Systems Engineer/Training Instructor

Cornerstone Defense LLC; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision Plans

Generous PTO Policy

401(k)

HSA/FSA options

Life and Disability Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Referral Program

Professional Training Support

Career Growth

Travel Assistance

Life Planning Services

Job summary

Cornerstone Defense LLC in Chantilly, VA is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to lead the modernization of an existing systems engineering training program. You will head the technical refresh, align content with current practices, and collaborate with instructional designers and SMEs to produce engaging, mission-relevant training products.

The role demands 10+ years in systems engineering, IC experience, and the ability to translate complex concepts into practical content for adult

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance and polygraph required.
• Experience in systems engineering with modernization efforts.
• Ability to translate technical concepts into practical training content.
• Strong collaboration with instructional designers and SMEs.

Responsibilities

• Review current week-long Systems Engineering training course for gaps and outdated content.
• Lead technical modernization aligning with IC practices and adult learning principles.
• Serve as SME for course modernization and coordinate with designers and multimedia teams.
• Develop instructor guides, student guides, slide decks, and exercises.
• Support pilot deliveries, gather feedback, and implement improvements.
• Ensure materials are accurate, current, and sustainable for future delivery.

Skills

Active TS/SCI Clearance

Polygraph

Systems Engineering Experience

Adult Learning Content

Stakeholder Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree or commensurate experience

Job description

Clearance: Active TS/SCI and Polygraph needed to apply.

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

Systems Engineer

Seeking an experienced Systems Engineer with Intelligence Community experience to support the modernization of an existing systems engineering training program.

The selected candidate will be responsible for leading the technical refresh and redesign of a current week-long Systems Engineering training course. The existing course is outdated and requires a comprehensive review, update, and redesign to better align with current systems engineering practices, mission needs, and adult learning principles.

The Systems Engineer will serve as the primary technical subject matter expert for the course modernization effort and will collaborate closely with internal instructional systems designers, multimedia specialists, graphics professionals, and other stakeholders to produce an updated, engaging, and mission-relevant training product.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing and assessing the current week-long Systems Engineering training course to identify outdated content, gaps, redundancies, and opportunities for improvement
• Leading the technical modernization of course content to ensure alignment with current systems engineering practices, methodologies, tools, and Intelligence Community mission environments
• Partnering with instructional systems designers to convert technical systems engineering concepts into effective learning objectives, lesson plans, exercises, assessments, and instructional materials
• Working with multimedia and graphics teams to enhance the visual quality, usability, and learner engagement of training products
• Supporting the design and development of systems engineering training for adult learners, including practical examples, scenarios, case studies, and applied exercises
• Assisting in the design and management of system-level solutions, including coordinating technical requirements across teams and stakeholders
• Facilitating requirements discussions and ensuring training content accurately reflects systems engineering processes, lifecycle considerations, and mission needs
• Collaborating with government, contractor, technical, and training stakeholders to gather input, validate content, and drive consensus
• Developing or refining course materials, including instructor guides, student guides, slide decks, practical exercises, job aids, assessments, and supporting documentation
• Supporting pilot deliveries or course reviews, capturing feedback, and incorporating improvements
• Ensuring final training materials are accurate, current, well-organized, and sustainable for future delivery

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI and Polygraph
• Minimum of 10 years of professional Systems Engineering experience
• Bachelor's Degree, or commensurate experience can be substituted for the degree
• Prior experience supporting or working within the Intelligence Community
• Demonstrated experience assisting in the design, development, integration, or management of system-level solutions
• Experience coordinating requirements across multiple teams, stakeholders, or technical disciplines
• Strong understanding of systems engineering principles, processes, and lifecycle activities
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, structured, and practical content
• Strong communication, collaboration, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Ability to work effectively with instructional designers, multimedia developers, graphics teams, technical SMEs, and program leadership
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment
• Ability to work independently while also contributing as part of a cross-functional team

Desired Qualifications

• Experience developing, updating, or delivering Systems Engineering training
• Experience designing or delivering instruction for adult learners
• Familiarity with instructional design models such as ADDIE, SAM, or similar course development frameworks
• Experience modernizing outdated technical training materials
• Experience creating scenario-based learning, practical exercises, case studies, or performance-based assessments
• Familiarity with current systems engineering tools, requirements management tools, architecture frameworks, or model-based systems engineering concepts
• Experience supporting technical training within classified or mission-focused environment

Prior experience serving as a technical instructor, course developer, curriculum SME, training lead, or workshop facilitator.

The position is located in Chantilly, VA.