Expert Systems Engineer

Markon; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Markon is seeking an Expert Systems Engineer in Chantilly, Virginia, to act as a senior technical authority guiding Sponsor-developed capabilities from concept to deployment.

The role focuses on leading requirements development, risk assessment, CONOPS creation, technology forecasting, and project planning to ensure traceability to mission needs and successful operational transition.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI with FS Polygraph required.
• Bachelor’s degree with 7+ years of related experience, or 10+ years in the field.
• Experience developing detailed, testable requirements for Sponsor development.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams through capability lifecycles.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior technical authority shaping Sponsor capabilities.
• Lead requirements development that are well-documented and traceable.
• Ensure requirements align with Sponsor mission needs.
• Forecast emerging technologies relevant to Sponsor missions.
• Develop CONOPS diagrams with stakeholder engagement.
• Coordinate technical activities across stakeholders, vendors, and disciplines.
• Support integration of technical solutions into Sponsor environments.
• Lead engineering teams through development, testing, and deployment lifecycles.

Job description

Markon is seeking an Expert Systems Engineer to support an Intelligence Community client in Chantilly, Virginia. This position will serve as a senior technical authority responsible for shaping, evaluating, and guiding complex Sponsor-developed capabilities from initial concept through mission deployment. The Systems Engineer will lead requirements development, technical risk assessment, CONOPS development, technology forecasting, and project planning to ensure advanced technical solutions are traceable to mission needs and successfully transition into operational environments.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior technical authority supporting the development and deployment of complex Sponsor capabilities.
• Lead the development of well-documented, actionable, measurable, testable, and traceable requirements supporting Sponsor development activities.
• Ensure technical requirements and specifications remain aligned with Sponsor mission needs throughout capability development.
• Apply advanced critical-thinking and analytical skills to evaluate Sponsor projects and programs.
• Identify technical risks that could impact the successful delivery of Sponsor-developed capabilities.
• Develop strategic recommendations to address technical risks, improve functionality, and support successful capability delivery.
• Develop Concept of Operations (CONOPS) diagrams using industry best practices and direct engagement with project stakeholders.
• Work closely with stakeholders to translate operational needs into technical requirements and capability concepts.
• Forecast emerging technologies and products that may advance the Sponsor’s mission area.
• Conduct independent technical assessments of projects and recommend improvements to technical functionality.
• Analyze vendor design documentation to determine alignment with Sponsor requirements.
• Develop comprehensive project plans that transition Sponsor research concepts into mission-ready capabilities.
• Support capability development from research and concept maturation through testing, integration, and operational deployment.
• Coordinate complex technical activities across stakeholders, vendors, and engineering disciplines.
• Support the integration of highly technical solutions into the broader Sponsor mission environment.
• Lead multidisciplinary engineering efforts through capability development, testing, and deployment lifecycles.

Qualifications

Required:

• An active TS/SCI with a FS Polygraph (preferably from this client) is required to be considered.
• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 7 years of related experience;
• OR a minimum of 10 years of experience relevant to the technical function being supported.
• Demonstrated successful experience developing well-documented, actionable, measurable, testable, and traceable requirements supporting Sponsor development activities.
• Demonstrated successful experience applying critical thinking to Sponsor projects and programs to identify technical risks that may impact successful capability delivery.
• Demonstrated successful experience developing Concept of Operations diagrams using industry best practices through engagement with project stakeholders.
• Demonstrated successful experience forecasting technologies and products that advance the Sponsor’s mission area.
• Demonstrated experience providing independent technical assessments of projects, including identification of technical risks and recommendations for improving technical functionality.
• Demonstrated successful experience developing comprehensive project plans that transition Sponsor research concepts into mission-ready capabilities.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams through capability development, testing, and deployment lifecycles.