Principal Systems Engineer

Why choose between doing meaningful work and having a fulfilling life? At MITRE, you can have both. That's because MITRE people are committed to tackling our nation's toughest challenges-and we're committed to the long-term well-being of our employees. MITRE is different from most technology companies. We are a not-for-profit corporation chartered to work for the public interest, with no commercial conflicts to influence what we do. The R&D centers we operate for the government create lasting impact in fields as diverse as cybersecurity, healthcare, aviation, defense, and enterprise transformation. We're making a difference every day-working for a safer, healthier, and more secure nation and world. Our workplace reflects our values. We offer competitive benefits, exceptional professional development opportunities for career growth, and a culture of innovation that embraces adaptability, collaboration, technical excellence, and people in partnership. If this sounds like the choice you want to make, then choose MITRE - and make a difference with us.

MITRE Technology and Engineering's Systems Engineering Division delivers innovative, multidisciplinary systems engineering solutions that address complex national security challenges and advance mission outcomes for sponsors across the federal government. The division serves as a center of excellence in systems engineering, bringing together expertise from across MITRE and collaborating with government, industry, and academia to develop and apply next-generation engineering approaches.

Core technical capabilities include:

• 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 and mission domains to accelerate innovation, integrate lessons learned, and strengthen MITRE's ability to deliver objective, mission-focused engineering solutions.

Roles & Responsibilities:

As a Principal Mission Engineer, you will serve as a senior technical leader supporting Army sponsors in the development of mission architectures, operational concepts, and systems-of-systems solutions that address critical warfighting challenges. You will work collaboratively across the Systems Engineering Division and broader MITRE enterprise to integrate diverse technical expertise, align engineering efforts to Army priorities, and deliver mission-driven recommendations that inform strategic investment and acquisition decisions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Partner with Army sponsors to define, shape, and execute high-priority mission engineering, architecture development, and capability assessment activities that address operational needs and emerging mission challenges.
• Collaborate across the Systems Engineering Division and MITRE technical community to integrate expertise in systems engineering, digital engineering, modeling and simulation, communications, data analytics, and operational analysis to support Army mission outcomes.
• Lead the development and evaluation of mission architectures, operational concepts, and system-of-systems solutions using mission engineering, MBSE, digital engineering, and quantitative analysis techniques.
• Assess capability gaps, mission effectiveness, operational risks, and technical tradeoffs, translating complex analyses into actionable recommendations for senior government decision-makers.
• Evaluate alternative architectures and investment strategies through qualitative and quantitative analysis, including assessment of cost, performance, interoperability, resiliency, and operational effectiveness.
• Identify critical technical risks, uncertainties, and dependencies, and lead rapid experimentation, prototyping, and risk-reduction efforts to inform technology, architecture, and acquisition decisions.
• Provide technical leadership for requirements management, architecture development, interface management, integration planning, modernization activities, and test and evaluation efforts.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams of engineers and analysts, fostering collaboration, mentoring staff, and ensuring delivery of high-quality, mission-focused products.
• Build trusted advisor relationships with Army leaders, operational users, industry partners, and MITRE leadership to influence mission outcomes and shape future technical work.
• Contribute to the growth of MITRE's systems engineering capabilities through innovation, technical leadership, knowledge sharing, and development of new sponsor opportunities.

Basic Qualifications:

• 10+ years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; 8+ years with a Master's degree; or a PhD with relevant experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or related technical field (or equivalent experience).
• Demonstrated technical leadership of multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Expertise in Systems Architecture, Mission Engineering, Digital Engineering, Systems-of-Systems Engineering, Modeling & Simulation, or Operational Planning.
• Experience with C2 and communications architectures and mission-level trade studies.
• Ability to assess mission effectiveness, cost-performance tradeoffs, and technical risk.
• Experience collaborating with operational users, government stakeholders, industry, and technical teams.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence senior leaders and translate technical findings into actionable recommendations.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD 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:

• Active SECRET or TS/SCI clearance.
• Advanced degree in a relevant technical discipline.
• Expertise in mission, systems, or enterprise architecture.
• Experience with Army modernization, mission engineering, operational analysis, C2, or communications systems.
• Proficiency with MBSE and Digital Engineering tools (e.g., Cameo, SysML, DOORS, Rhapsody).
• Experience with quantitative analysis, modeling and simulation, and data analytics.
• Experience leading complex, multidisciplinary technical efforts.
• Demonstrated technical innovation, research, publications, or prototype development.
• Established trusted advisor relationships with senior government leaders.

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

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

Salary compensation range and midpoint:
$162,400 - $203,000 - $243,600 Annual

Work Location Type:
Onsite

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.

MITRE intends to maintain a website that is fully accessible to all individuals. If you are unable to search or apply for jobs and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of MITRE's employment process, please email recruitinghelp@mitre.org for general support and collegerecruiting@mitre.org for intern positions. This service is for individuals requiring reasonable accommodation requests. Please note that vendor solicitations will not receive a reply.

Benefits information may be found here .

Copyright © 1997-2026, The MITRE Corporation. All rights reserved. MITRE is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation. Material on this site may be copied and distributed with permission only.