Air Defense/AAW Senior Systems Engineer
Lead Systems Engineer serving as the principal technical direction engineer embedded in a U.S. Navy weapon system program office in Arlington, VA (100% on-site). The role drives S&T roadmapping, threat-vs-requirements analysis, and system-of-systems integration for terminal defense weapons (RAM, CIWS) and combat systems (Aegis, SSDS), applying MBSE/digital engineering. Requires active DoD Secret c
- Compensation
- Not disclosed
- Location
- Arlington, VA
- Work setup
- Onsite
- Seniority
- Senior
- Employment
- Contract
- Experience
- 10+ years
- Category
- Software engineering
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Master's Degree in a STEM discipline (or Bachelor's Degree with equivalent demonstrated experience directly with U.S. Navy surface weapon systems or combat systems)
- 10 years of systems engineering experience with U.S. Navy surface weapon systems, surface combat systems (e.g., SSDS, Aegis), or naval guided munitions
- Active DoD SECRET clearance required (Top Secret eligible preferred); ability to access SIPRNet and handle classified intelligence/threat briefings
- Able to work 100% on-site in Arlington, VA (not eligible for hybrid or remote work)
Nice to have
- Direct technical experience with Navy terminal defense elements, including Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) and Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) weapon systems, launchers, and guided missile rounds
- Proven track record leading requirements analysis, weapon specification development, and System Engineering Technical Reviews (SETR) per the NAVSEA Technical Review Manual (TRM)
- Practical familiarity with MBSE tools and architectures (e.g., Cameo Systems Modeler, MagicDraw, SysML, DoDAF)
- Working knowledge of weapon-to-combat system interface documentation (ICDs, IRSs), firing policies, and combat system designation loops
- Excellent executive briefing, written communication, and cross-functional leadership skills with the poise to advise military program managers, technical directors, and international steering committe
Full description
Decision Technologies is seeking an experienced, high-impact Air Defense/AAW Senior Systems Engineer ready to take the next major step in their career trajectory by serving as the principal technical direction engineer embedded within a major U.S. Navy weapon system program office. This is a 100% in-office (Arlington, VA), on-site position sitting inside the Navy program office spaces. This position is not eligible for hybrid or remote work arrangements.
Position Description:
This role is tailored for an accomplished surface weapons or combat systems engineer, especially those with direct experience at OEMs and Labs/Warfare Centers who are looking to move beyond isolated subsystem tasks and transition into high-visibility technical leadership across the Navy enterprise. Embedded directly with program leadership, you will partner with the Government Technical Director to steer future weapon capability, analyze real-world operational feedback from the Fleet, and translate emerging threat intelligence into actionable science & technology (S&T) roadmaps for the next generation of surface munitions and ship self-defense capabilities.
YOU MUST HAVE AN ACTIVE DOD SECRET CLEARANCE / TOP SECRET PREFERRED
Responsibilities
The selectee will serve as the Decision Technologies Lead Systems Engineer for U.S. Navy Terminal Defense Systems engineering support. In this capacity, you will drive top-level engineering analysis, architectural roadmapping, and operational alignment across the portfolio:
- Strategic Planning & S&T Roadmapping: Lead technical, programmatic, and architectural roadmapping across the entire IWS 11 portfolio. Identify, evaluate, and transition emerging Science & Technology (S&T) and R&D solutions to formulate future weapon system upgrade evolutions.
- Operational Fleet Feedback & Threat Analysis: Serve as the trusted technical advisor to the Government Technical Director, keeping a constant pulse on real-world operational challenges, Fleet feedback, and live combat engagements to rapidly inform near-term CONOPS and long-term capability baselines.
- Threat vs. Weapon Systems Requirements Analysis: Analyze cutting-edge threat intelligence and emerging adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) against current and planned surface weapon capabilities to identify gaps, update weapon specifications, and drive survivability solutions.
- Combat System & Weapon Integration: Direct system-of-systems (SoS) integration studies and interface definitions linking terminal defense weapons (e.g., RAM, CIWS) into ship combat systems (such as SSDS and Aegis) and advanced sensor suites (e.g., SPY-6 EASR).
- High-Level Stakeholder & Enterprise Alignment: Interface at the senior executive and Flag/SES levels across PAE Munitions, PAE Mission Systems, OPNAV, warfare centers (NSWC Dahlgren, NSWC Port Hueneme, NAWC China Lake), international cooperative partners, and national security leadership.