Senior Systems Engineer

Unity Compass; Alexandria (VA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Unity Compass in the United States is seeking a highly motivated Senior Systems Engineer to lead enterprise-level systems engineering for GEOINT capabilities. The role directs development, integration, and optimization of complex systems to support national security objectives.

You will provide strategic and technical leadership across the full lifecycle, coordinating across teams to deliver scalable and secure system solutions. Top Secret/SCI clearance is required for this government project.

Qualifications

• US citizenship required per contract.
• Bachelor’s degree with 8–12 years of relevant experience, or Master’s with 6–10 years.
• Deep knowledge of systems engineering across lifecycle.
• Experience in large-scale government/ DoD programs (IC/DoD).
• Leading multi-disciplinary teams in technical execution and delivery.
• Familiarity with DoDAF, UAF, SysML and MBSE tooling.

Responsibilities

• Serve as senior technical lead to government stakeholders on enterprise systems engineering strategies and processes.
• Develop and manage system requirements, design docs, ICDs, and verification strategies.
• Lead technical working groups, reviews, and decision boards with customers and partners.
• Conduct architectural assessments and trade studies for performance, risk, and compliance.
• Integrate cloud services and data analytics into GEOINT workflows.
• Oversee MBSE practices using tools like Cameo.
• Mentor mid-level and junior engineers on best practices and standards.

Skills

Systems engineering

Lead multi-disciplinary teams

Analytical skills

Communication skills

MBSE

Cameo

SysML

DoDAF

UAF

Education

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

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

Tools

Cameo

Job description

• [e-mail]
• Job Type: On-site
• Pay Range: $90,000 - $175,000
• Clearance Required: Top Secret/SCI

Job Overview:

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Systems Engineer to lead enterprise-level systems engineering activities in support of mission-critical geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) capabilities. The role involves guiding the development, integration, and optimization of complex systems that directly support national security objectives.

As a key member of the engineering team, you will provide strategic and technical leadership across the full systems engineering lifecycle—ensuring each phase meets the highest standards of technical rigor, operational performance, and mission alignment. The ideal candidate possesses both deep technical expertise and the ability to coordinate across diverse teams to deliver effective, scalable, and secure system solutions.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Serve as a senior technical lead and advisor to government stakeholders on enterprise systems engineering strategies, architectures, and processes.
• Develop and manage system requirements, design documentation, interface control documents (ICDs), and verification strategies.
• Lead technical working groups, engineering reviews, and decision boards in coordination with the Customer’s, mission partners, and other contractors.
• Conduct architectural assessments and trade studies to evaluate system performance, risk, and compliance with enterprise frameworks.
• Integrate emerging technologies, including cloud-based services and data analytics tools, into operational GEOINT workflows.
• Oversee implementation of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) practices using tools like Cameo.
• Mentor mid-level and junior engineers and provide guidance on best practices and standards in system development and integration.

Basic Qualifications:

• US citizenship is required per contract.
• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or related field and 8-12 years of prior relevant experience or Master’s with 6-10 years of prior relevant experience.
• Deep knowledge of systems engineering principles, tools, and techniques across the entire lifecycle.
• Proven experience in large-scale, complex government or defense programs, preferably in the IC or DoD.
• Familiarity with the Customer’s mission, architecture, and data systems.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams in technical execution and project delivery.
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Expert Systems Engineering Professional (ESEP), INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional (ESEP), CISSP, Security+ certification, or similar credentials.
• Hands-on experience with Agile, SAFe, or DevSecOps environments.
• Experience working on the Customer’s specific programs.
• Proficiency with MBSE tools (Cameo), architecture frameworks (DoDAF, UAF), and modeling languages (SysML).
• Familiarity with Amazon Web Services (AWS), C2S, or similar government cloud platforms.