Senior Systems Architect – Secure Encryption & HW/SW

Markon; Maryland; On-site; USD 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Markon is seeking an experienced Senior Systems Engineer to support the development of high-assurance encryption devices and secure communications technologies. This role leads systems architecture, requirements development, and technical integration across hardware, software, FPGA, and mechanical engineering teams in a government-facing environment.

You will own system requirements, oversee design reviews, verification, and government deliverables, mentor engineers, and communicate progress to

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI with Polygraph is required.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of relevant engineering experience supporting complex hardware and software system development.
• Demonstrated experience as a software, electrical, hardware, or FPGA engineer, with hands-on involvement in delivering integrated hardware and software products.
• Strong experience with systems architecture, requirements development, systems integration, and verification and validation.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams through complex technical development efforts.
• Experience conducting technical design reviews, engineering trade studies, and risk assessments.
• Ability to evaluate and resolve technical challenges across hardware, software, firmware, and FPGA interfaces.
• Experience developing technical documentation, system specifications, and government engineering deliverables.
• Strong technical leadership, analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end systems architecture, design, integration, and development of high-assurance encryption devices.
• Provide technical direction across hardware, software, FPGA, and mechanical engineering disciplines, resolving design tradeoffs and integration challenges.
• Define, manage, and maintain system requirements, ensuring traceability, verification, and validation throughout the development lifecycle.
• Lead technical design reviews, including system requirements reviews, preliminary design reviews, and critical design reviews.
• Develop and review technical documentation, engineering specifications, and government contract deliverables.
• Identify and resolve technical risks, design challenges, and cross-functional dependencies impacting system performance and delivery.
• Conduct technical trade studies involving cryptographic architectures, key management, FPGA selection, and system design alternatives.
• Oversee system integration, testing, and validation to ensure compliance with technical, security, and performance requirements.
• Communicate technical progress, risks, and recommendations to government stakeholders and program leadership.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to systems, hardware, software, and test engineers.

Skills

Systems architecture

Requirements development

Technical leadership

Integrated hardware/software products

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering/Computer Engineering/Computer Science/Systems Engineering

Job description

Markon is seeking an experienced Senior Systems Engineer to support the development of high-assurance encryption devices and secure communications technologies. This role leads systems architecture, requirements development, and technical integration across hardware, software, FPGA, and mechanical engineering teams in a government-facing environment.

You will own system requirements, oversee design reviews, verification, and government deliverables, mentor engineers, and communicate progress to