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Lead Systems Engineer

The MITRE CorporationMclean, VA

$146,400 - $183,000 / year

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Overview

Schedule
Full-time
Education
Engineering (PE)
Career level
Director
Remote
On-site
Compensation
$146,400-$183,000/year

Job Description

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.

MITRE Technology and Engineering's Systems Engineering Division delivers innovative, multidisciplinary systems engineering solutions that address complex national security challenges and advance mission outcomes for sponsors across the federal government. The division serves as a center of excellence in systems engineering, bringing together expertise from across MITRE and collaborating with government, industry, and academia to develop and apply next-generation engineering approaches.

Core technical capabilities include:

  • Mission, Enterprise, and Domain Engineering
  • Systems Engineering, Architecting, and Lifecycle Integration
  • Digital Engineering, Prototyping, and Modernization
  • Architecture, Interfaces, and Open Systems
  • Performance Analysis, Test, and Evaluation
  • AI-Enabled Systems Engineering

The division applies these capabilities across sponsors and mission domains to accelerate innovation, integrate lessons learned, and strengthen MITRE's ability to deliver objective, mission-focused engineering solutions.

Roles & Responsibilities:

As a Lead Mission Engineer, you will support Army sponsors in the development of mission architectures, operational concepts, and system-of-systems solutions that address critical warfighting challenges. You will collaborate across the Systems Engineering Division and broader MITRE enterprise to apply multidisciplinary engineering approaches, evaluate mission needs, and deliver data-driven recommendations that improve Army mission effectiveness. As a technical leader, you will lead engineering analyses, architecture development efforts, and small multidisciplinary teams while helping shape technical approaches that support Army modernization and operational priorities.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Partner with Army sponsors to execute mission engineering, architecture development, and capability assessment activities aligned to operational priorities.
  • Collaborate across the Systems Engineering Division and MITRE technical community to integrate expertise in systems engineering, digital engineering, communications, modeling and simulation, data analytics, and operational analysis.
  • Develop and assess mission architectures, operational concepts, and system-of-systems solutions using mission engineering, MBSE, digital engineering, and quantitative analysis techniques.
  • Evaluate capability gaps, mission effectiveness, operational risks, and technical tradeoffs to support government decision-making.
  • Apply modern engineering methods and tools, including Digital Engineering, MBSE, AI/ML, data analytics, and modeling and simulation, to support architecture development, requirements analysis, and modernization efforts.
  • Conduct qualitative and quantitative evaluations of alternative architectures, technologies, and investment options.
  • Identify technical risks and uncertainties and support experimentation, prototyping, and risk-reduction activities.
  • Support requirements management, architecture development, interface management, integration planning, and test and evaluation efforts.
  • Lead small multidisciplinary teams of engineers and analysts to develop mission-focused technical products and recommendations.
  • Communicate technical findings and recommendations to government stakeholders, operational users, and MITRE leadership.
  • Contribute to research, innovation, and capability development activities that advance MITRE's systems engineering practice.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Minimum of 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; 3 years with a Master's degree; or a PhD with relevant experience.
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Experience leading technical tasks or small multidisciplinary engineering teams.
  • Expertise in Systems Architecture, Mission Engineering, Digital Engineering, Systems-of-Systems Engineering, Modeling & Simulation, or Operational Planning.
  • Experience with C2 and communications architectures and mission-level analysis.
  • Ability to assess mission effectiveness, cost-performance tradeoffs, and technical risk.
  • Experience collaborating with operational users, government stakeholders, industry, and technical teams.
  • Strong communication skills and ability to convey technical findings to diverse audiences.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.
  • Per the U.S. Government's eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
  • This position requires a minimum of 4 days a week on-site

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Active SECRET or TS/SCI clearance.
  • Advanced degree in a relevant technical discipline.
  • Experience in mission, systems, or enterprise architecture.
  • Experience supporting Army modernization, mission engineering, operational analysis, C2, or communications systems.
  • Proficiency with MBSE and Digital Engineering tools (e.g., Cameo, SysML, DOORS, Rhapsody).
  • Experience with quantitative analysis, modeling and simulation, and data analytics tools (e.g., MATLAB, Python, R, AFSIM, STK, Command PE).
  • Experience leading systems engineering analyses in complex systems-of-systems environments.
  • Demonstrated innovation, research, publications, or prototype development in systems, mission, or digital engineering.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build effective working relationships with government and technical stakeholders.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$146,400 - $183,000 - $219,600 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

MITRE intends to maintain a website that is fully accessible to all individuals. If you are unable to search or apply for jobs and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of MITRE's employment process, please email recruitinghelp@mitre.org for general support and collegerecruiting@mitre.org for intern positions. This service is for individuals requiring reasonable accommodation requests. Please note that vendor solicitations will not receive a reply.

Benefits information may be found here.

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FAQs About Lead Systems Engineer Jobs at The MITRE Corporation

What is the work location for this position at The MITRE Corporation?
This job at The MITRE Corporation is located in Mclean, VA, according to the details provided by the employer. Some roles may also include multiple work locations depending on the requirement.
What pay range can candidates expect for this role at The MITRE Corporation?
Candidates can expect a pay range of $146,400 and $183,000 per year.
What employment applies to this position at The MITRE Corporation?
The MITRE Corporation lists this role as a Full-time position.
What experience level is required for this role at The MITRE Corporation?
The MITRE Corporation is looking for a candidate with "Director" experience level.
What education level is required for this job?
The education requirement for this position is Engineering (PE). Candidates with relevant qualifications or equivalent experience may also be considered.
What is the process to apply for this position at The MITRE Corporation?
You can apply for this role at The MITRE Corporation either through Sonara's automated application system, which helps you submit applications 10X faster with minimal effort, or by applying manually using the direct link on the job page.