Systems Engineer, Lead

Location: Tampa, Florida

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies - collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose - and help shape the future.

MITRE Technology and Engineering’s (MTE) Systems Engineering Division delivers innovative, multidisciplinary systems engineering solutions that support MITRE and its diverse sponsor base. The division is a leader across government, industry, and academia in advancing next-generation systems engineering and applying best practices to complex national security and public sector challenges. Its technical expertise includes:

• Mission, Enterprise, and Domain Engineering
• Systems Engineering, Architecting, and Lifecycle Integration
• Digital Engineering, Prototyping, and Modernization
• Architecture, Interfaces, and Open Systems
• Performance Analysis, Test, and Evaluation
• AI-Enabled Systems Engineering

The division applies these capabilities across sponsors to address broad national challenges, integrate lessons learned across domains, and continuously strengthen MITRE’s impact and differentiated value in systems engineering.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The Systems Engineering Division is seeking a Lead Systems Integration, Verification, and Validation (IV&V) Engineer to support the Program Executive Office for Special Operations Forces Digital Applications (PEO SDA) Program Manager for Unmanned System Autonomy and Interoperability (UxSAI). In this role, you will plan, coordinate, and support integration and test activities to evaluate autonomous system software and hardware performance against mission needs.

You will provide objective engineering insight across verification and validation events - drawing upon MITRE’s expertise in Digital Engineering and AI-enabled SE - to define test scope, developing documentation, supporting execution, and analyzing results. The role involves close collaboration with Government stakeholders, Test Directors, and cross-functional teams to ensure technical alignment, readiness, and effective coordination.

Additionally, you will maintain an independent understanding of system architectures, interfaces, and operational concepts to assess performance, identify risks, and inform system design improvements. Responsibilities include contributing to engineering reviews, configuration control activities, and technical decision-making through analysis, modeling, and structured assessments. You will also support post-event analysis, develop After Action Reports, and provide recommendations to enhance system capability, interoperability, and lifecycle sustainment.

Selected candidates will demonstrate the following:

• Domain/Technical Competence.  Strong familiarity in one or more of the following areas: (1) Systems Architecture, (2) Modeling and Simulation, (3) Digital Engineering, (4) Systems of Systems Engineering (5) Operational Planning.
• Leadership. Ability to partner closely with Special Operations Forces (SOF) program team to deliver technical solutions for SOF missions.  You will oversee the technical integrity of systems modernization and architecture for SOF-specific tasks while ensuring these efforts align with MITRE’s organizational goals.
• Interpersonal Skills.  Ability to partner with both senior military leaders and action officers to identify tactical, operational, and strategic challenges; and communicate task goals and impacts clearly and effectively.
• Collaboration. A commitment to developing a robust network across MITRE and the broader professional community. You will leverage MITRE MTE, MITRE Platforms, and other internal capabilities to provide FFRDC-differentiated value to the sponsor, while disseminating technical products and lessons learned back across the MITRE enterprise.
• Senior Engagements. Comfort and professionalism when engaging with senior military leaders, engineers, and commercial executives.

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• 6+ years of experience in systems engineering, integration, test, or verification and validation activities.
• Experience supporting test planning, execution, and documentation (e.g., test plans, procedures, reports).
• Familiarity with system architectures, interfaces, and integration of software and hardware systems
• Ability to analyze technical data and provide clear, structured findings and recommendations
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Must have an active Top Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance and must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 4 days a week on-site

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree and 18+ years in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• Experience supporting DoD programs, particularly in autonomous systems, robotics, or unmanned systems
• Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools and methodologies (e.g., SysML, Cameo)
• Experience with integration and test events in operational or field environments
• Knowledge of software autonomy architectures, interoperability frameworks, or distributed systems
• Experience with modeling and simulation tools for performance and risk analysis
• Familiarity with configuration management processes, engineering change proposals, and technical reviews
• Understanding of cybersecurity/information assurance principles and documentation
• Experience supporting Special Operations or tactical communication systems
• Ability to synthesize user feedback and operational observations into actionable insights
• Active security clearance

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

Work Location Type:

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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