Systems Engineer

Bethesda, Maryland (onsite)

Active Top-Secret Clearance with SCI (TS/SCI) and Polygraph Required

@Orchard is actively supporting a proposal expected to be awarded in Fall 2026 for a Maryland client in the Intelligence Sector. We are seeking individuals with the necessary skills, experience, and clearance to sign a letter of intent to join the team once the program is awarded. This is an exceptional opportunity to join one of our clients, a leader in the IC space with exceptional benefits and opportunities for advancement.

As the Systems Engineer, your responsibilities include.

• Analyzing and documenting IT requirements through interviews, workshops, and requirements gathering techniques.
• Translating business needs into technical requirements and functional specifications.
• Developing requirements traceability matrices to track fulfillment throughout the system lifecycle.
• Transforming requirements into technical tasks and specifications for contractors.
• Providing technical oversight of contractor performance and deliverables.
• Leading cross-functional teams in integrating diverse IT requirements into cohesive designs.
• Establishing technical standards and architectural guidelines for system development.
• Guiding stakeholders through requirements formulation using structured methodologies.
• Conducting feasibility studies and developing proof-of-concept demonstrations.
• Serving as a technical liaison between development teams and stakeholders.
• Communicating complex technical considerations to non-technical stakeholders.
• Identifying and facilitating resolution of technical problems and requirement trade-offs.
• Developing system engineering management plans aligned with organizational methodologies.
• Creating integration and test plans to ensure effective component interoperability.
• Establishing governance mechanisms for consistent systems engineering processes
• This SETA role provides technical and programmatic support to government teams by translating mission needs into technical requirements, managing those requirements, and shaping strategic program direction. Responsibilities include contract support (SOWs, RFPs, cost proposals), performance monitoring, stakeholder coordination, and communicating complex concepts through reports, meetings, and senior-level briefings. The team ensures projects stay on track by overseeing cost, schedule, and performance.

Your background and qualifications will include

• US Citizenship is required.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with Polygraph.
• Experience in analyzing users' Information Technology (IT) requirements, concept of operations documents, and high-level system architectures.
• Experience in analyzing capability requirements and translating them into tasks to be allocated to Development/Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Contractors.
• Experience providing technical leadership for the integration of IT requirements, design, and technology.
• Experience guiding users in formulating IT requirements, advising alternative approaches, and conducting feasibility studies.
• Experience interacting with the Sponsor regarding Systems Engineering IT technical considerations and for associated problems, issues, or conflicts.
• Experience guiding capability development and implementation planning through assessment or preparation of system engineering management plans and system engineering integration and test plans.

Additional preferred qualifications

• IC experience is highly desirable.
• Experience in successfully demonstrating the ability to independently conduct the appropriate analysis to offer recommendations, solutions, and alternatives to resolve issues, concerns, problems, or methods.
• Experience in establishing strong working relationships with program managers as well as organization leadership; tracking task order efforts to rapidly identify and resolve potential and new problems; and identifying and resolving administrative and contractual issues related to a support services contract.
• Ability to solve problems in a rapidly changing environment and interface with customers directly. 
• Strong understanding of intelligence disciplines, methodologies, and the intelligence cycle. 
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic, and team environment.

Compensation: As there are several potential levels for this skillset within the program, compensation can range between $82,500 and $180,000. All employees will receive a generous benefits package: Health, Dental, Vision, 401K with immediate vesting, tuition reimbursement, and generous PTO.

Established in 2010, @Orchard LLC has an exceptional reputation, providing staffing solutions to time-sensitive, talent scarcity issues to deliver better talent management ROI.  Our specialty lies in the critical area of program talent acquisition and resource management, not in one narrow skillset, but across many areas of technical and functional delivery. To learn more about our other exciting opportunities, visit our Jobs Page at www.atOrchard.com.