Lead Operations Engineer with Security Clearance

Prescient Edge; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary with bonus

Healthcare benefits

Retirement plan

Tuition reimbursement

Career development

Job summary

Prescient Edge is seeking a Lead Operations Engineer to own the end-to-end lifecycle of mission systems across air, marine, and surface domains. You will combine engineering design with logistics management and hands-on implementation to ensure reliability and operational readiness.

The role requires 8+ years in DoD/DHS mission systems, strong communication, and the ability to coordinate with cross-functional teams and executive leadership. Travel up to 25% is expected.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience with DOD/DHS operational mission systems.
• PMI PMP certification preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field; Master’s degree in business/Program Management or related study or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated success in project execution with strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end lifecycle of mission systems across air, marine, and surface domains.
• Analyze, design, and document mission system architecture; integrate software and hardware.
• Lead installation, integration, and testing of mission systems across platforms.
• Develop and deliver operator training programs for mission systems and unmanned assets.
• Create, configure, test, and validate software applications for fleet deployment.
• Map engineering solutions to enterprise objectives and plan documentation.
• Manage logistics, configuration tracking, and system security tasks.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams; support customer issues and reporting.
• Produce technical documentation using Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Research emerging technologies and draft system design ideas for innovation.
• Engage with government stakeholders; travel up to 25%.

Skills

DOD/DHS mission systems

Project management

Communication & teamwork

Willingness to travel

Education

Bachelors in technical field

Master's in Business/PM or related

PMP certification preferred

Job description

Lead Operations Engineer Benefits: At Prescient Edge, we believe that acting with integrity and serving our employees is the key to everyone's success. To that end, we provide employees with a best-in-class benefits package that includes:

• A competitive salary with performance bonus opportunities.
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits, including medical, vision, dental, and orthodontia coverage.
• A substantial retirement plan with no vesting schedule.
• Career development opportunities, including on-the-job training, tuition reimbursement, and networking.
• Salary range: $130,000 - $150,000. Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills and the abilities of the applicant internal equity, and alignment with market data.
• The Lead Operations Engineer (LOE) is responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of mission systems supporting manned and unmanned platforms across air, marine, and surface domains. This role combines operational expertise, engineering acumen, system design, solution development, and logistics management to ensure mission systems are reliable, effective, and aligned with organizational and government requirements. The Operations Engineer collaborates with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative solutions, maintain system integrity, and support operational readiness through technical leadership, hands‑on implementation, and continuous improvement. The LOE is a highly qualified individual that understands projects, managing resources and can conduct in-depth analysis of systems. The LOE works with the design team to understand the clients business needs, design solutions, coordinate tasks, develop visions, and execute operations. The LOE shall directly support the Project Manager (PjM), Chief Integration Officer (CIO) and work directly with team members to accomplish tasking related to design, integration, and deployment of fleet supported mission systems and ground infrastructure. The LOE shall be a self-starter that is able to deliver products to meet mission execution. Key Tasks:
• Mission System Design and Engineering: Analyze, design, and document mission system architecture and functional requirements, integrating software and hardware solutions for operational platforms.
• System Installation, Integration, and Testing: Lead and support the installation, configuration, and testing of mission systems and software across various hardware platforms, assets, and operational settings by ensuring all systems are properly integrated and validated to meet customer requirements and deliver optimal operational performance.
• Operational Training and Support: Develop and deliver operator training programs for mission systems, including unmanned systems and sensor networks, to ensure effective user adoption and operational readiness.
• Technical Solution Development: Create, configure, test, and validate software applications and scripts to ensure technical readiness for fleet implementation.
• Enterprise Planning and Solution Mapping: Develop and map C5ISR engineering solutions and operational planning documents, aligning technical capabilities with enterprise and government objectives.
• Logistics and Configuration Management: Manage logistics for mission system hardware and software, including installation, shipping, receiving, and configuration tracking to maintain operational availability.
• System Administration and Security: Perform system administration tasks such as user account management, password setup, security scans, and network troubleshooting to ensure system integrity and compliance.
• Customer Support and Troubleshooting: Collaborate with team members and stakeholders to resolve system issues, address customer trouble reports, and ensure usability, reliability, and maintainability.
• Documentation and Reporting: Develop technical documentation, specifications, and reports using MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, supporting system design, operational assessments, and solution development.
• Technology Research and Analysis: Research emerging technologies, conduct Analysis of Alternatives (AoA), and draft system design ideas and plans to drive innovation and continuous improvement.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Compliance: Engage with government and organizational stakeholders, execute Product Owner tasking, maintain required security clearances, and support business relationship building through frequent travel (up to 25%) and professional collaboration.
• Job Requirements
• Detailed-Oriented individual with 8+ years of experience with DOD/DHS operational mission systems, program/project management, and technical design.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in technical field and master’s degree in business, Program Management or similar related study and/or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated success in project execution with strong communication and teamwork skills, effectively delivering strategic objectives under strict deadlines by coordinating operational users, engineering-adjacent teams, and executive leadership.
• Prescient Edge is a Veteran‑Owned Small Business (VOSB) founded as a counterintelligence (CI) and Human Intelligence (HUMINT) company in 2008. We are a global operations and solutions integrator delivering full‑spectrum intelligence analysis support, training, security, and RD&E support solutions to the Department of Defense and throughout the intelligence community.
• Prescient Edge is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO). All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic that is protected by law. We strive to foster equity and inclusion throughout our organization because we believe that diversity of thought is critical for creating a safe and engaging work environment while also enabling the organization’s success.