiatives. The engineer facilitates large-scale PI Planning, supports Agile and process improvement initiatives, and develops automated workflows, dashboards, reporting, and communication resources using Atlassian Confluence and Jira. The position also coordinates operational needs and requirements across Agile Release Trains, supports stakeholder working groups, and provides leadership visibility into compliance efforts, initiatives, priorities, and program performance. The role engages with senior military and civilian leaders, government agencies, mission partners, PMOs, Service Cyber Components, and technical organizations. It develops executive communications, governance frameworks, technical reference materials, knowledge repositories, and standardized processes, while maintaining awareness of JCWA issues, dependencies, risks, and relevant DoD policies and requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering Science, Engineering Management, or a related discipline from an accredited college or university.
Fifteen years of relevant experience with a bachelor’s degree.
Demonstrated experience supporting DoD and defense contracting environments.
Proven experience applying systems engineering principles to complex systems-of-systems architectures and enterprise-scale programs.
Experience supporting large organizations of 200–2,000 personnel with complex technical, operational, and governance structures.
Expert-level proficiency with Atlassian Confluence and Jira, including dashboard development, workflow automation, requirements management, and enterprise collaboration.
Deep understanding of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), Agile Release Trains, and Program Increment Planning.
Experience developing governance frameworks, technical documentation, SOPs, MFRs, Architectural Decision Records, and systems engineering artifacts.
Strong understanding of DoD acquisition policies, systems engineering lifecycle processes, and the Adaptive Acquisition Framework.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex technical concepts into executive-level communications and recommendations.
Experience supporting USCYBERCOM, cyber mission programs, enterprise architecture initiatives, or large-scale modernization efforts.
Experience with Mattermost and Confluence.
Active TS/SCI with CI polygraph; the polygraph must be current and under seven years old.

Nice To Haves

SAFe certification or formal SAFe training.
CISSP certification (preferred but not required).

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the Chief Architect, Technical Development Advisory, Operational Value Stream Leads, and engineering teams to develop and mature JCWA systems engineering documentation and the JCWA Next-generation Reference Design (JNeRD).
Develop, review, and implement governance artifacts, including charters, memorandums for the record, standard operating procedures, systems engineering plans, and technical guidance documents supporting the JCWA Integration Office and JCWA Technical Oversight Council.
Establish and manage Architectural Decision Record and Technical Need processes to document, review, approve, and align significant decisions with enterprise architecture strategy and the North Star vision.
Assist in evaluating and implementing enterprise capabilities, including JCWA Identity, Credential, and Access Management initiatives.
Maintain awareness of DoD and Department of the Army policies, standards, and requirements affecting systems engineering and development.
Analyze technical policies, procedures, architectures, and program performance, and provide recommendations and courses of action to leadership and development teams.
Facilitate and coordinate large-scale Defensive & Enterprise Solutions Program Increment Planning events for more than 900 personnel across multiple Agile Release Trains.
Develop PI Planning materials, communication campaigns, stakeholder engagement products, navigation guides, and informational resources.
Lead After-Action Reports, lessons learned, and continuous improvement initiatives following PI Planning and operational activities.
Engineer and implement automated workflows, dashboards, and reporting capabilities using Atlassian Confluence and Jira.
Support establishment, maturation, and operation of the PEO JCWA Lean Agile Center of Excellence.
Identify opportunities for process improvement, automation, and standardization across JCWA engineering and governance functions.
Coordinate Priority Operational Needs across Agile Release Trains and align them with PEO JCWA priorities and J3 operational requirements.
Collaborate with PMOs, Service Cyber Components, government agencies, mission partners, and technical organizations to define, de-conflict, prioritize, and manage requirements.
Support Functional Area Requirements Working Groups by improving governance processes, increasing transparency, and facilitating stakeholder coordination.
Develop and maintain executive dashboards and Confluence reporting solutions covering NDAA compliance, JTOC-directed initiatives, operational priorities, and program performance.
Engage with senior military and civilian leadership to provide updates, communicate risks and issues, gather mission insights, and align technical activities with mission objectives.
Develop strategic communications for executive audiences describing JCWA capabilities, technical accomplishments, operational outcomes, and mission success.
Provide systems engineering leadership and technical oversight for complex systems-of-systems architectures in large-scale DoD environments.
Support enterprise architecture governance, systems integration, and technical decision-making across JCWA programs.
Develop and maintain knowledge repositories, governance documentation, technical reference materials, and enterprise collaboration resources.
Use Confluence, Jira, and Atlassian integrations to improve knowledge management, requirements traceability, and workflow automation.
Monitor major JCWA issues, dependencies, and risks and provide timely recommendations and executive briefings.
Support the PEO JCWA Executive Support Staff by developing and formalizing instructions, SOPs, MFRs, governance frameworks, and standardized operating processes.