Assistant Systems Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC

Job Description

Tensley Consulting is seeking a System Engineer (SE) Level 3 to support complex systems engineering efforts across a large‑scale government program. The SE Level 3 will analyze user requirements, concept of operations documents, and high‑level system architectures to develop detailed system specifications. This role provides technical leadership, guides requirements formulation, evaluates alternative approaches, conducts feasibility studies, and leads the integration of requirements, design, and technology across hardware/software systems. The SE Level 3 ensures technical integrity across all engineering deliverables and collaborates with Government stakeholders, senior executives, and program personnel to address technical considerations, risks, and issues.

Functional Responsibilities

• Manage system requirements and derived requirements ensuring compatibility with DoDAF, SOA, and enterprise architectures.
• Contribute to systems engineering documentation including System Engineering Plans, Requirements Specifications, and Interface Control Documents.
• Support development of system, functional, and allocated requirements across hardware, software, facilities, and personnel components.
• Coordinate cross‑discipline action item resolution from CCBs, design reviews, program reviews, and test events.
• Participate in IPTs to design new capabilities based on operational and developmental needs.
• Allocate real-time process budgets and error budgets across systems and subsystems.
• Develop alternative system concepts, physical architectures, and design solutions.
• Define verification methods, processes, and criteria to validate system performance.
• Develop system design solutions that fulfill system requirements and functional analyses.
• Provide engineering input to WBS, work packages, and Integrated Master Plans.
• Support interface definition, configuration changes, and communication across engineering groups.
• Derive essential system functions from stakeholder needs and high-level requirements.
• Develop detailed, verifiable lower-level requirements from allocated requirements.
• Participate in establishing and gaining approval for system definitions, designs, interfaces, and test procedures.
• Develop derived IA requirements, mechanisms, and security technology specifications.
• Implement comprehensive SOA solutions and develop DoDAF‑compliant architectural views.
• Review and approve systems engineering documentation ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Capture interface designs in controlled formats and maintain accessible interface repositories.
• Assess risks, quantify probability and impact, and support risk management planning.
• Plan early verification of new and unproven designs with system stakeholders.
• Produce timeline analysis diagrams showing time-dependent functions.
• Establish formal change-control processes ensuring clarity, traceability, and stakeholder buy‑in.
• Maintain technical integrity of the system baseline through the lifecycle.
• Support government certification and accreditation processes.
• Assist in developing and reviewing JCIDS documentation.
• Provide technical direction for engineering, integration, interfacing, and testing of complex systems.
• Develop operational concepts describing user/system/environment interactions.
• Conduct quantitative analysis for reliability, maintainability, survivability, vulnerability, and producibility.
• Coordinate system integration activities across multiple engineering teams.
• Conduct end-to-end trade analyses optimizing system lifecycle performance.
• Use validated models, simulations, and prototyping to reduce development risk and cost.
• Maintain periodic review and control of system configuration and documentation.
• Serve as a member of the Configuration Control Board.
• Develop system design alternatives considering lifecycle cost, reuse, complexity, scalability, and risk.
• Develop courses of action and fallback positions for risks; monitor risks using EVM.
• Maintain knowledge of evolving federal standards and enforce appropriate application.
• Support Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) and recommend preferred solutions.
• Fully define software, electrical, and mechanical interfaces.

Education/Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in System Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering Science, Engineering Management, or a related technical discipline from an accredited college or university is required. Twenty (20) years of experience as a System Engineer supporting programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity is required. Five (5) years of additional system engineering experience may be substituted in place of the degree.

Salary: $205,000-$225,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position, but is not guaranteed. Salary is based on experience, location and contractual requirements which could fall outside of the range listed.

, Required Skills

• Candidate must be well‑versed in OT (Operational Technology), Space systems, and Weapons systems.

, Desired Skills

• Experience supporting Department of Defense (DoD) or Intelligence Community (IC) environments
• Experience creating and managing PKI certificates
• Experience supporting secure networking architectures
• Experience supporting enterprise system integration and architecture development
• Experience supporting system testing, validation, and performance analysis

, About Tensley Consulting, Inc.
About TensleyTensley Consulting is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business focused on mission engineering in support of the United States Intelligence Community and the Department of Defense. Our team consists of System Engineers, Software Engineers, Test Engineers, and Signals Analysts performing work throughout the Continental United States (CONUS) and Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS).
Equal Opportunity, Diversity InclusionWe aim to build a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We embrace inclusion and ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, national origin, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status, military or veteran status, or any other personal characteristic.
Benefits Include
100% paid medical coverage with HSA and company contribution
100% paid vision, dental, short-term, and long-term premium
12% 401(k) contribution (not a match)
Education and training budget
6 weeks and 3 days of PTO
And much more!
Come grow with us!