Principal Systems Engineer

Footbridge Federal; Town of Florida, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Footbridge Federal is seeking a senior Systems Engineer to convert mission needs into verifiable requirements. You will establish and manage the technical baseline, analyze interface control documents, and drive end-to-end traceability across software, architecture, testing, and integration teams.

This role requires a TS clearance with SCI eligibility and hands-on experience with software-intensive mission systems.

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Senior-level systems engineering experience with complex, software-intensive mission systems.
• Strong ability to translate operational concepts into testable system requirements.
• Experience with requirements allocation, baseline management, and traceability matrices.
• Experience analyzing interface control documents and managing subsystem interfaces.
• Experience supporting system integration, verification, validation, and formal technical reviews.

Responsibilities

• Convert mission needs into clear, measurable acceptance criteria.
• Establish and control the technical baseline for the assigned thread.
• Evaluate interface control documents to map subsystem dependencies.
• Manage end-to-end requirements traceability using a traceability matrix.
• Collaborate across software, architecture, testing, and integration teams to resolve conflicts.
• Perform impact assessments on proposed changes to verification and traceability.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks and gaps in the system.

Skills

Top Secret clearance with SCI

Systems engineering leadership

Requirements translation

Requirements allocation

Traceability management

Interface control analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Tools

DOORS

Jama

Cameo

SysML

MBSE

Job description

• Convert mission needs and CONOPS into clear, measurable, and verifiable acceptance criteria.
• Establish, manage, and configuration-control the technical baseline for the assigned thread.
• Evaluate interface control documents to map out and understand subsystem dependencies and interactions.
• Manage end-to-end requirements traceability utilizing a traceability matrix.
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams-including software, architecture, testing, and integration to resolve interface and requirements conflicts.
• Perform impact assessments on proposed changes regarding verification, baseline integrity, and traceability.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks, gaps, and system inconsistencies.

Minimum Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience).
• Proven senior-level systems engineering experience with complex, software-intensive mission systems.
• Strong background in translating operational concepts into testable system requirements.
• Demonstrated experience with requirements allocation, technical baseline management, and traceability matrices.
• Experience analyzing interface control documents and managing subsystem interfaces.
• Experience supporting system integration, verification, validation, and formal technical reviews.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting intelligence community, defense, space, or SIGINT mission systems.
• Familiarity with requirements management tools such as DOORS, Jama, or Cameo.
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and SysML.
• Experience working within Agile software development and DevSecOps environments.

Required Skills

• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience).
• Proven senior-level systems engineering experience with complex, software-intensive mission systems.
• Strong background in translating operational concepts into testable system requirements.
• Demonstrated experience with requirements allocation, technical baseline management, and traceability matrices.
• Experience analyzing interface control documents and managing subsystem interfaces.
• Experience supporting system integration, verification, validation, and formal technical reviews.

Preferred Skills

• Experience supporting intelligence community, defense, space, or SIGINT mission systems.
• Familiarity with requirements management tools such as DOORS, Jama, or Cameo.
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and SysML.
• Experience working within Agile software development and DevSecOps environments.

Security Clearance

• Level: Top Secret
• Health and Financial Foundation - Medical, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, disability coverage, and flexible spending accounts are described in the benefits page.
• Time Away and Flexibility Where Mission Permits - PTO, holidays, sick time, military leave, and flexible arrangements are supported where program and security requirements allow.
• Professional Development - The site references certification support, training, conferences, mentorship, internal mobility, and individual development planning.

Hiring process

1. Apply

2. Recruiter Review

   Recruiting reviews your resume for role alignment, technical background, clearance status where relevant, and program fit.

3. Interview

   Qualified candidates may meet program, technical, or delivery leaders to discuss experience and expectations for the role.

4. Offer

   When there is a match, the team coordinates offer, onboarding, clearance transfer or sponsorship details where contractually authorized.

Mission

Footbridge Federal delivers engineering, cyber, mission IT, analytics, and cleared program support for defense, intelligence, federal civilian, homeland security, and research missions.

Culture

Mission Context Matters

Candidates should expect work tied to defense, intelligence, federal civilian, homeland, and research missions rather than generic commercial delivery.

Small-Team Accountability

The culture copy emphasizes ownership, communication, and practical execution across teams that work close to customers and program outcomes.

Growth With Technical Credibility

Career content supports hands-on technical growth, certifications, internal mobility, and program leadership without forcing one career track.

Benefits & why work here

• Health and Financial Foundation - Medical, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, disability coverage, and flexible spending accounts are described in the benefits page.
• Time Away and Flexibility Where Mission Permits - PTO, holidays, sick time, military leave, and flexible arrangements are supported where program and security requirements allow.
• Professional Development - The site references certification support, training, conferences, mentorship, internal mobility, and individual development planning.