Systems Engineer L2 (Security Clearance Reqd)

Oak Leaf Solutions; Hanover (MD); On-site; USD 165,000 - 183,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium Medical Coverage

Dental & Vision Insurance

401(k) with company contribution

Paid Leave

Job summary

Oak Leaf Solutions is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer (Level 2) to shape and deliver complex systems for national security. Based in Hanover, MD, you will translate user needs into architectures, lead engineers, and ensure integrity of critical systems in DoD/IC contexts.

The ideal candidate will manage requirements, develop system designs, and provide technical direction across government programs, with extensive DoDAF and SOA experience.

Qualifications

• Current TS/SCI clearance with MD polygraph is required.
• Fourteen years of systems engineering experience in similar scope and complexity.
• Bachelor's degree in System Engineering, CS, IS, or related field.
• Five extra years of SE experience may substitute for a degree.
• Three years of IC privacy compliance experience (legal/technical).
• Two years of experience with NSA systems architecture.

Responsibilities

• Analyze requirements, COOP documents, and high-level architectures to develop system specs.
• Lead design and development activities and guide solution integration.
• Provide technical leadership for requirements integration across teams and gov't interfaces.
• Develop system architecture and design documentation; manage engineering plans and test plans.
• Coordinate actions from reviews and ensure compliance with DoD/IC standards.
• Develop and review interface control documents and system engineering plans.

Skills

DoDAF architecture

SOA integration

Systems engineering leadership

Requirements analysis

Technical documentation

Risk assessment

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

DoDAF

NSA systems architecture

Job description

LOCATION: HANOVER, MD

SECURITY CLEARANCE: TS/SCI with FULL SCOPE POLYGRAPH required for consideration

SALARY RANGE: 165K - 183K

Oak Leaf Solutions is searching for an experienced, mission‑driven Systems Engineer to help shape, design, and deliver complex solutions that directly support national security. Based in Hanover, MD, this role offers the opportunity to lead high‑impact engineering efforts—translating user needs into robust architectures, guiding technical teams, and ensuring the integrity of sophisticated, real‑world systems. If you’re a seasoned professional with deep expertise in system design, integration, and Intelligence Community requirements—and you’re ready to apply that knowledge in an environment that values technical excellence and innovation—we invite you to bring your skills to a role where they truly matter.

The ideal candidate will be responsible for the following:

• Analyzes user's requirements, concept of operations documents, and high level system architectures to develop system requirements specifications.
• Analyzes system requirements and leads design and development activities.
• Guides users in formulating requirements, advises alternative approaches, and conducts feasibility studies.
• Provides technical leadership for the integration of requirements, design, and technology.
• Incorporates new plans, designs and systems into ongoing operations.
• Develops technical documentation.
• Develops system architecture and system design documentation.
• Guides system development and implementation planning through assessment or preparation of system engineering management plans and system integration and test plans. Interacts with the Government regarding Systems Engineering technical considerations and for associated problems, issues or conflicts.
• Ultimate responsibility for the technical integrity of work performed and deliverables associated with the Systems Engineering area of responsibility.
• Communicates with other program personnel, government overseers, and senior executives.

The Level 2 System Engineer (SE) shall possess the following capabilities:

• Manage system requirements and derived requirements to ensure the delivery of production systems that are compatible with the defined system architecture(s) - Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF), Service-oriented Architecture (SOA), etc.
• Contribute to the development of sections of systems engineering documentation such as System Engineering Plans, Initial Capabilities Documents, Requirements specifications, and Interface Control Documents.
• Assist with the development of system requirements, functional requirements, and allocation of the same to individual hardware, software, facility, and personnel components.
• Coordinate the resolution of action items from Configuration Control Board (CCB) meetings, design reviews, program reviews, and test reviews that require cross-discipline coordination.
• Participate in an Integrated Product Team to design new capabilities based upon evaluation of all necessary development and operational considerations.
• Allocate real-time process budgets and error budgets to systems and subsystem components.
• Generate alternative system concepts, physical architectures, and design solutions.
• Define the methods, processes, and evaluation criteria by which the systems, subsystems and work products are verified against their requirements in a written plan.
• Develop system design solution that satisfies the system requirements and fulfills the functional analysis.
• Review and provide input to program and contract work breakdown structure (WBS), work packages and the integrated master plan (IMP).
• Participate in the development of system engineering documentation, such as System Engineering Plans, initial Capabilities Documents, Requirements Specifications, and Interface Control Documents.
• Participate in interface definition, design, and changes to the configuration between affected groups and individuals throughout the life cycle.
• Derive from the system requirements an understanding of stakeholder needs, functions that may be logically inferred and implied as essential to system effectiveness.
• Derive lower-level requirements from higher-level allocated requirements that describe in detail the functions that a system component must fulfill, and ensure these requirements are complete, correct, unique, unambiguous, realizable, and verifiable.
• Participate in establishing and gaining approval of the definition of a system or component under development (requirements, designs, interfaces, test procedures, etc.) that provides a common reference point for hardware and software developers.
• Develop derived requirements for Information Assurance Services (Confidentiality, Integrity, Non repudiation, and Availability); Basic Information Assurance Mechanisms (e.g., Identification, Authentication, Access Control, Accountability); and Security Mechanism Technology (Passwords, cryptography, discretionary access control, mandatory access control, hashing, key management, etc.).
• Implement comprehensive SOA solutions.
• Implement operational view, technical standards view, and system and services view for architectures using applicable DoDAF standards.
• Review and/or approve system engineering documentation to ensure that processes and specifications meet system needs and are accurate, comprehensive, and complete.
• Capture all interface designs in a common interface control format, and store interface data in a commonly accessible repository.
• Assess each risk to the program and determine the probability of occurrence and quantified consequence of failure in accordance with an approved risk management plan.
• In conjunction with system stakeholders, plan the verification efforts of new and unproven designs early in the development life cycle to ensure compliance with established requirements.
• Prepare time-line analysis diagrams illustrating the flow of time-dependent functions.
• Establish a process to formally and proactively control and manage changes to requirements, consider impacts before commitment to change, gain stakeholder buy-in, eliminate ambiguity, ensure traceability to source requirements, and track and settle open actions.
• Manage and ensure the technical integrity of the system baseline over time, continually updating it as various changes are imposed on the system during the lifecycle from development through deployment and operations & maintenance.
• Support the planning and test analysis of the DoD Certification/Accreditation Process (as well as other Government Certification and Accreditation (C&A) processes).
• Support the development and review of Joint Capability Integration Development System (JCIDS) documents (i.e., Initial Capability Document, Capabilities Description Document, IA Strategy).
• Provide technical direction for the development, engineering, interfacing, integration, and testing of specific components of complex hardware/software systems to include requirements elicitation, analysis and functional allocation, conducting systems requirements reviews, developing concepts of operation and interface standards, developing system architectures, and performing technical/non-technical assessment and management as well as end-to-end flow analysis
• Develop scenarios (threads) and an Operational Concept that describes the interactions between the system, the user, and the environment, that satisfies operational, support, maintenance, and disposal needs.
• Conduct quantitative analysis in non-functional system performance areas like Reliability, Maintainability, Vulnerability, Survivability, Produce-ability, etc.).
• Establish and follow a formal procedure for coordinating system integration activities among multiple teams, ensuring complete coverage of all interfaces.

Requirements

• A current and active TS/SCI Clearance with a MD Polygraph is required to be considered.
• Fourteen (14) years experience as a SE in programs and contracts of similar scope, type and complexity is required.
• A Bachelor's degree in System Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering Science, Engineering Management, or related discipline from an accredited college or university is required.
• Five (5) years of additional SE experience may be substituted for a bachelor's degree.
• Three (3) years of experience in the legal or technical aspects of Intelligence Community Privacy Compliance required.
• Two (2) years of experience with NSA systems architecture.

About Oak Leaf Solutions

Founded in 2008, Oak Leaf Solutions is a mission-driven small business delivering advanced systems engineering, cybersecurity, and technical operations to U.S. Government customers. We specialize in high-impact work that supports national security, while cultivating a culture that values innovation, integrity, and employee well-being. At Oak Leaf, you’ll find a place where your skills make a difference—and where your compensation reflects your value. We offer highly competitive salaries, exceptional benefits, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth. Veterans, reservists, and cleared professionals are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more at www.oakleafsolutions.net.

What We Offer

Our benefits are designed to take care of you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between:

• Premium Medical Coverage
• Tricare Supplement Plan – 100% employer-paid for employees, 80% for dependents
• Dental & Vision Insurance – 100% employer-paid
• Disability Insurance – 100% employer-paid
• Life Insurance – $100,000 policy, 100% employer-paid
• 401(k) with Company Contribution – Pre-tax or Roth, with up to $5,000/year in contributions
• Generous Paid Leave – 15 PTO days + 11 federal holidays + up to 12 weeks parental leave
• Professional Development – Up to $5,250/year for certifications, training, and education
• Wellness Perks – Gym membership reimbursement (up to $50/month) + CareFirst Blue365 discounts
• Support for Military Families – Pay differential for active duty reserve service
• ...and more.