Systems Engineer

Elder Research•Fort George G Meade, MD

54d•$131,000 - $213,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking experienced Systems Engineers to lead and support complex system development efforts that directly contribute to critical national security missions. The ideal candidate will apply systems engineering principles across the full system lifecycle from concept and requirements through design, integration, testing, and deployment. This role involves collaboration with cross-functional technical teams, government stakeholders, and senior program leadership to ensure technical excellence, mission alignment, and operational effectiveness. Your work will help design and deliver systems that enable secure, resilient, and data-driven national defense capabilities. These positions will be part of our Defense and Intelligence Business unit serving the Intelligence Community as our primary customer.

Requirements

TS/SCI w Poly
Bachelors or Masters degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field (or equivalent experience).
Strong understanding of systems engineering processes and frameworks (e.g., ISO/IEC 15288, INCOSE SE Handbook, DoD 5000).
Demonstrated experience in requirements analysis, system design, and system integration.
Experience developing and reviewing technical documentation and interface specifications.
Proven ability to coordinate across multiple stakeholders, communicate technical findings, and lead systems discussions.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools such as Cameo, Enterprise Architect, or IBM Rhapsody.
Familiarity with Agile or DevSecOps environments and their intersection with systems engineering practices.
Experience supporting cloud-based architectures, virtualization, and containerized systems.
Understanding of Zero Trust principles, cybersecurity engineering, and information assurance frameworks (RMF, NIST SP 800-53).
Knowledge of data flow modeling, systems integration, and test automation techniques.
Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills in cross-disciplinary technical teams.

Responsibilities

Apply systems engineering methodologies throughout the full lifecycle, from requirements analysis through operational sustainment.
Collaborate with government stakeholders and program personnel to address technical considerations, issues, or risks.
Lead or contribute to technical reviews, readiness assessments, and system design evaluations.
Ensure the technical integrity, quality, and completeness of engineering deliverables across multiple process areas defined by ISO/IEC 15288, including:
Technical Processes: Requirements definition, architecture design, integration, verification, and validation.
Project Processes: Planning, risk management, configuration management, and information management.
Enterprise Processes: Lifecycle model management, quality assurance, and process improvement.
Agreement Processes: Acquisition and supplier coordination.
Participate in Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) to design and implement new capabilities based on operational requirements and constraints.
Define methods, processes, and evaluation criteria for system verification and validation.
Develop and maintain System Engineering Plans, Requirements Specifications, and Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
Collaborate on interface definitions, designs, and configuration management throughout the system lifecycle.
Translate stakeholder needs into derived and allocated system requirements that ensure mission performance and security.
Develop Information Assurance (IA) and cybersecurity requirements and mechanisms aligned with DoD and IC security standards.
Support the establishment of formal baselines (requirements, design, and test) for hardware and software development teams.

Benefits

family health, dental, and vision benefits
employer-paid disability
paid-time off
paid parental leave
401(k) plan with employer contribution
Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP)
reasonable hours
solid pay
low travel
extremely flexible time off
Competitive Salary and Benefits
Important Work / Make a Difference supporting U.S. national security operations, helping safeguard critical systems and enable data-driven decision-making at the highest levels.
Job Stability: Elder Research is not a typical government contractor, we hire you for a career not just a contract.
People-Focused Culture: we prioritize work-life balance and foster a supportive, positive, and collaborative environment where every team member can thrive. Were committed to providing opportunities for professional growth and advancement while creating a workplace were proud to be part of one wed gladly recommend to our friends and family.
Company Stock Ownership: all employees are provided with shares of the company each year based on company value and profits.