Principal Systems Engineer

McBride; Lincoln (MA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Referral program

Job summary

McBride Consulting seeks a Principal Systems Engineer to support the Command, Control, Communications, and Battle Management Division (C3BM) at Hanscom AFB, Bedford, MA. This 100% onsite role requires extensive DoD systems engineering expertise and the ability to translate operational needs into technical solutions.

The candidate will lead architecture definitions, assess risks, and coordinate with program offices and stakeholders. A Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility is preferred.

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance and ability to obtain SCI
• 20+ years of experience with 12+ years DoD
• US citizen
• Bachelor's or Master's degree

Responsibilities

• Provide systems engineering across the acquisition lifecycle
• Translate operational requirements into technical requirements
• Develop integrated architectures and test strategies
• Support ICAM strategy and POA&M development
• Draft engineering documentation and brief leadership

Skills

Systems engineering

DoD knowledge

Enterprise architecture

Requirements analysis

ICAM

Risk assessment

Cloud-based systems

Agile/DevSecOps

Communication to leadership

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

None specified

Job description

Hanscom Afb, United States | Posted on 09/09/2026

McBride is a certified Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) management and IT consulting firm with significant professional services experience that includes IT transformation, project management, digital transformation, strategic planning, business process improvement, change management, human capital management, disaster recovery, and operations.

Job Description

McBride Consulting has an exciting opportunity for aPrincipalSystems Engineerproviding support to the Command, Control, Communications, and Battle Management Division (C3BM).

Command, Control, Communications, and Battle Management (C3BM) has been tasked with delivering an integrated Department of the Air Force (DAF) Battle Network providing resilient decision advantage and enabling the USAF, USSF, Joint, and Coalition Force to win against the pacing challenge. C3BM supports execution in many different focus areas. C3BM’s main efforts are Architecture and Systems Engineering (ASE), Operational Response Team (ORT), and multiple mission integration teams such as Air, Maritime, and multiple acquisitions consisting of both the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) and Space.

The selected candidate will provide systems engineering support across the acquisition lifecycle and will be aligned to the Data Mission Integration Team (MIT). The MIT is responsible for translating operational requirements into technical solutions, developing integrated architectures, assessing risks, supporting acquisition execution strategies, and coordinating test and evaluation activities to ensure capabilities are delivered to operational users.

This is a full-time position located at Hanscom AFB, Bedford, MA and is 100% onsite.

Responsibilities:

Duties to include, but not limited to:

• Provide systems engineering support throughout the acquisition lifecycle, including requirements analysis, architecture development, system integration, sustainment, and disposal activities.
• Support Mission Integration Team (MIT) activities by translating operational and functional requirements into technical requirements.
• Participate in architecture definition efforts to ensure integration and interoperability across the DAF Battle Network enterprise architecture.
• Review current DoD architecture models and support development of future-state architectures that enable sensor-to-shooter connectivity.
• Drive interoperability and integration efforts across Program Executive Offices (PEOs), weapon systems, and mission partners.
• Conduct capability risk assessments and support development of mitigation strategies in coordination with stakeholders.
• Support development of execution management strategies and transition capability requirements to the acquisition community.
• Support development of test and evaluation strategies in coordination with acquisition and test organizations.
• Capture and analyze current-state and future-state architectures driven by mission and engagement scenarios.
• Engage with joint and coalition stakeholders to support development of integrated multi-domain architectures.
• Document requirements for the DAF Battle Network (DBN) Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) environment.
• Identify preferred ICAM solutions and assess capability gaps against documented requirements.
• Support development of Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&Ms) to address identified capability gaps.
• Draft and maintain ICAM strategy documentation and support implementation activities across participating programs.
• Support development of technical briefings, engineering documentation, reports, recommendations, and acquisition artifacts for Government leadership.

Requirements

Qualifications:

Citizenship: Must be a US citizen

Minimum Required Qualifications

Clearance:Must have and be able to maintain an active Top Secret level clearance and have the ability to get SCI later on.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:Bachelor's or Master's Degree

Years of experience:20+ years of experience with 12+ years of DoD related experience

Technical Skills

• Systems Engineering across the acquisition lifecycle
• DoD and USAF systems engineering experience
• Mission Integration and Enterprise Architecture
• Requirements Development and Analysis
• Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM)
• Risk Assessment and Mitigation Planning
• Cloud-based systems, including management and projection of cost and performance
• Agile methodologies, CI/CD, DevSecOps, and DevOps principles
• Knowledge of systems acquisition and program management processes as defined in DoDI 5000.02 and DoDI 5000.75
• Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis
• Technical Documentation and Executive Brief Development

Interpersonal Skills

• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and deliver results with minimal oversight
• Critical thinker capable of identifying issues and developing practical solutions
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to communicate technical concepts to senior leadership and stakeholders
• Ability to proactively engage customers and provide well-developed recommendations
• Strong organizational and leadership abilities

Additional Information

Location:Hanscom AFB, Bedford, MA 100% Onsite

Travel:Travel may be required per the customer's discretion

• 401(k)
• Dentalinsurance
• Healthinsurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referralprogram

Our people and culture

McBride is an Equal Opportunity Employer. McBride Consulting does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.