Principal System Engineering Advisor at CTI

Who we are

CTI, a Parsons Company is a high-tech software, systems engineering, and operational support corporation dedicated to providing cutting-edge engineering, and system development and support. We provide operationally-focused technology solutions for military and security applications. A veteran-owned company, CTI is committed to developing the next generation of advanced technologies in a friendly, product, and customer-focused environment. CTI specializes in developing software solutions that enable the collection, aggregation, transport, and visualization of highly complex data sets in a meaningful context to the warfighter.

Chesapeake Technologies International (CTI) is looking for a Principal Systems Engineering Advisor who will serve as the onsite senior technical leader and subject matter expert. This role provides direct technical advising to the program’s Chief Engineer and program business partners while collaborating with Program Architects and Technical Leads to identify and prioritize best-in-breed solutions for mission requirements. The successful candidate will leverage extensive experience in Department of Defense (DoD) and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) programs, academic research environments, and multi-domain architecture to shape technical strategy and execution.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Provide expert technical advising to the program’s Chief Engineer, business partners, and executive stakeholders
Collaborate with engineering leadership to identify, evaluate, and implement cutting-edge technologies aligned with mission goals
Analyze user needs to determine technical requirements and technology adoption paths
Guide requirements refinement of conceptual designs and write detailed technical specifications
Oversee design documentation, technical specifications, and diagrams for new and existing systems
Represent the program at technical reviews, stakeholder engagements, and industry events
Responsible for communicating systems architecture decisions that align with program objectives
Adhere to SAFe processes and ceremonies, supporting scaled agile development execution
Constructively participate in code reviews
Promote lab best practices, network topologies, and integration standards in compliance with DoD guidelines
Proactively and constructively advocate for improvement on behalf of the team, and yourself

Requirements

Location: This position is fully onsite and requires work to be performed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. Remote work is not available for this role.

Necessary Skills and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
Minimum 6-12 years of experience in software engineering, systems engineering, or technical architecture, with at least 5 years in a principal or lead role
Active U.S. Government Secret clearance with SCI eligibility (TS/SCI). U.S. Citizenship is required as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.
Subject matter expertise in Systems Engineering, Software Architecture, and multi-domain defense systems.
Expertise in DoD and UAS program execution, including fault-tolerant system design in DDIL environments.
Strong foundation in algorithms, data structures, and their practical applications.
Experience participating in PI Planning, Sprint Planning, and Inspect & Adapt events to ensure program alignment
Experience collaborating with Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and Release Train Engineers to maintain delivery cadence
Led program backlog refinement and alignment with business and technical objectives
Excellent organizational, leadership, and communication skills

Beneficial Skills and Experience

Proven leadership in academic research & development programs (experience with JHU/APL, MIT/LL, DoE, DoD research organizations highly desirable).
Experience in DoD programs and drone (UAS) development
Familiarity with ROS 2, PX4/ArduPilot, and autonomy stack integration
Background in MIL-STD-810/461/882E compliance, STANAG 4586, DO-178C, and DO-254 guidelines
Experience with DevOps, QA, and Program Management functions.
Experience building, scaling, and maturing engineering processes in high-security environments.
Background in CI/CD pipeline development and secure software deployment practices.

Locations that require us to disclose the salary on job postings.

Salary range

$225,000—$250,000 USD

Benefits

CTI is a rapidly growing company offering the following:

Medical, dental and vision insurance
H.S.A. (partially funded by CTI) and Flex Spending
Company-paid life insurance/AD&D and disability insurance
Optional supplemental life, critical illness, hospital indemnity and accident insurances
Paid vacation, sick leave and holidays
401k plan with Safe Harbor contribution
Tuition reimbursement/professional training options
Employee Assistance Program
Travel Assistance
Financial Planning Assistance
Voluntary Pre-Paid Legal
Flexible schedules with telecommuting options
Service awards program

CTI is an Equal Opportunity employer and shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

Principal System Engineering Advisor

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