Lead System Engineer
Pay Rate:120-160K
Location: Colorado Springs (On Site)
Job Type: 6 month contract to perm
Job Description: In this role, the Lead System Engineer supports the Missile Defense Agency’s Missile Defense Space Enterprise Architecture (MDSEA) organization by leading a team of system engineers responsible for designing and implementing secure, sustainable, and efficient technical solutions. On a daily basis, the engineer guides technical studies and analyses, defines system requirements, and develops preliminary and detailed ground system and platform architectures supporting enterprise services, satellite ground systems, and operations centers. The role spans the full systems engineering lifecycle—supporting projects from initiation through execution and long‑term sustainment—while ensuring designs are properly documented and accompanied by implementation and test plans for sustainment teams. The engineer works cross‑functionally with cybersecurity, test teams, software developers, network engineers, system administrators, and project managers to ensure seamless integration, standards compliance, and milestone delivery, while independently driving initiatives forward with minimal supervision in a mission‑critical, onsite DoD environment
Pay Range: 120-160K depending on applicable experience
Required Skills & Experience
- Active DoD Secret clearance with ability and willingness to obtain Top Secret / SCI
- 10+ years of general full‑time professional experience
(May be reduced with advanced education)
- 5+ years of directly related experience supporting or managing IT Systems Engineering or Architecture within a DoD and/or commercial enterprise
- 2+ years leading and managing systems engineers
- Strong understanding of Requirements Analysis & Requirements Management
- Proficient understanding of the Systems Engineering V‑Model and full engineering lifecycle
- Hands on experience with Linux and Windows administration Storage management Database management techniques
- Willingness to work onsite at Schriever Space Force Base (no remote)
- Ability to travel up to 10%
Nice to Have Skills & Experience
- BA in related field (Computer Science, Engineering)
- Prior experience supporting Missile Defense Agency (MDA) or other DoD organizations
- DoDAF experience
- Ability to logically decompose complex mission systems into manageable components
- Experience building detailed implementation plans for new systems or solutions
- Hands‑on experience troubleshooting IT system dependencies, impacts, and sustainment challenges
- Experience using SysML / MBSE tools, such as Cameo Systems Modeler (No Magic), IBM Rhapsody, Sparx Enterprise Architect