Principal Systems Engineer

Join ClearEdge and be a part of a dynamic team that solves some of the DoD’s most complex technical challenges. Every day, ClearEdge empowers our customers in government and industry with innovative, data-driven solutions.
Check out our extremely competitive benefits package at www.clearedgeit.com/careers/, which includes a $10k annual training/education benefit, 10% 401k contribution fully vested on day one, annual health and technology allowance, and access to a state-of-the-art technology lab. We also offer monthly TechConnect and DeepDive collaboration sessions with our entire technical staff.
Your Mission
As a Principal Systems Engineer, you will provide senior-level technical leadership for the design, development, and integration of complex systems. You will guide the full systems engineering lifecycle — from requirements analysis through verification and sustainment — ensuring technical integrity and alignment with mission objectives. You’ll serve as a key technical interface with government stakeholders, program leadership, and engineering teams.

You Will Excel in This Role If:

• You are an experienced technical leader who thrives on solving complex systems engineering challenges
• You are skilled at integrating multiple disciplines and managing technical risk across large-scale system architectures
• You have deep knowledge of DoD systems engineering processes, frameworks, and certification standards
• You communicate effectively with both technical teams and executive stakeholders, ensuring clarity and alignment at all levels

A Day in the Life Of:

• Analyze user requirements, concept of operations, and high-level architectures to develop detailed system requirements and design specifications
• Lead and oversee system design, integration, and implementation activities across multiple teams
• Provide technical direction in developing, engineering, interfacing, integrating, and testing complex hardware and software systems
• Guide the creation and maintenance of system engineering management plans, integration and test plans, and other key documentation
• Manage system requirements and derived requirements to ensure compatibility with established architectures such as DoDAF and SOA
• Participate in Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) and Configuration Control Boards (CCBs) to coordinate cross-discipline decisions and design reviews
• Conduct and approve trade studies, risk analyses, and performance evaluations to optimize lifecycle cost, reliability, and mission success
• Define verification methods, processes, and evaluation criteria for system and subsystem validation
• Support DoD and government certification and accreditation processes
• Oversee configuration management and ensure the technical integrity of evolving baselines
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies, standards, and best practices to enhance system performance and interoperability
• Mentor and guide engineering teams to ensure consistent application of systems engineering principles and processes

Must Haves:

• TS/SCI with Polygraph clearance
• Twenty (20) years of experience as a Systems Engineer in programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity
• Bachelor’s degree in System Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering Science, Engineering Management, or a related discipline (five additional years of experience may substitute for the degree)
• Demonstrated experience in planning and leading large-scale Systems Engineering efforts
• Two (2) years of hands-on experience with AWS
• Proven ability to manage requirements, lead technical integration, and maintain system technical integrity across the lifecycle

Nice to Haves:

• Experience designing and implementing architectures in alignment with DoDAF and SOA principles
• Familiarity with Joint Capability Integration and Development System (JCIDS) documentation and processes
• Expertise in Information Assurance principles, including confidentiality, integrity, and availability
• Experience with earned value management (EVM) and quantitative analysis of non-functional performance metrics
• Strong understanding of configuration management, lifecycle cost tradeoffs, and system verification methods

About us: We are an experienced advanced analytic development company providing Cyber solutions to current and emerging missions.
Our Core Values of Honesty, Integrity, Loyalty, Fairness, Respect, Responsibility, and Accountability drive our mission and vision and are the heart of what we do each day. We combine our Core Values with the three key el