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 Electronic Systems
BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it's what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts - defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team-making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you'll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference. Electronic Systems (ES) is the global innovator behind BAE Systems' game-changing defense and commercial electronics. Exploiting every electron, we push the limits of what is possible, giving our customers the edge and our employees opportunities to change the world. Our products and capabilities can be found everywhere - from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of space. At our core are more than 14,000 highly talented Electronic Systems employees with the brightest minds in the industry, we make an impact - for our customers and the communities we serve.
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.