Principal Systems Engineer

Description

The team is hiring a principal systems engineer to keep fielded airborne ISR systems and their data center, network and communication infrastructure running at Beale AFB, CA.

This role is the main technical link between operations, field users, engineering IPTs and customer representatives.

You will use systems thinking to sustain and upgrade mission systems, solve complex field problems and move configuration changes from concept to implementation, in support of 24/7 operations.

Responsibilities

• Act as the on-site systems engineering contact between operations, engineering IPTs and customer stakeholders for field issues, escalations and installations.
• Give real-time support to keep mission systems running, covering operating systems (Windows, Linux, VMware ESXi), data center hardware (compute, storage, network) and ground communication and network gear (routers, switches, firewalls, SATCOM/RF).
• Troubleshoot at system level and run root cause analysis across avionics, data center, network and communication subsystems, in the field and in control rooms.
• Plan, configure, integrate and test hardware and software changes in labs and live environments, making sure compute, storage and network work together.
• Lead intake, technical review and execution of configuration and change requests, and prepare Configuration Change Board (CCB) packages with risk assessments and implementation guidance.
• Coordinate and track cross-functional actions and change requests, keeping status and performance metrics for field fixes and modifications.
• Write and run test plans, integration procedures and verification and validation activities for new or changed payloads, instrumentation and network setups.
• Brief customers, program leadership and internal stakeholders, and write status updates for them.
• Support mission operations through shift work, weekends, holidays and occasional overtime.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field plus 5 years of related systems or engineering experience, or a Master's degree in a STEM field plus 3 years of related experience.
• Experience integrating systems and troubleshooting root causes across hardware, software and network boundaries.
• Working knowledge of modern operating systems and networking, such as Windows and/or Linux administration, TCP/IP, VLANs, routing, ACLs and VPNs.
• Ability to read electrical and/or mechanical drawings, wiring diagrams and technical documentation.
• Experience working with engineering teams and technicians to implement system changes and resolve issues under schedule pressure.
• Active USG Top Secret SCI clearance, with a background investigation in the past 5 years or enrollment in Continuous Evaluation.
• Ability to obtain and keep initial Special Access Program (SAP) access through a Program Access Request (PAR). The SAP/PAR must be in place before you start, within a reasonable time the company sets for its business needs.
• You can keep irregular hours, including shifts, nights, weekends and holidays, and travel occasionally, up to about 25%.
• Preferred Qualifications:
• Strong written and verbal communication, including clear technical documentation and briefings.
• Experience supporting airborne ISR platforms and ground systems in field or test settings.
• Experience configuring and troubleshooting network equipment, such as Cisco or equivalent switches and routers, firewalls like Cisco ASA/Firepower or Palo Alto, and virtualized environments like VMware ESXi or similar.
• Familiarity with network management and security protocols such as SNMP, SSH, syslog and RADIUS/TACACS.
• Agile background, with tools such as JIRA used to manage engineering actions.
• Proficiency in one or more programming or scripting languages, such as C, C++, Python or Bash.
• Prior military, flight test or depot-level field engineering support.
• DoD 8140 IAT Level II (or higher) certification, such as Security+ CE, CCNA Security, CCNP or CISSP, strongly preferred.

Conditions

Top Secret clearance is required before you start.

Relocation support may be on offer.

Travel is up to about 25% of the time.

Work is on-site at Beale AFB, CA, with 24/7 operations.

The primary salary range is $108,800.00 - $163,200.00. This is a general guideline; the company sets base pay based on scope, responsibilities, experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

The application window is estimated at 20 days from the posting date. It may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Benefits

• Depending on the position, overtime, shift differential and a discretionary bonus may apply on top of base pay.
• Annual bonuses reward individual contributions and let you share in company results.
• Vice President and Director roles may be eligible for Long Term Incentives.
• Health insurance, life and disability insurance, a savings plan, paid company holidays, and paid time off (PTO) for vacation or personal business.