Chief Engineer

Arenatechnologies; Lincoln (MA); On-site; USD 205,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) seeks a Chief Engineer to serve as the technical authority for the Mission Planning Enterprise.

You will own architecture, systems engineering, IVV&E, cybersecurity, and modernization, ensuring coherence, testability, and supportability across the program. Leading TPMs, technical trade studies, and risk management, you will collaborate with architects, ISSM, and operations to converge work into a coherent solution meeting mission needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, or related field.
• 10+ years of systems engineering leadership on large DoD programs with end-to-end responsibility.
• Demonstrated system-of-systems integration experience in mission planning or similar environments.
• Hands-on verification, validation, integration, and evaluation of complex software products.
• Proven leadership of cross-functional engineering teams and technical groups.
• Active Secret clearance and ability to maintain it.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall technical direction and engineering integrity for the program.
• Ensure alignment of architecture, IVV&E, cybersecurity, and modernization with requirements and strategy.
• Lead requirements analysis, technical trade studies, TPMs, and risk management; chair technical working groups.

Skills

Systems engineering

Technical leadership

Cross-functional teams

TPMs

Cybersecurity

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's degree

Tools

DOORS

Job description

Overview

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. SPA: Objective. Responsive. Trusted.

The Sea, Land, Air Analysis Group’s mission is to deliver objective analyses, plans and strategies to US Navy, US Marine Corps, USAF, other DoD, and Australian Defence Force clients to support technology development, acquisition, delivery and sustainment decisions. The group provides the core of SPA thought leadership on Undersea Strategy, Software Development and Cost Estimating, with additional benchmark capabilities in AI/ML & Decision Analytics, Modeling and Simulation, and Future Force Assessments.

SPA has a need for a Chief Engineer, who will serve as the overall technical authority for the program and steward the engineering integrity of the Mission Planning Enterprise solution. This leader will ensure that architecture, systems engineering, IVV&E, cybersecurity, and modernization efforts are technically sound and aligned with government requirements and enterprise strategy. The Chief Engineer will own the definition and tracking of technical performance, risk, and trades so that the program delivers coherent, testable, and supportable capabilities.

Responsibilities

The Chief Engineer is responsible for the overall technical direction and engineering integrity of the program. They ensure that all architecture, systems engineering, IVV&E, cybersecurity, and modernization efforts align with government requirements and the mission planning enterprise strategy. The Chief Engineer leads requirements analysis, technical trade studies, technical performance measures (TPMs), and technical risk management, and chairs or co‑chairs relevant technical working groups. They work closely with the Chief Architect, Solutions Architect, ISSM, and Platform Operations leadership to guarantee that all technical work converges into a coherent, testable, and supportable solution that meets Mission Planning Enterprise needs.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, or related field
• 10+ years of systems engineering leadership on large, software‑intensive DoD programs with end‑to‑end responsibility for the technical baseline
• Demonstrated experience with system‑of‑systems integration in mission planning or similar environments, including frameworks, common components, and platform‑unique components
• Hands‑on experience with verification, validation, integration, and evaluation of complex software products, including definition and execution of evaluation plans and performance analysis
• Proven leadership of cross‑functional engineering teams (architecture, software, test, cybersecurity, and sustainment) and technical working groups.
• Active Secret clearance and the ability to maintain it throughout employment

Desired Qualifications

• Experience modernizing legacy mission planning or avionics systems into open‑architecture, Windows‑based or cloud‑hosted environments
• Familiarity with requirements‑management tools (e.g., DOORS) and strong background in requirements traceability, KPPs, and RTMs
• Demonstrated experience defining and managing TPMs as leading indicators of technical risk and integrating them into decision forums
• Background in process maturity (e.g., CMMI Level 3+), and in standing up or operating a "software factory" style development and integration environment
• Master’s degree in relevant engineering discipline and prior service as a chief engineer or equivalent on a major Air Force or joint program

Pay Range Information

At SPA, we strive to deliver a robust total compensation package that will attract and retain top talent. Elements of the compensation package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities. SPA provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work. The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, etc. Please note that the salary information shown below is a general guideline only. Salaries are commensurate with experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. Massachusetts, Pay Transparency Salary range: USD $205,000.00/Yr. - USD $225,000.00/Yr.