Lead Systems Engineer

at  THE MITRE CORPORATION

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, and a culture of innovation that embraces diversity, inclusion, flexibility, collaboration, and career growth. If this sounds like the choice you want to make, then choose MITRE—and make a difference with us.
Are you looking for a great opportunity to grow your career, apply your technical skills, and gain experience being embedded with US military staff conducting operations in Europe and Africa? Are you flexible, adaptable, and hungry for challenges? MITRE works to solve the most challenging national and international security problems across Europe and Africa by partnering with the US Department of Defense (DoD) to apply advanced capabilities to real world operational needs in the near term while also strategically positioning the DoD to address critical longer-term challenges.
MITRE is looking for energetic and talented people to join our team working across our sponsors in Europe and Africa to solve critical sponsor challenges for a safer world. We have a current opening with our team at Ramstein Air Base, Germany supporting the US Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) Intelligence Directorate (A2), the air component to both US European Command (USEUCOM) and US Africa Command (USAFRICOM). The ideal timing for candidate relocation for this position is June-August 2024, with a tour length of 3 years (with possible assignment extensions). This is Lead Engineer level position, but more junior or senior staff will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Typically a BS in a technical discipline such as Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Computer), Physics, Statistics, Mathematics, or related fields with 8 years of related experience, or a Master’s with 5 years of related experience who can contribute immediately to this job step.
• Demonstrated capability for strategic planning and ability to provide actionable plans to government sponsors
• Proven experience with Department of the Air Force missions and systems
• Proven experience with US Department of Defense systems of systems integration
• Proven experience in systems integration, with a strong background in designing and implementing complex systems.
• Track record of collaboration across multiple organizations
• Flexible, self-starter with a desire to continually learn and master new concepts and technologies (“comfortable in discomfort”)
• Active Top-Secret clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) and ability to obtain and maintain access to NATO Secret
• This position has a requirement of on site 5 days a week

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prior experience with intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) operations and capabilities (airborne and overhead)
• Master’s degree in related field
• Prior experience working with or on a Headquarters staff
• Current knowledge of emerging technology being adopted into acquisition programs and/or EUCOM/INDOPACOM theaters

As a Lead Systems Engineer in USAFE-AFAFRICA A2, the selected candidate will play a pivotal role in systems architecture for USAFE-AFRICA intelligence, surveillance, and recognizance (ISR) systems. This will require collaborating with technical teams to design and implement integrated systems that meet project objectives and stakeholder requirements.

The selected candidate will be expected to work closely and collaboratively with:

• Senior sponsors across USAFE-AFAFRICA to include overall command leadership and leaders within command ISR, operations, technology/data operations, modeling/analytics, and logistics.
• Subject matter experts across the command, including military, government civilian, contractor, and FFRDC/UARC personnel.
• An integrated, federated MITRE team demonstrating strong teamwork and cooperation.

The selected candidate will lead and contribute to systems integration at USAFE-AFAFRICA with emphases on systems synchronization across command directorates and mission partners. Relevant mission focus areas include, but are not limited to:

• Intelligence, Surveillance, & Reconnaissance Operations and Systems,
• Systems engineering,
• Requirements documentation, and
• Cloud (DoD mission integration focus)

Selected candidates will also demonstrate the following:
Strategic Leadership. In partnership with project/task leadership, define appropriate FFRDC tasks and strategic objectives for USAFE-AFAFRICA. Guide daily execution of sponsor support and ensure meaningful data driven products are developed in a timely and relevant manner. Actively collaborate with other MITRE projects supporting related sponsors/tasks/objectives to ensure maximum value and impact across MITRE’s sponsors.
Interpersonal Skills. Provide and support team leadership by partnering closely with both senior military leaders and action officers to identify operational and engineering challenges, potential solutions, and communicate project goals and impacts clearly and effectively.
Collaboration. Work within a team environment that leverages a robust network of MITRE and other professional connections to engage and collaborate with engineers and planners, subject matter experts, international program (foreign military sales) specialists, and defense acquisition professionals. Continue to leverage a pipeline of MITRE technical expertise from the Labs, capabilities from the MITRE Platforms, and transitioned R&D from the MIP into project delivery.
Senior Sponsor Experience. Comfortably and respectfully engage with both US and foreign nations’ senior military leaders and engineers, as well as commercial executives and managers.
Flexibility. Be able to modify and alter course as the environment and sponsor priorities shift. Understand the power of reach-back and be an effective conduit to bring the talent forward to execute at the right time.