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Senior Systems Engineer Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Senior Systems Engineer

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$107K - $146K/yr

Senior Systems Engineer Requisition ID: 1737 Position Location: Fairfax, VA / Concord, NH (onsite) Position Reports To: Senior Principal Systems Engineer Supervises Others: No At Trident Systems ...

Senior Systems Engineer Location: Ft. Belvoir, VA Clearance Required: Active Top Secret/SCI Leidos is seeking a highly experienced Senior Systems Engineer to support the development, integration, and ...

Sr Systems Engineer

Fort Belvoir, VA · On-site

$131K - $237K/yr

Senior Systems Engineer Location: Ft. Belvoir, VA Clearance Required: Active Top Secret/SCI Leidos is seeking a highly experienced Senior Systems Engineer to support the development, integration, and ...

Senior Systems Engineer

Washington, DC

$118K - $162K/yr

Description Senior Systems Engineer WHO WE ARE: STAHL Companies provides the Program Management for its Channel of Commercial Technology companies in Government that consist of Small Businesses and ...

Senior Systems Engineer

Washington, DC

$118K - $162K/yr

Senior Systems Engineer WHO WE ARE: STAHL Companies provides the Program Management for its Channel of Commercial Technology companies in Government that consist of Small Businesses and New ...

Senior Systems Engineer

Silver Spring, MD · On-site

$108K - $148K/yr

The Senior Systems Engineer serves as the senior technical authority for engineering and systems activities in support of the NOAA. This position provides organization-wide engineering leadership and ...

Senior Systems Engineer

Silver Spring, MD · Remote

$108K - $148K/yr

The Senior Systems Engineer serves as the senior technical authority for engineering and systems activities in support of the NOAA. This position provides organization-wide engineering leadership and ...

Senior Systems Engineer

Springfield, VA

$109K - $149K/yr

Senior Systems Engineer Location: Springfield, VA Clearance: TS/SCI Citizenship: US Citizenship Required Whether running countries, corporations, or courtrooms, our clients bear the responsibility ...

Senior Systems Engineer

Springfield, VA · On-site

$109K - $149K/yr

Senior Systems Engineer Location: Springfield, VA Clearance: TS/SCI Citizenship: US Citizenship Required Whether running countries, corporations, or courtrooms, our clients bear the responsibility ...

Senior Systems Engineer

Takoma Park, MD · Hybrid

$131K - $237K/yr

As the Senior System Engineer, you will perform and manage the full spectrum of systems engineering tasks to include requirements analysis, feature, system and interface design, system integration ...

Senior Systems Engineer

Chevy Chase, MD · Hybrid

$131K - $237K/yr

As the Senior System Engineer, you will perform and manage the full spectrum of systems engineering tasks to include requirements analysis, feature, system and interface design, system integration ...

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Senior Systems Engineer information

See Reston, VA salary details

$58.3K

$129.8K

$183.1K

How much do senior systems engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior systems engineer in Reston, VA is $129,766.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $108,700.00 and $148,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Senior Systems Engineers?

Senior Systems Engineers are experienced professionals responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining complex IT systems within an organization. They oversee the integration of hardware and software, ensure system reliability, and troubleshoot advanced technical issues. Senior Systems Engineers often lead projects, mentor junior staff, and collaborate with other departments to meet organizational goals. Their role is critical in maintaining the infrastructure that supports business operations.

What are some common challenges faced by Senior Systems Engineers when integrating new technologies into existing infrastructure?

Senior Systems Engineers often encounter challenges such as ensuring compatibility between legacy systems and new technologies, minimizing downtime during migrations, and addressing unforeseen security vulnerabilities. Effective integration requires thorough planning, cross-team collaboration, and detailed testing to avoid disruptions to business operations. Staying current with emerging technologies and adopting best practices for change management are essential for overcoming these challenges and ensuring smooth implementation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Systems Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Systems Engineer, you need expertise in systems architecture, troubleshooting, and network administration, typically supported by a degree in computer science or a related field and several years of relevant experience. Familiarity with virtualization platforms, cloud services (like AWS or Azure), automation tools (such as Ansible or PowerShell), and certifications like CompTIA, Microsoft, or Cisco are often required. Outstanding problem-solving, communication, and project management skills help you lead initiatives and collaborate effectively across teams. These competencies are crucial for ensuring system reliability, scalability, and security in complex IT environments.

What Is a Senior Systems Engineer?

A senior systems engineer is an IT (information technology) professional tasked with designing and maintaining network systems and security. Examples include large server or storage systems, computer networks, and mainframes. As a systems engineer, your primary duties are to oversee the daily operations of your facility and lead a team of engineers in designing new systems to replace old ones. You may work for a company that provides engineering services and solutions for other businesses, or you may be part of a large university or other institution's IT department. Skills needed for the career include the ability to work independently, leadership, and analytical problem-solving. A bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or IT and significant experience in a lower systems engineering position are essential qualifications.

What is the difference between Senior Systems Engineer vs Systems Administrator?

AspectSenior Systems EngineerSystems Administrator
CertificationsCompTIA Security+, Cisco CCNA, Microsoft certificationsCompTIA A+, Network+, Microsoft certifications
Work EnvironmentDesigning, implementing, and troubleshooting complex systemsManaging daily system operations and user support
Industry UsageIT, technology, enterprise environmentsIT support, small to medium businesses

While both roles involve working with IT systems, Senior Systems Engineers focus on designing and implementing complex infrastructure, whereas Systems Administrators handle routine maintenance and user support. The senior role typically requires more advanced certifications and experience, and often involves strategic planning and system architecture.

What are the most commonly searched types of Systems Engineer jobs in Reston, VA? The most popular types of Systems Engineer jobs in Reston, VA are:
What are popular job titles related to Senior Systems Engineer jobs in Reston, VA? For Senior Systems Engineer jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Systems Engineer jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Systems Engineer jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Senior Systems Engineer jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Senior Systems Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Senior Systems Engineer job openings in Reston, VA as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 91% Full Time, 3% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 88% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $129,766 per year, or $62.4 per hour.
Senior Systems Engineer

Senior Systems Engineer

Trident Systems LLC

Fairfax, VA • On-site

$107K - $146K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 22 days ago


Job description

Position Title: Senior Systems Engineer
Requisition ID: 1737
Position Location: Fairfax, VA / Concord, NH (onsite)
Position Reports To: Senior Principal Systems Engineer
Supervises Others: No

At Trident Systems Space Electronic Systems (SES) division, we believe in the power of using strong engineering principles to drive innovation and solve complex problems. We foster a culture of rigorous engineering and continuous improvement, leveraging the full knowledge of our organization through collaborative product development processes that include design and peer reviews. We combine our expertise in space electronics with right-sized development processes to create innovative, high-performance space-based electronic systems that meet our customers' evolving needs.

We are a mission partner supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, and Civil space customers. We develop complex, radiation effects mitigated, designs that balance competing requirements in modern space programs, delivering cutting-edge solutions that enable our customers to achieve more in space.

Position Summary

We are seeking a talented, self-motivated, and experienced Senior Systems Engineer with demonstrated success in leading engineering teams to develop and deliver new and/or improved products that meet requirements on time and within budget. The Senior Systems Engineer provides systems engineering methodology expertise across R&D and product development programs, is a key participant in establishing technology and product roadmaps and contributes to business opportunities of strategic importance.

The Principal Systems Engineer works collaboratively with program managers and project engineers to ensure successful program execution and is responsible for guiding program teams to solving problems through a wholistic, systems engineering approach. This position requires expert technical capability and communication skill, effective forward thinking to take advantage of opportunities and prevent issues, and ability to work with engineering leadership towards growing an effective engineering organization. To be successful in this role, the individual should possess technical depth to perform deep-dive analysis and apply properly tailored systems engineering process, as well as technical breadth to work through complex issues across disciplines (e.g. mechanical, electrical, software, and firmware). This individual is able to work autonomously with only high-level objectives to be effective, is able to work on problems of diverse complexity and scope and demonstrates expert engineering judgement.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Lead a diverse engineering team in the development of advanced multi-function RF, processing, networking, and/or data storage units for space applications using systems engineering methodology
  • Own the systems engineering process on the program and ensure the proper systems analysis and trades, technical baseline management, and requirements verification and validation activities are completed
  • Collaborate with program management to lead program planning and execution within cost and schedule constraints
  • Act as the program technical champion / representative / POC
  • Prepare for, and present at all major design reviews, including internal and external (customer) reviews
  • Provide technical expertise in planning for IR&D and new product initiatives
  • Support proposal efforts for new business opportunities
  • Support travel or off-site work, as needed
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) field
  • 6+ years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree or 4+ years with a Master’s degree
  • Technical project lead experience
  • Highly accomplished in engineering or scientific domain(s) of expertise
  • Fluent in multiple relevant technical/scientific domains and can work through complex issues across engineering disciplines
  • Proficient in application of systems engineering methodology to product design and development
  • Ability to lead multidiscipline teams (e.g. system, hardware, software/firmware, and integration and test) through the development of complex electronic systems to meet rigorous space application requirements
  • Strong team leadership, including ability to coach teams, provide mentorship, etc.
  • Ability to balance technical performance with program cost and schedule targets
  • Excellent organization and communication skills
  • Must be a U.S. person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or individual granted refugee or asylee status)

Preferred Qualifications

  • MS degree in a STEM field
  • Experience with space industry product development life cycles
  • Experience in product development for high reliability, high survivability, and/or space environment applications
  • Experience with complex electronics product design at low level of integration, e.g. PCBAs, mechanical structures, mission software, FPGA firmware, etc.
  • Experience with Xilinx family devices, including Zynq UltraScale+ or Versal architecture
  • Knowledge of VPX standards (VITA 46 and VITA 65) and demonstrated experience implementing in embedded hardware
  • Experience in electronics design including schematic capture, PCB layout, PCB routing, high-speed data design, mixed-signal analysis/design, signal integrity analysis, etc.
  • Experience in signal processing and/or algorithm development
  • Experience with CAD tools, e.g. PSpice, LTspice, Altium, SOLIDWORKS, Keysight ADS, etc.
  • Experience with systems engineering related tools, e.g. STK, MATLAB Simulink, requirements management/databases, MBSE, etc.
  • Experience with one or more levels of the OSI model, understanding of networking protocols, etc.

Trident Systems reserves the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

Benefits

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits including but not limited to:

  • Health benefits
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Basic life with AD&D
  • Short term disability
  • Long term disability
  • Ancillary (Voluntary life with AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital, and pet)
  • Spending accounts (HSA, FSA, and DCFSA)
  • Paid time off
  • Holidays
  • 401(k) (including company match)
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Leaves (Parental, maternity, and military)
  • Annual discretionary bonus (for eligible roles)

Trident Systems is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact recruiting@tridsys.com.

Pay Transparency: The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)