Lead Systems Engineer - SATCOM

Location: Fort Meade, MD, US

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

Responsibilities

Peraton is seeking a deeply technical Lead Engineer that will serve as the technical authority for an Operations & Maintenance program supporting SATCOM infrastructure and global mobility communications This person will be responsible for overall system architecture, engineering lifecycle management, cybersecurity posture, and integration of SATCOM and enterprise infrastructure capabilities. This role functions as the chief integrator across network engineering, cybersecurity, software/systems engineering, and operations to ensure mission performance and system resiliency.

 

Responsibilities:

• Ownership of the full engineering lifecycle across SATCOM gateway systems, baseband infrastructure (BIWF), and associated enterprise services.
• Ensures interoperability, redundancy, and high availability (≥99.9%) across all systems while guiding modernization efforts and transition to emerging LEO/MEO satellite architectures.
• Accountable for cybersecurity engineering and compliance, including RMF accreditation, PPSM, IAVA remediation, STIG implementation, and POA&M management. The Lead Engineer operates with IAM Level III authority and ensures all engineering activities align with DoD security requirements.
• Lead configuration management and change control processes, including governance of the Configuration Control Board (CCB) for hardware, firmware, and software updates.
• Oversee system upgrades, regression testing, root cause analysis, and lifecycle sustainment across multi-vendor environments.
• Drive integration of monitoring and tooling platforms (e.g., Nagios, ScienceLogic SL1), supports development of internal tools, and ensures visibility into system performance and operational health. The role also oversees database environments and provisioning systems supporting SATCOM services (e.g., RUDICS, DTCS, SBD/eSBD).
• Evaluation and integration of emerging MSS/LEO technologies (e.g., Starlink, OneWeb), development of technology insertion roadmaps, and support to transition-in activities including system baselining, inventory, and sustainment planning.
• The Lead Engineer ensures continuity of BIWF lab operations, supports geographically distributed engineering teams, and maintains documentation including engineering design artifacts, technical analysis reports, and system diagrams

***This position is contingent upon award of contract***

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility. Contract requires TS/SCI. The candidate must maintain the clearance 
• Bachelor’s degree and 12+ years of experience in systems engineering, network engineering, software engineering, or systems integration, 10+ years experience with Masters.
• 10+ years of engineering experience supporting DoD SATCOM, LEO/MEO/GEO systems, or global communications infrastructure
• 10+ years in senior or lead engineering roles within complex, mission-critical environments
• IAM Level III certification (CISSP, CASP+, CISM, or equivalent)
• Strong experience with DoD cybersecurity frameworks (RMF, STIGs, IAVA, ACAS, HBSS, SCAP, POA&M)
• Experience with SATCOM gateway systems and architectures, including Iridium or similar technologies
• Experience with configuration management and lifecycle sustainment across OS, firmware, and hardware platforms (Linux, Windows, ESXi, network devices)
• Experience with enterprise network infrastructure (Cisco, Palo Alto, F5, etc.)
• Experience with monitoring and ITSM tools (Nagios, ScienceLogic SL1/EM7, Remedy)
• Experience integrating multi-vendor systems across cloud, SATCOM, and enterprise environments
• Experience supporting high-availability systems with strict uptime requirements (≥99.9%)

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in engineering or related technical field
• Prior experience with BIWF or similar gateway architectures (e.g., Ericsson AXE-810, 5ESS, soft switch platforms)
• Direct experience with Iridium services (RUDICS, DTCS-GS, SBD/eSBD, IMEI tracking)
• Experience with AWS GovCloud or cloud-based architectures
• Experience developing or maintaining custom tools (Python, JavaScript, C#, .NET, etc.)
• Experience with Oracle, PostgreSQL, or MySQL database administration
• Familiarity with COMSEC operations (ISM/ISM2, STE, TACLANE, keying procedures)
• Experience with orbital/link analysis tools (e.g., STK)
• Familiarity with T1/E1 infrastructure and feeder link terminal performance monitoring
• Experience evaluating and integrating emerging LEO/MSS technologies

Benefits:

Peraton offers enhanced benefits to employees working on this critical National Security program, which include heavily subsidized employee benefits coverage for you and your dependents, 25 days of PTO accrued annually up to a generous PTO cap and eligible to participate in an attractive bonus plan

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range

$146,000 - $234,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

EEO

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.