Sr. Systems Engineer

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 will lead systems architecture, requirements development, and technical integration across hardware, software, FPGA, and mechanical engineering teams. The position requires a strong engineering background with demonstrated experience delivering products that integrate both hardware and software components, along with the ability to drive complex technical decisions throughout the system development lifecycle.

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.

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.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience developing high‑assurance encryption devices or secure communications systems.
• Knowledge of MACsec, IPsec, and related network encryption technologies.
• Hands‑on experience with FPGA design, development, or integration.
• Familiarity with cryptographic architectures, key management, and secure hardware design.
• Experience supporting formal security certification and accreditation processes for cryptographic products.
• Experience delivering government or defense‑related hardware and software products.
• Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

Salary Range

USD $120,000.00 - USD $200,000.00 /Yr.The Markon pay range for this position is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Overview

Eager to join a team where your skills are valued, your growth is nurtured, and your impact is profound? Look no further than Markon, a premier consulting firm deeply dedicated to advancing our nation's most critical missions.

At Markon, we don't just offer jobs - we offer opportunities for personal and professional transformation. Empowering our employees to lead, innovate, and excel, we foster an environment where new ideas are not just welcomed but celebrated. As a perennial Washington Post Top Workplace, we prioritize the well‑being and success of our team members, ensuring they can bring their best selves to work.

Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, Markon has garnered national recognition for our unwavering dedication to excellence in serving the intelligence community, as well as federal civilian and defense agencies. Our growing reach extends across 17 states, 116 countries, and 5