CHIEF SYSTEMS ENGINEER
What you'd do
You will serve as the Chief Systems Engineer in the Submarine Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager (DRPM SUBS) Chief Operating Officer Office. You will serve as the ultimate technical authority and strategic visionary for the engineering enterprise, responsible for the overarching architecture, technical integrity, and successful integration of the nation's most complex and critical defense acquisition programs.
Major duties
You will serve as the organization’s senior technical authority and final decision-maker on complex engineering matters, including system architectures, technical requirement trades, and high-risk technical waivers. You will resolve critical engineering disputes across major defense acquisition programs. You will provide executive leadership and strategic direction to the engineering workforce, fostering a culture of technical excellence, rigor, and innovation while ensuring alignment with mission objectives and acquisition priorities. You will direct the development and governance of enterprise System-of-Systems (SoS) architectures to ensure interoperability, scalability, resilience, and survivability across joint, coalition, and multi-domain environments. You will drive the enterprise-wide adoption of advanced engineering practices such as Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), digital engineering, and agile methodologies to accelerate capability delivery and improve technical integration. You will be responsible for identifying, assessing, and directing the mitigation of critical technical risks that may impact cost, schedule, performance, or operational suitability. You will develop and deliver high-impact technical risk assessments and engineering briefings to senior Department of Defense leadership to support informed decision-making on design trade-offs and risk acceptance. You will design, implement, and oversee enterprise engineering strategies, technical baselines, and system architectures to enhance survivability, interoperability, and mission effectiveness. You will drive innovation through digital engineering environments, model-based approaches, and Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) to improve capability delivery and industrial base integration.
What you need to qualify
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, your resume must show that you possess the Technical Qualifications (TQ) related to this position - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit will be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position. TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications: TQ 1. Systems Engineering Leadership & Acquisition Lifecycle Management: Demonstrated executive-level leadership as the senior technical authority for ACAT I or Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs), including oversight of systems engineering across the full acquisition life-cycle under DoD 5000 and JCIDS. This includes leading System Engineering Technical Reviews (e.g., Preliminary and Critical Design Reviews), making technical risk acceptance decisions, and balancing cost, schedule, and performance for largescale defense systems. TQ 2. Digital Engineering, System-of-Systems Architecture & Technical Risk Integration: Demonstrated expertise in architecting and integrating complex system-of-systems (SoS) using open systems architecture (OSA) and leading the transition to digital engineering environments leveraging Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), SysML, and digital twins. This includes managing enterprise-level technical risk, integrating advanced technologies (e.g., AI, autonomous systems), and implementing DevSecOps, testing, and quality assurance frameworks to ensure secure and reliable system delivery. Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=GS-PROF AND 0801 Professional Engineering Series Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.
Before you apply
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