Program Lead/Systems Engineer with Security Clearance

Cornerstone Defense LLC; Fort Meade (MD); On-site; USD 190,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Dental Vision

401(k)

HSA/FSA

Life/Disability Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Perks at Work

Referral Program

Travel Assistance

Lifelock Benefit Solutions

Life Planning

Job summary

Cornerstone Defense LLC is seeking a Program Lead/Systems Engineer to guide JWICS system-level requirements, oversee integration and verification, and lead a 10–15 person team. The role requires active TS/SCI clearance and DoD experience.

You will coordinate with internal and external stakeholders, develop system engineering documentation, manage risks, and estimate schedules. Strong leadership and communication are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with 8+–10+ years of experience in DoD/IC environments.
• Active TS/SCI clearance required.
• Security+ or SecurityX certification (DoD 8140-compliant).
• Experience designing, delivering data-driven operational capabilities in DoD environments.
• 3+ years of supervisory or management experience.
• 3+ years of network engineering fundamentals and virtualization experience.
• 2+ years of project planning experience.
• 2+ years of risk management experience.
• Experience with Windows and Linux/RHEL operating systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication, ability to brief senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise a technical team of 10–15 personnel, conduct performance reviews and mentoring.
• Gather requirements, perform gap analysis, develop use cases and specifications.
• Execute systems engineering activities including requirements analysis, planning, integration and testing.
• Develop and maintain system specifications, I/O definitions, and compatibility guidance.
• Manage external dependencies, risks, and mitigation strategies.
• Provide regular status updates to leadership on progress and risks.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Team management

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Windows

Linux

VMware/Omnissa Horizon

SQL/Oracle databases

Job description

Title: Program Lead/Systems Engineer Location: Ft. Meade, MD (10% Travel) Compensation Range: $190 - $210k Clearance:

• Active DoD TS/SCI Company Overview: Cornerstone Defense is the Employer of Choice within the Intelligence, Defense, and Space communities of the U.S. Government. Realizing early on that our most prized assets are our employees, we continually focus our attention on improving the overall work/life experience they have supporting the mission. Our Team is pushed every day to use their industry leading knowledge to provide end-to-end solutions to combat our nation's toughest and most secure problems. If you are looking for a place to not only be professionally challenged, but encouraged and supported by a company that cares, don't look any further than Cornerstone Defense.


• Benefits Overview: Cornerstone Defense offers a very comprehensive benefits package including, but not limited to: Medical, Dental and Vision Plans


• Generous PTO Policy


• 401(k)


• HSA and FSA options


• Life and Disability Insurance


• Tuition Reimbursement and Training


• Perks at Work Discount Program


• Referral Program


• Leads Generation Program


• CollegeAmerica 529


• Fitness Reimbursement Program


• Travel Assistance


• Norton Lifelock Benefit Solutions


• Life Planning Financial & Legal Services


• Position Description: The Program Lead/System Engineer oversees system-level requirements, directs integration and verification activities, and manages user acceptance testing to ensure JWICS systems remain fully operational. This position involves both technical leadership and supervisory duties, including management of a 10-15-person team, coordination with internal and external stakeholders, system engineering documentation, risk management, and schedule estimation. Core Tasks:


• Lead and supervise a technical team of 10-15 personnel, conducting performance reviews, managing time charges, and providing coaching, mentoring, and daily leadership.


• Conduct requirements gathering, gap analysis, use case development, functional/specification development, test planning, and system design documentation.


• Execute systems engineering activities including requirements analysis, implementation planning, third-party coordination, integration and testing, deployment, and system assessments.


• Apply systems engineering methodologies for system planning, design, execution, and sustainment.


• Support development of technical platform processes, system specifications, I/O definitions, and hardware/software compatibility guidance.


• Develop, maintain, and manage systems engineering documentation, diagrams, and models using approved SE tools.


• Identify and manage project dependencies, associated risks, and mitigation strategies.


• Monitor technical variances, facilitate issue resolution, and ensure successful delivery of system capabilities.


• Report technical status, progress, and risks to leadership on a consistent basis.


• Identify and manage external dependencies impacting engineering and delivery timelines.


• Estimate levels of effort, resource requirements, and contribute to project scheduling. Qualifications:


• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline and 10+ years of professional experience, or a Master's degree with 8+ years of experience (equivalent experience may be considered).


• Active TS/SCI security clearance.


• Security+ or SecurityX certification (DoD 8140-compliant, Systems Administrator - Intermediate level).


• Experience designing, developing, and delivering data-driven operational capabilities within DoD environments.


• 3+ years of supervisory or management experience.


• 3+ years of experience with network engineering fundamentals and virtualization (foundational VMware or Omnissa Horizon required).


• 2+ years of project planning experience.


• 2+ years of risk management or change management experience.


• Experience with Windows and Linux/RHEL operating systems.


• Proven ability to operate within highly technical teams in fast-paced environments.


• Strong written/verbal communication skills; demonstrated ability to brief senior leadership and partner with engineers, architects, and customer stakeholders.


• Ability to collaborate effectively with personnel across varying disciplines and technical backgrounds. Preferred:


• Understanding of network routing devices and configurations.


• ITIL Foundation knowledge or certification.


• Experience with OS scripting languages (Perl, Python, Shell).


• Experience with databases (SQL, Oracle) and database migrations.