Systems Engineer Principal - Mission Performance

Job Description
Join the Mission Engineering team at BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems (SMS), where we transform complex technical specifications into measurable mission victory. We are seeking a Mission Performance Engineer to serve as an analyst responsible for predicting, quantifying, and optimizing the effectiveness of advanced architectures across the space, air, and ground domains.
In this role, you will not just be analyzing a system; you will be defining the "performance story" of our most discriminating technologies. You will operate at the intersection of physics, mathematics, and strategy, using simulation and modeling to determine exactly how our systems will perform in contested environments. As a key member of the Strategic Capabilities Unit (SCU), you will provide the data-driven confidence our customers need to make critical operational decisions.
The Engineering, Science and Analysis (ESA) Strategic Capabilities Unit comprises the technical talent and organizational leadership that enables the successful delivery of high-impact discriminating technologies for our customers' missions. Our collaborative, cross-functional teams are committed to innovation, integrity, continual learning and strong execution.
What You'll Do:

• Performance Modeling & Quantification:
  • Predictive Analysis: Utilize a custom-built tool-suite to characterize and quantify mission performance. You will move beyond basic requirements to determine the probability of mission success and identify performance gaps.
  • Tool Evolution: Lead the development of new algorithms and modeling tools to increase the fidelity of our performance predictions, ensuring our simulations reflect the complexities of real-world operational environments.
  • Performance Benchmarking: Establish KPIs and performance metrics that guide the design of components and systems, ensuring every technical decision is mapped back to a mission-level benefit.
• Trade-Off Analysis & Optimization:
  • Architectural Trade Studies: Conduct rigorous trade-off analyses to optimize system performance. You will determine the "sweet spot" between competing technical constraints to deliver the most effective solution.
  • Sensitivity Analysis: Identify the critical variables that most significantly impact mission success, allowing the design team to prioritize the most impactful technical improvements.
  • Requirement Derivation: Translate high-level mission goals into precise, quantifiable performance requirements for subsystems and components.
• Strategic Communication & Leadership:
  • The Performance Narrative: Translate complex simulation data into compelling technical narratives and presentations for senior management and external customers.
  • Technical Mentorship: Serve as a lead analyst and mentor to junior engineers, guiding them in the art of performance modeling and rigorous data analysis.
  • Business Strategy: Influence the growth of the SCU by providing the performance data necessary for winning technical proposals and strategic business planning.
• Maintain a regular and predictable work schedule.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships within the department, the Strategic Business Units, Strategic Capabilities Units and the Company. Interact appropriately with others in order to maintain a positive and productive work environment.
• Perform other duties as necessary.

On-Site Work Environment: This position requires regular in-person engagement by working on-site five days each normally scheduled week in the primary work location. Travel and local commute between company campuses and other possible non-company locations may be required.
Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in an office, laboratory, production floor, or cleanroom, outdoors or remote research environment.
• May occasionally work in production work centers where use of protective equipment and gear is required.
• May access other facilities in various weather conditions.

Required Education, Experience, & Skills

• BS degree or higher in Engineering or a related technical field is required plus 6 or more years related experience.
• Each higher-level degree, i.e., Master's Degree or Ph.D., may substitute for two years of experience. Related technical experience may be considered in lieu of education. Degree must be from a university, college, or school which is accredited by an agency recognized by the US Secretary of Education, US Department of Education.
• A current, active Secret security clearance is required with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI.
• Technical Foundation & Domain Expertise:
  • Computational Proficiency: Python skills are essential. We view your arrival as an opportunity for mutual growth; we will provide the training and resources needed to expand your toolkit into other specialized modeling packages.
  • Analytical Rigor: The ability to architect analytic models that translate raw data into actionable performance insights.
• Communication & Collaborative Excellence:
  • Executive Presence: You can take complex performance analysis and turn it into a compelling narrative for both internal stakeholders and external customers.
  • Technical Synthesis: The ability to document intricate analysis results with precision, ensuring that technical findings are accessible and actionable.
  • Team Synergy: You thrive in small, high-impact teams where collaboration, open communication, and shared mission success are the priority.

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Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills

• Academic Depth: An advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Physics, Mathematics, or a related STEM field, providing the theoretical foundation necessary for high-fidelity performance modeling.
• EM Spectrum Mastery: The ability to leverage signal processing concepts across the electromagnetic spectrum to solve critical mission performance gaps.
• Space Domain Mastery: A deep interest in and experience with space systems and the intricacies of orbital dynamics.
• Simulation Expertise: A proven track record of using STK and AFSIM to model, simulate, and optimize complex mission architectures.
• Analytical Autonomy: A research-driven mindset with the ability to conduct independent investigations and derive insights from ambiguous data sets.
• Advanced Computational Skills: The ability to use Python as a primary tool for architecting sophisticated analytical models.
• Modern Systems Approach: Experience utilizing Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to manage complexity and ensure system integrity.

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 Space & Mission Systems
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.