Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Opportunity:

Are you looking for an opportunity to combine your technical skills with big picture thinking to make an impact on national security? You understand your customer's environment and how to turn an operational need into a fielded capability. Your ability to lead engineers, set technical direction, and keep development moving makes you the person a program turns to when the mission can't wait. If this sounds like you, come join Booz Allen's team to work on an exciting defense capability program.

As a systems development lead, you will lead the engineering development of the next generation GPS-degraded, semi-autonomous defense capability alongside Booz Allen colleagues, other support contractors, and U.S. Navy personnel. You will own the technical baseline across the development lifecycle, from requirements decomposition and architecture through prototyping, integration, test, and transition to the fleet. You will direct a cross-functional team spanning systems, hardware, software, and autonomy, and serve as the technical interface to the government client, translating mission needs into executable development plans and making the trade decisions that keep cost, schedule, and performance in balance. Your leadership and innovative thinking will be critical to delivering an advanced capability that meets the warfighter's needs.

Join us. The world can't wait.

You Have:

• 10+ years of experience in systems engineering or development of DoD weapons systems, ordnance or munitions, unmanned systems, or autonomous platforms, including leading the technical effort across multiple development phases
• 5+ years of experience leading cross-functional engineering teams through the full development lifecycle, including requirements definition, architecture, design, integration, and verification
• 5+ years of experience planning and conducting technical reviews, including SRR, SDR, SFR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FCA, or PCA, and developing the supporting technical documentation
• Experience advancing prototype systems through the development lifecycle to achieve operational deployment DoD weapons systems, ordnance or munitions, unmanned systems, or autonomous platforms
• Experience identifying, analyzing, and managing program technical risks and issues across hardware, software, and system domains, including root cause analysis and mitigation planning
• Experience decomposing operational requirements and system specifications into a managed technical baseline and allocating requirements across subsystems
• Experience using a Model-Based Systems Engineering or Digital Engineering approach to manage system definitions, architecture, and technical baselines
• Ability to resolve complex, multidisciplinary technical challenges in a fast-paced environment, work independently and collaboratively, take initiative, and drive a team to program goals
• Secret clearance
• Bachelor's degree in an Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics field

Nice If You Have:

• Experience supporting NSWC, Navy ordnance or energetics, or warfare programs
• Experience developing systems for GPS-degraded or GPS-denied operations, autonomy or semi-autonomous control, or advanced sensing
• Experience with rapid prototyping or agile hardware development, including delivery under OTA or other flexible acquisition vehicles
• Experience integrating systems engineering with test and evaluation strategy, including IEEE 15288.1 and IEEE 15288.2
• Possession of strong leadership and problem-solving skills
• Master's degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, or a related field
• INCOSE ASEP/CSEP, PMP, or equivalent certification

Clearance:

Applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and may need to meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information; Secret clearance is required.

Compensation

At Booz Allen, we celebrate your contributions, provide you with opportunities and choices, and support your total well-being. Our offerings include health, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits, as well as paid leave, professional development, tuition assistance, work-life programs, and dependent care. Our recognition awards program acknowledges employees for exceptional performance and superior demonstration of our values. Full-time and part-time employees working at least 20 hours a week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in Booz Allen's benefit programs. Individuals that do not meet the threshold are only eligible for select offerings, not inclusive of health benefits. We encourage you to learn more about our total benefits by visiting the Resource page on our Careers site and reviewing Our Employee Benefits page.

Identity Statement

As part of the hiring process, we will ask you to complete an identity verification process that leverages advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and protect against identity fraud. You are expected to be on camera during interviews and assessments. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud.

Candidate AI Usage Policy

AI is a part of our daily work at Booz Allen, and we are committed to the responsible and ethical use of AI tools. However, we want to ensure a fair candidate process based on your own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or other tools to assist with responses during interviews (whether in-person or virtual) is prohibited unless permission is explicitly provided.

Work Model
Our people-first culture prioritizes the benefits of collaboration, whether it occurs in person or virtually. To support engagement and effective communication, employees working virtually are generally expected to have their cameras on during meetings.

• Remote: If this position is listed as remote, there may still be occasions when you are required to work in person at a Booz Allen or customer facility.

• Hybrid: If this position is listed as hybrid, you will be expected to work from a Booz Allen facility frequently, in alignment with leadership expectations and the needs of the role. You may also be required to work from or visit a customer facility.

• Onsite: If this position is listed as onsite, work will primarily be performed at a Booz Allen office or customer facility, where employees will collaborate directly with colleagues and customers as required by the role.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local, or international law.