Senior Principal Engineer - DoD Missile Defense

Senior Principal Engineer – DoD Missile Defense
Location: Huntsville, AL 35801 (on-site at customer/government facilities)
Clearance: Active Top Secret required
Reports to: President/CEO
Compensation
• Base: $230K – $260K
• Performance bonus tied to:
o Program growth
o Team expansion
o Customer satisfaction

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Position Overview
We are seeking a senior technical leader to support and expand our presence across existing Department of Defense programs. This role operates within customer and prime contractor environments, providing technical leadership while helping identify and support program growth opportunities.
The position combines hands-on engineering, customer engagement, and program expansion support. Success is defined by strengthening relationships, increasing scope of work, and growing team presence within assigned programs.

Required Qualifications
• Active Top Secret clearance
• 12+ years supporting DoD programs in:
o Missile defense, C2, or related systems
o Modeling & simulation environments
• Experience working within prime contractor-led programs
• Strong understanding of program structures, IPTs, and engineering workflows
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships in customer-facing environments
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Preferred Qualifications
• Prior roles such as:
o Chief Engineer
o Lead Systems Engineer
o IPT Lead
• Experience supporting MDA or similar defense organizations
• Familiarity with Huntsville-area defense programs
• Experience coordinating with recruiting or staffing teams
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Core Responsibilities
1. Embedded Program Leadership
• Work on-site within established DoD programs alongside prime contractor and government teams
• Integrate into Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) and engineering organizations
• Contribute to program execution as a senior technical resource
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2. Program Expansion Support
• Identify emerging technical needs and staffing gaps within assigned programs
• Coordinate with internal leadership to align capabilities with program demand
• Support expansion into adjacent technical areas such as:
o Systems engineering
o Modeling & simulation
o Integration & test
o Software / DevSecOps
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3. Customer & Stakeholder Engagement
• Build strong working relationships with:
o Program leadership
o Technical leads
o Engineering teams
• Establish reputation as a trusted contributor and problem solver
• Support technical discussions, design reviews, and team collaboration
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4. Technical Leadership
• Provide expertise in one or more areas:
o Modeling & simulation
o Command & Control (C2) systems
o Missile defense or related domains
• Contribute to system design, troubleshooting, and integration activities
• Ensure high-quality technical execution across assigned efforts
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5. Internal Coordination
• Partner with company leadership and recruiting to:
o Align staffing with program needs
o Support rapid onboarding of qualified personnel
• Help shape internal technical direction based on customer demand signals
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Success Metrics
First 6 months:
• Fully integrated into assigned programs
• Established relationships with key stakeholders
• Identified opportunities for expanded support
6–12 months:
• Contributed to measurable growth in program scope and team size
• Expanded into additional technical areas or teams
12–24 months:
• Significant increase in company presence across assigned programs
• Recognized as a trusted and reliable technical partner
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