Deputy Lead Systems Engineer Full Time NEW

Location: Colorado Springs, CO, US

Date Posted: 2026-05-01

Category: Engineering and Sciences

Subcategory: Systems Engineer

Schedule: Full-Time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes – 10% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required: TS.SCI

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None

Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE

Description

We are seeking a Deputy Lead Systems Engineer (DLSE) to support the Lead Systems Engineer (LSE) on the AF TENCAP HOPE 2.0 program – a fast-paced, high-impact effort focused on delivering innovative prototypes that rapidly enhance warfighter capabilities across air, space, cyber, and multi-domain mission areas. In this role, you’ll serve as an engineering enabler, helping teams stay aligned, remove friction, and maintain engineering rigor while moving quickly. You will support design reviews, coordinate engineering tasks, guide team members, and strengthen the technical culture that powers rapid prototyping across multiple simultaneous projects.

The right candidate thrives in collaborative environments, enjoys helping others succeed, and believes that great engineering comes from empowering people. You are motivated by enabling rapid innovation, you listen first, you lead through influence, and you create clarity where others see ambiguity. You are energized by working in a mission-driven environment where prototypes transition quickly, and where your ability to support, guide, and develop engineering teammates directly contributes to advancing warfighter capabilities.

Location Requirement: Local to Colorado Springs, CO and expected to be on-site with customer 3+ days a week.

Clearance Requirement: Active TS with SCI Eligibility.

Travel Requirement: Occasional travel (~10-15%).

Responsibilities:

• Support the LSE by reinforcing engineering discipline, technical alignment, and quality while enabling teams with clarity, tools, and guidance.
• Assist with technical reviews, design discussions, and government engagements, helping teams communicate concepts and prototypes effectively.
• Coordinate engineering staff across projects, support task alignment, coach team members, and provide performance input that helps people grow.
• Partner with Solution Architects and Innovation teams to ensure early-stage concepts and prototypes are feasible, well-supported, and aligned with mission needs.
• Contribute to improving engineering baselines, templates, tools, and procedures that reduce friction and help teams move faster.
• Work with the PMO to synchronize engineering schedules, dependencies, and resources across multiple concurrent efforts.
• Support planning and technical estimating while ensuring engineering activities are accurately reflected in program status and reporting.
• Assist the LSE with communications to the Government Chief Engineer and participate in technical discussions.
• Help ensure prototypes and system updates are built with the right level of engineering rigor while empowering teams to adapt quickly.
• Directly support individual projects with Systems Engineering expertise.
• Promote Agile methodologies and practices, encouraging iterative delivery, transparency, continuous improvement, and collaborative problem-solving.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering with 18 years experience in engineering field.
• Must have an active TS/SCI clearance
• Ten (10) years of experience providing systems engineering work, including experience with complex engineering designs and delivery.
• Ten (10) years of experience managing or supporting engineering teams involved in conceiving, planning, and conducting research and analysis for complex technological problems.
• Five (5) years of experience providing support to DoD Service organizations and/or Intelligence Community agencies.

  Desired Qualifications:

• Active INCOSE Certification highly desired.
• Master of Science in Engineering.
• Five (5) or more years of experience providing rapid prototyping or development.
• Five (5) or more years of experience performing Test & Evaluation (T&E) activities.
• Five (5) or more years of experience with identification, development, and application of multiple technology sources (e.g., SIGINT, GEOINT) and engineering technology systems/data flows.

Target salary range: $160,001 – $200,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.