Principal Systems Engineer (Onsite)

BAE Systems; Springfield (VA); On-site; USD 118,095 - 200,762; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Employee assistance program

Job summary

BAE Systems is seeking an experienced Network & Application Support Engineer to support a critical NGA contract. The role balances maintaining legacy systems with innovating new capabilities, with a strong customer focus on NGA mission alignment.

The position requires 24/7 on-site availability, TS clearance with SCI/CI poly, and expertise in Linux, PostgreSQL, and Xen Orchestra. You will engage across facilities and act as escalation SME, shaping a long-term technical roadmap for geospatial

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related technical field.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage VPCs with Linux VMs, cloud providers, and secure network appliances.
• Configure and harden network hardware, including firewalls, switches, routers, and IPS, and Linux in cloud/physical
• Provide core infra and bandwidth service delivery architecture support.
• Provide 24x7 mission support and monitor customer applications.
• Triage issues, research, and implement permanent fixes.
• Incident management: log interactions and track resolutions per CONOPS.
• Serve as SME escalation point for vendors and site SMEs.
• Prepare daily ops briefings and maintain system knowledge.
• Collaborate with customer to identify pain points and propose solutions.
• Contribute to long-term technical roadmap for contract.

Skills

Network engineering

Cloud virtualization

Linux administration

PostgreSQL

Xen Orchestra

Hypervisor tech

Troubleshooting

Clearance Top Secret

Written communication

Technical writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/EE

Top Secret clearance

SCI Polygraph eligibility

Master's degree

Tools

Xen Orchestra

Hypervisor technology

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

PostgreSQL

Job description

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Network & Application Support Engineer to join our team in support of a critical, long-standing contract with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). This role offers a unique balance between maintaining the stability of legacy systems and driving the innovation of new capabilities.

The ideal candidate will be deeply customer-focused, ensuring all technical deliverables align with the NGA’s operational mission and strategic goals. While you will enter an environment with established stability and a deep institutional knowledge base, the evolving needs of the NGA ensure the work remains challenging and forward-looking. This dual‑function role encompasses both the engineering of sophisticated enterprise computing infrastructure and the critical 24/7 operational sustainment of customer applications.

The successful candidate will provide engineering services for network infrastructure—including cloud services, containerized solutions, and virtualized applications—while ensuring the day‑to‑day stability of customer applications and segment interfaces. This role interfaces directly with engineering resources across multiple facilities and serves as the high‑level technical escalation point for complex system anomalies.

This position offers significant growth potential, providing a pathway to transition from a technical expert into a leadership role as you help shape the future of geospatial intelligence capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Infrastructure Engineering & Optimization
  • Cloud & Virtualization: Build and manage VPCs with Linux VMs using commercial cloud providers (eg. AWS), configuring them as network appliances and ensuring they meet strict cybersecurity standards.
  • Network Hardening: Configure and harden network hardware, including firewalls, switches, routers, and IPS, as well as Linux OS in both cloud and physical environments.
  • Architecture Support: Provide expertise in core infrastructure, voice/video engineering, network analytics, and bandwidth service delivery.
• Operations & Application Sustainment
  • Mission Support: Provide critical 24x7 mission support, monitoring customer applications and investigating segment interfaces to minimize operational impacts.
  • Triage & Resolution: Perform initial assessment, research, and technical assistance for hardware and software issues; isolate problems and implement permanent solutions.
  • Incident Management: Respond to technical requests via phone, email, or in person; log all interactions and track resolutions following standard help desk procedures and CONOPS.
  • SME Escalation: Act as a primary point of contact for problem escalation with vendors, factories, and other site Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).
  • Reporting: Prepare daily operational status briefings and maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of all system changes and updates.
  • Customer Engagement: Foster a collaborative relationship with the Customer to identify pain points and propose proactive technical solutions.
  • Strategic Planning: Contribute to the long‑term technical roadmap of the contract, identifying opportunities for modernisation and efficiency gains.

The role is performed 100% full‑time on‑site at a BAE Systems customer facility. Due to the 24x7 mission requirement, the candidate must be able to provide independent troubleshooting and resolution during after‑hours and weekends (Call‑in support).

Required Education, Experience & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related technical field.
• Hold an active/current Top Secret clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain an SCI clearance with Counter Intelligence (CI) Polygraph.
• Applicant must be able to obtain and maintain the CompTIA Security+ certification or equivalent.
• Experience in the field of cybersecurity.
• Experience troubleshooting computer systems, hardware and software issues.
• Experience with Linux (Red Hat Enterprise Linux preferred) and PostgreSQL or other relational databases.
• Working knowledge of Xen Orchestra and hypervisor technology.
• Strong oral and written communications skills.
• Technical writing skills: capable of creating and modifying engineering documentation.
• Ability to take initiative, multi‑task and work well under pressure.

Preferred Education, Experience & Skills

• Hold an active/current Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance with CI polygraph.
• Master’s degree in computer science or computer engineering.
• Working experience with NGA GEOINT Data Types and Products.
• Active CompTIA Security+ Certification.
• Expert‑level experience with Linux (Red Hat Enterprise Linux preferred) and PostgreSQL or other relational databases.
• Expert‑level knowledge of Xen Orchestra and hypervisor technology.
• Experience deploying internet network infrastructure and a thorough understanding of the customer's core appliances and services.

Pay Information

Full‑Time Salary Range: $118,095 - $200,762

Employee Benefits

Health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; 401(k) savings plan; disability and life coverage; employee assistance program; legal plan; and additional perks including discounts on insurance products. Leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, parental, military, bereavement, and applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in company recognition programmes and other incentives based on position level and/or job specifics.