Job Title: Systems Engineer

Location(s): Ft. Meade, MD

Workplace: On-site

Clearance Required: TS/SCI with Polygraph

Position Overview:

We are seeking experienced Systems Engineers to lead and support complex system development efforts that directly contribute to critical national security missions. The ideal candidate will apply systems engineering principles across the full system lifecycle — from concept and requirements through design, integration, testing, and deployment.

This role involves collaboration with cross-functional technical teams, government stakeholders, and senior program leadership to ensure technical excellence, mission alignment, and operational effectiveness.

Your work will help design and deliver systems that enable secure, resilient, and data-driven national defense capabilities.

These positions will be part of our Defense and Intelligence Business unit serving the Intelligence Community as our primary customer.

Key Responsibilities:

• Apply systems engineering methodologies throughout the full lifecycle, from requirements analysis through operational sustainment.
• Collaborate with government stakeholders and program personnel to address technical considerations, issues, or risks.
• Lead or contribute to technical reviews, readiness assessments, and system design evaluations.
• Ensure the technical integrity, quality, and completeness of engineering deliverables across multiple process areas defined by ISO/IEC 15288, including:
  • Technical Processes: Requirements definition, architecture design, integration, verification, and validation.
  • Project Processes: Planning, risk management, configuration management, and information management.
  • Enterprise Processes: Lifecycle model management, quality assurance, and process improvement.
  • Agreement Processes: Acquisition and supplier coordination.
• Participate in Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) to design and implement new capabilities based on operational requirements and constraints.
• Define methods, processes, and evaluation criteria for system verification and validation.
• Develop and maintain System Engineering Plans, Requirements Specifications, and Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
• Collaborate on interface definitions, designs, and configuration management throughout the system lifecycle.
• Translate stakeholder needs into derived and allocated system requirements that ensure mission performance and security.
• Develop Information Assurance (IA) and cybersecurity requirements and mechanisms aligned with DoD and IC security standards.
• Support the establishment of formal baselines (requirements, design, and test) for hardware and software development teams.

Position Requirements:

Required Clearance: TS/SCI w Poly

Required Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field (or equivalent experience).

Required Skills / Experience:

• Strong understanding of systems engineering processes and frameworks (e.g., ISO/IEC 15288, INCOSE SE Handbook, DoD 5000).

• Demonstrated experience in requirements analysis, system design, and system integration.

• Experience developing and reviewing technical documentation and interface specifications.

• Proven ability to coordinate across multiple stakeholders, communicate technical findings, and lead systems discussions.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools such as Cameo, Enterprise Architect, or IBM Rhapsody.

• Familiarity with Agile or DevSecOps environments and their intersection with systems engineering practices.

• Experience supporting cloud-based architectures, virtualization, and containerized systems.

• Understanding of Zero Trust principles, cybersecurity engineering, and information assurance frameworks (RMF, NIST SP 800-53).

• Knowledge of data flow modeling, systems integration, and test automation techniques.

• Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills in cross-disciplinary technical teams.

Salary and Benefit Information:

The likely salary range for these positions is $131,000-$213,000. This is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary. Salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and contractual requirements, which could possibly fall outside of this range.

Elder Research values continuous learning, a supportive work environment, and a healthy work-life balance. We provide family health, dental, and vision benefits, employer-paid disability, paid-time off, and paid parental leave. We offer a 401(k) plan with employer contribution as well as an Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP). Our employees enjoy reasonable hours, solid pay, low travel, and extremely flexible time off.

Why work at Elder Research?

1. Competitive Salary and Benefits
2. Important Work / Make a Difference supporting U.S. national security operations, helping safeguard critical systems and enable data-driven decision-making at the highest levels.
3. Job Stability: Elder Research is not a typical government contractor, we hire you for a career not just a contract.
4. People-Focused Culture: we prioritize work-life balance and foster a supportive, positive, and collaborative environment where every team member can thrive. We’re committed to providing opportunities for professional growth and advancement while creating a workplace we’re proud to be part of — one we’d gladly recommend to our friends and family.
5. Company Stock Ownership: all employees are provided with shares of the company each year based on company value and profits.

About Elder Research, Inc

People Centered. Data Driven

Elder Research is a fast growing consulting firm specializing in predictive analytics. Being in the data mining business for 30 years, we pride ourselves in our ability to find creative, cutting edge solutions to real-world problems. We work hard to provide the best value to our clients and allow each person to contribute their ideas and put their skills to use immediately.

Our team members are passionate, curious, life-long learners. We value humility, servant-leadership, teamwork, and integrity. We seek to serve our clients and our teammates to the best of our abilities. In keeping with our entrepreneurial spirit, we want candidates who are self-motivated with an innate curiosity and strong team work.

Elder Research believes in continuous learning and community - each week the entire company attends a “Tech Talk” and each office location provides lunch. Elder Research provides a supportive work environment with established parental, bereavement, and PTO policies. By prioritizing a healthy work-life balance - with reasonable hours, solid pay, low travel, and extremely flexible time off - Elder Research enables and encourages its employees to serve others and enjoy their lives.

Elder Research, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Elder Research is a Government contractor and many of our positions require US Citizenship.