Advanced Capabilities Engineer - NRO Programs Lead

Peraton; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical plans

Tuition reimbursement

Fertility treatment benefits

Job summary

Peraton is looking for an Advanced Capabilities Engineer in Reston, Virginia, to lead technical proposals for National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) opportunities. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in systems engineering and NRO program experience, with the ability to create compelling technical content under tight deadlines. This full-time position requires active TS/SCI clearance. The role emphasizes collaboration with experts to ensure Peraton's proposals remain technically strong and distinctive.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in relevant fields or equivalent experience.
• Direct experience with NRO programs and organizational structure.
• Strong systems engineering and solution architecture skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of NRO proposal technical volumes.
• Engage with NRO program offices for requirements understanding.
• Conduct competitive analysis and differentiation strategies.

Skills

Technical proposal writing

Systems engineering

Understanding of NRO programs

Strong written communication

Leadership in proposal environments

Education

BS/BA in Systems Engineering or related field

Job description

Advanced Capabilities Engineer – NRO Programs Lead

Location: US‑VA‑Reston.

Within Peraton's Space and Mission Solutions sector, there is an immediate need for a cleared Advanced Capabilities Engineer (ACE) to serve as the primary technical proposal lead for National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) opportunities. This is a full‑time, on‑site position based at Peraton locations in the Northern Virginia area, with regular presence at NRO facilities and program offices as required.

As an ACE, you sit at the intersection of technical strategy and proposal execution. You are not a pure technologist and you are not a pure proposal writer – you are the person who translates deep NRO mission understanding into winning technical approaches. You have spent enough of your career on NRO programs to understand how the NRO thinks, what it values, and what a credible technical solution looks like in their eyes.

This role is designed for a mid‑career systems engineer or technical architect who has led or significantly contributed to technical volumes on competitive NRO proposals – and who is ready to step into a role where that skill is the primary contribution. You will work closely with the NRO Mission Domain Expert, the CTO Office's Next‑Gen Technology Engineers, and the Growth Organization to ensure Peraton's NRO pursuits are technically differentiated from the first day of capture through final proposal submission.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of technical volumes and technical approaches for NRO proposals, owning the content from outline through final submission
• Engage with NRO program offices and technical directorates during pre‑RFP phases to build understanding of requirements, evaluation criteria, and mission priorities
• Collaborate with the NRO Mission Domain Expert to translate customer relationships and mission insight into technically differentiated proposal strategies
• Work with Next‑Gen Technology Engineers in AI/data fusion, networking, and cloud to incorporate emerging capabilities into NRO technical solutions
• Conduct competitive analysis and develop differentiation strategies that highlight Peraton's unique technical value for NRO pursuits
• Support bid/no‑bid assessments by providing technically grounded Pwin analysis and honest evaluation of Peraton's competitive position
• Participate in color team reviews – both as author and as reviewer – providing and receiving substantive technical feedback
• Maintain awareness of NRO acquisition pipeline, technology priorities, and program office activity to inform pursuit strategy
• Mentor junior engineers and proposal contributors on technical writing, solution architecture, and proposal best practices

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience with a BS/BA in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, or related field; OR 6+ years with MS/MA; OR 3+ years with PhD. 4 years of additional work experience may be considered in lieu of a Bachelor's degree
• Direct experience supporting NRO programs – you understand NRO's organizational structure, acquisition processes, and mission priorities from having worked within that environment
• Demonstrated experience leading or significantly contributing to technical volumes on competitive NRO proposals – you have owned sections, not just reviewed them
• Strong systems engineering background – ability to architect solutions, develop concepts of operations, and translate requirements into technical approaches
• Experience with one or more of the following NRO mission areas: enterprise IT and infrastructure, intelligence data processing and exploitation, ground systems and base‑end networking, or systems engineering and integration
• Proven ability to work effectively in fast‑paced proposal environments with compressed timelines and evolving requirements
• Strong written communication skills – ability to write clear, compelling, evaluator‑focused technical content
• An active TS/SCI with polygraph is required

Desired Qualifications

• Prior career within NRO, a major NRO contractor, or a closely affiliated intelligence community program office
• Experience on NRO SE&I contracts, enterprise IT programs, or large‑scale classified infrastructure programs
• Familiarity with NRO acquisition frameworks, contracting vehicles, and program office structures across technical directorates
• Understanding of NRO's data architecture modernization priorities, including cloud‑based exploitation and enterprise data fabric concepts
• Experience with model‑based systems engineering (MBSE) tools and digital engineering practices in classified environments
• INCOSE certification (ASEP, CSEP) or PMP certification
• Experience working alongside or in support of a business development or capture team on NRO opportunities

Benefits

At Peraton, our benefits are designed to help keep you at your best beyond the work you do with us daily. We're fully committed to the growth of our employees. From fully comprehensive medical plans to tuition reimbursement, tuition assistance, and fertility treatment, we are there to support you all the way.

EEO

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.