Principal Systems Engineer (Onsite)

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Network & Application Support Engineer to join our team in support of a critical, long-standing contract with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). This role offers a unique balance between maintaining the stability of legacy systems and driving the innovation of new capabilities.

The ideal candidate will be deeply customer-focused, ensuring all technical deliverables align with the NGA’s operational mission and strategic goals. While you will enter an environment with established stability and a deep institutional knowledge base, the evolving needs of the NGA ensure the work remains challenging and forward-looking.

This dual-function role encompasses both the engineering of sophisticated enterprise computing infrastructure and the critical 24/7 operational sustainment of customer applications.

The successful candidate will provide engineering services for network infrastructure—including cloud services, containerized solutions, and virtualized applications—while ensuring the day-to-day stability of customer applications and segment interfaces. This role interfaces directly with engineering resources across multiple facilities and serves as the high-level technical escalation point for complex system anomalies.

This position offers significant growth potential, providing a pathway to transition from a technical expert into a leadership role as you help shape the future of geospatial intelligence capabilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Infrastructure Engineering & Optimization

+ Cloud & Virtualization: Build and manage VPCs with Linux VMs using commercial cloud providers (eg. AWS), configuring them as network appliances and ensuring they meet strict cybersecurity standards.

+ Network Hardening: Configure and harden network hardware, including firewalls, switches, routers, and IPS, as well as Linux OS in both cloud and physical environments.

+ Architecture Support: Provide expertise in core infrastructure, voice/video engineering, network analytics, and bandwidth service delivery.

• Operations & Application Sustainment

+ Mission Support: Provide critical 24x7 mission support, monitoring customer applications and investigating segment interfaces to minimize operational impacts.

+ Triage & Resolution: Perform initial assessment, research, and technical assistance for hardware and software issues; isolate problems and implement permanent solutions.

+ Incident Management: Respond to technical requests via phone, email, or in person; log all interactions and track resolutions following standard help desk procedures and CONOPS.

+ SME Escalation: Act as a primary point of contact for problem escalation with vendors, factories, and other site Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).

+ Reporting: Prepare daily operational status briefings and maintain up-to-date knowledge of all system changes and updates.

+ Customer Engagement: Foster a collaborative relationship with the Customer to identify pain points and propose proactive technical solutions.

+ Strategic Planning: Contribute to the long-term technical roadmap of the contract, identifying opportunities for modernization and efficiency gains.

Because of the need for consistent, in-person collaboration and the nature of this role, this position is performed 100% full-time on-site at a BAE Systems customer facility. Due to the 24x7 mission requirement, the candidate must be able to provide independent troubleshooting and resolution during after-hours and weekends (Call-in support).

Required Education, Experience, & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related technical field
• Hold an active/current Top Secret clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain an SCI clearance with Counter Intelligence (CI) Polygraph
• Applicant must be able to obtain and maintain the CompTIA Security+ certification or equivalent
• Experience in the field of cybersecurity
• Experience troubleshooting computer systems, hardware and software issues
• Experience with Linux (Red Hat Enterprise Linux preferred) and PostgreSQL or other relational databases
• Working knowledge of Xen Orchestra and hypervisor technology
• Strong oral and written communications skills
• Technical writing skills: capable of creating and modifying engineering documentation
• Ability to take initiative, multi-task and work well under pressure

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills

• Hold an active/current Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance with CI polygraph
• Master’s degree in computer science or computer engineering
• Working experience with NGA GEOINT Data Types and Products
• Active CompTIA Security+ Certification
• Expert-level experience with Linux (Red Hat Enterprise Linux preferred) and PostgreSQL or other relational databases
• Expert-level knowledge of Xen Orchestra and hypervisor technology
• Experience deploying internet network infrastructure and a thorough understanding of the customer's core appliances and services

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $118095 - $200762

Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

Employee Benefits

• At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being.
• Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance.
• We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance.
• Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave.
• Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards.
• Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
• About BAE Systems, Inc.
• BAE Systems, Inc. is a defense, aerospace, and security company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with more than 40,000 employees worldwide.
• We serve, supply, and protect those who protect us.
• As one of the most geographically diverse international defense companies, we deliver a full range of products and services spanning air, land, maritime, space, and cyber, including advanced electronics, intelligence solutions, and dedicated customer support.
• Our culture is performance-driven and values-led, built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration.
• Purpose isn't a tagline here.
• It's what drives us.
• We're developing breakthrough technologies that defend national security and make a lasting impact on our communities and our planet.
• When you join BAE Systems, you're not just building a career.
• You're contributing to a mission that truly matters.
• This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days.
• The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.