Principal Systems Engineer - Solutions

SES Space & Defense; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SES Space & Defense is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer – Solutions to lead end-to-end technical solution development for strategic pursuits. You will translate customer needs into integrated architectures spanning satellite, terrestrial, cloud, software, and cybersecurity domains, coordinating across engineering, BD, and customers.

The role targets an experienced systems engineer or solutions architect with a strong track record in multi-domain integration and technical leadership,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline.
• Typically 10–15 years of progressively responsible systems engineering, solution architecture, or systems integration experience.
• Active Secret Security Clearance or ability to obtain and maintain one.
• Experience with multi-orbit satellite communications and hybrid architectures preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical solution development for strategic customer pursuits and competitive capture opportunities.
• Translate customer operational needs into end-to-end solution architectures spanning satellite, terrestrial, cloud, software, cybersecurity, and network infrastructure.
• Develop system architectures, operational concepts, interface definitions, engineering trade studies, and technical approaches.
• Serve as the lead technical integrator across multidisciplinary engineering teams, coordinating expertise from satellite communications, networking, software, cloud, cybersecurity, product engineering, and operations.
• Develop architectures supporting multi-orbit satellite communications and hybrid network environments utilizing wired and wireless transport technologies.
• Support technical strategy development for new service offerings and future business opportunities.
• Develop technical proposal content, white papers, executive briefings, technical presentations, and customer demonstrations.
• Participate in customer meetings, technical interchange meetings, architecture reviews, and design workshops.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and commercial best practices for incorporation into future SES Space & Defense solutions.
• Mentor junior engineers while promoting systems thinking and engineering excellence.

Skills

Systems engineering

Solution architecture

Customer collaboration

Technical leadership

Proposal development

Experience 10–15 years

Multidisciplinary integration

Leadership in teams

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/CS/IS

Tools

Microsoft Office

Visio

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

SES Space & Defense is a trusted partner ensuring mission success for our customers by blanketing the globe with multi orbit end to end satellite and technology solutions which provide reliable, secure, and high bandwidth connectivity. We strive to be the only solution when success is critical, and we will take care of our employees because we recognize they are our competitive advantage. The SES S&D Team, along with our customers and partners, will achieve success through integrity, honor, and commitment.

What You’ll Do

The Principal Systems Engineer – Solutions leads the development of innovative, end-to-end technical solutions supporting strategic business pursuits, customer capture activities, and select internal engineering initiatives. Working closely with Business Development, Capture, Engineering, and customers, you will translate mission requirements into integrated solution architectures spanning multi-orbit satellite communications, hybrid satellite and terrestrial networking, cloud technologies, software integration, automation, and secure communications. This role serves as a technical integrator, bringing together subject matter experts from across the organization to develop practical, executable solutions that balance customer needs, technical maturity, cost, and execution risk. In addition to supporting strategic capture efforts, you will help develop reusable solution frameworks, reference architectures, and engineering standards that strengthen the company's long-term technical capabilities. This position is ideal for an experienced systems engineer or solutions architect who enjoys solving complex customer challenges while working across multiple engineering disciplines.

• Lead the technical solution development for strategic customer pursuits and competitive capture opportunities
• Translate customer operational needs into innovative, end-to-end solution architectures spanning satellite, terrestrial, cloud, software, cybersecurity, and network infrastructure
• Develop system architectures, operational concepts, interface definitions, engineering trade studies, and technical approaches supporting complex communications solutions
• Serve as the lead technical integrator across multidisciplinary engineering teams, coordinating expertise from satellite communications, networking, software, cloud, cybersecurity, product engineering, and operations organizations
• Develop architectures supporting multi-orbit satellite communications and hybrid satellite and terrestrial network environments utilizing wired and wireless transport technologies
• Support technical strategy development for new service offerings and future business opportunities
• Develop technical proposal content, white papers, executive briefings, technical presentations, and customer demonstrations
• Participate in customer meetings, technical interchange meetings, architecture reviews, and design workshops
• Evaluate emerging technologies and commercial best practices for incorporation into future SES Space & Defense solutions
• Support internal initiatives to develop reusable solution frameworks, engineering standards, and reference architectures
• Mentor junior engineers while promoting systems thinking and engineering excellence throughout the organization

Who You Are

You are a systems engineer who enjoys solving complex technical challenges and working directly with customers to develop practical, mission-focused solutions. Your experience spans multiple engineering disciplines, allowing you to connect satellite communications, networking, cloud technologies, software, and cybersecurity into cohesive system architectures. You are comfortable collaborating with engineering teams, supporting business development and capture efforts, and communicating technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. You bring a systems-thinking mindset, balancing customer requirements, technical feasibility, and business objectives to deliver well-rounded solutions. Most importantly, you enjoy being the technical bridge between customers, engineering teams, and product organizations while helping shape future capabilities for the business.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and directly applicable experience
• Typically 10–15 years of progressively responsible systems engineering, solution architecture, or systems integration experience
• Demonstrated experience developing technical solutions supporting customer captures, proposal efforts, or large system implementations
• Broad understanding of systems engineering principles across multiple engineering disciplines
• Experience integrating heterogeneous technologies into cohesive operational solutions
• Working knowledge of IP networking, enterprise networking, cloud technologies, virtualization, software interfaces, APIs, automation, and orchestration
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and technical documentation skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Visio
• Active Secret Security Clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one
• Experience supporting U.S. Government or Department of Defense programs preferred
• Experience with multi-orbit satellite communications (GEO, MEO, and LEO) and hybrid satellite and terrestrial network architectures preferred
• Familiarity with satellite ground systems, gateway architectures, teleports, Network Operations Centers (NOCs), or Satellite Operations Centers (SOCs) preferred
• Experience with cloud-native architectures, network virtualization, software-defined networking, and service orchestration preferred
• Familiarity with cybersecurity principles applicable to secure communications systems preferred
• Experience supporting digital engineering, Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), or enterprise architecture initiatives preferred
• Experience presenting technical solutions to executive leadership and government customers preferred
• Experience with mission-critical communications, solution architecture, technical capture support, and systems integration across complex communications environments preferred

SES Space & Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.