C2/Fire Control Principal Engineer

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies - collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose - and help shape the future.

The MITRE N261 Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Weapons Systems Engineering Department is seeking a highly motivated and experienced systems engineer with STEM-related education and experience to serve as a Principal Strategic Missile Defense Systems/C2 Fire Control Engineer. The successful candidate will support the MDA Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) strategic defense weapon system, along with the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) that will replace the legacy Ground Based Interceptors (GBI).

The Principal Strategic Missile Defense Systems/C2 Fire Control Engineer will collaborate with other technical SMEs within the portfolio as well as other FFRDCs and UARCs while performing a variety of technical analysis of current and emerging sensors, radars, Command and Control Battle Management Communications (C2BMC) integration, Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) integration with Ground Weapons System (GWS), and the GMD C2/Fire Control (GFC) capability. The successful candidate will participate in (and help lead) a variety of trade studies, deep-dive analysis, algorithm development/assessment, interface assessments, and technical reviews. The principal engineer will help resolve capability gaps in the existing GMD system of systems and provide recommendations to the FFRDC/UARC teams and government sponsor.

Roles & Responsibilities:

The C2/Fire Control Principal engineer will be responsible for leading and executing key elements of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense's development, focused on engagement planning, engagement, management, and other related fire control algorithm assessments to ensure that GMD is ready for mixed fleet planning (Ground Based Interceptors + Next Generation Interceptor) in order to address the anticipated future ballistic missile threat against the United States homeland. The successful candidate will work closely with senior GMD technical leaders as well as other contributors to the GMD Technical Direction Agent. The individual will help advise the Ground Weapons System Chief Engineer regarding GMD's future direction by ensuring that the GMD system under development meets the requirements levied upon it to meet the future threat through data driven analyses that include architecture analyses, capability gap assessments, technology opportunities, and resource considerations into actionable recommendations that inform GMD technical priorities and future investments.

Highly competitive candidates must bring a strong technical background and depth of missile defense domain knowledge and experience to advance the department's strategic planning and investment analysis capabilities in one or more of the following areas:

• C2/Fire Control algorithm development and/or assessment
• Capability gap analysis and investment prioritization
• Mission engineering and operational effectiveness analysis
• Missile defense interceptor engagement management
• Acquisition expertise for DoW weapons systems

In addition, specific responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Plan and execute the TDA fire control analysis work, leading teams, and developing and presenting results to the sponsor.
• Perform analyses of current and future GMD design (and how that design integrates into the MDS) and derive results from modeling and simulation tools, develop data-driven actionable recommendations, and present findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Identify additional project opportunities to expand the technical work portfolio through sponsor and internal engagement.
• Lead system engineering efforts and staff and advise the sponsor on C2/GFC (fire control) algorithms, MDS performance, Interface Design, hardware design, operations, requirements, interoperability and integration concepts and challenges
• Work closely across sponsor directorates, leveraging knowledge and resources, ensuring consistency of effort, and fostering teamwork among the sponsor, Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) staff, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), Other Government Agencies (OGAs), and Prime Contractor(s).

• Lead fire control technical reviews, workshops, industry engagements, technical exchanges, and cross-functional working groups that inform future capability development, architecture evolution, and strategic investment decisions.
• Develop executive-level briefings, decision-support products, and strategic recommendations for senior GMD leadership, including SES and Flag Officer stakeholders.

• Advance mission outcomes as an integrated member of the MITRE team, bringing individual expertise to bear while strengthening how the team understands, assesses, and addresses sponsor challenges.

• Work closely with government sponsors and MITRE staff to identify and develop appropriate courses of action, drawing on relevant expertise and perspectives to inform decisions and advance priority outcomes.
• Strengthen MITRE’s ability to deliver sustained sponsor value by sharing context, insight, and experience in order to deepen understanding and build the capabilities of others.
• Build trust and continuity that extend beyond any one individual, strengthening the long-term effectiveness of the MITRE team.

Basic Qualifications:

• B.S. or M.S. degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) with a minimum of 10 years of related experience (BS); or 8 years of related experience (MS); or 5 years with PhD. Related experience is considered applied systems engineering, analysis, and/or (fire control) algorithm development, as well as relevant missile defense domain knowledge and technical skills in missile and space systems.
• Experience with Department of War (DoW) missile and space systems development; including assessing systems against performance requirements, conducting trade studies, and supporting flight tests.

• Experience collaborating across diverse technical and non-technical stakeholders to develop integrated assessments, recommendations, and strategic outcomes.
• Experience working with Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) or University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs).

• Ability to independently lead or conduct complex technical analyses, assess alternatives, evaluate risks and opportunities, and develop actionable recommendations that support senior leader decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate future fire control algorithms, engagement management schemas, emerging technologies, capability gaps, architecture alternatives, and investment options within complex defense enterprises.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated experience developing and presenting executive-level briefings, technical recommendations, and decision-support products.
• Ability to work autonomously and as a team player.
• Must have an active Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI U.S. Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 4 days a week on-site.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to develop and assess C2 (fire control) algorithms, to include deep-dive performance analyses
• Detailed knowledge of the GMD Fire Control (GFC), Command Control Battle Management and Communication (C2BMC), and the Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) System Track (BST)
• Advanced experience using Python and MATLAB
• A passion for developing and maintaining a knowledge of battle management and fire control technologies and strategies through continued learning, active engagement with academia and industry, and a desire to remain “hands-on.”
• Experience supporting the Ground-based Midcourse Defense program (especially with fire control and/or engagement management planning/development), including architecture development, mission engineering, systems engineering, or resource planning activities.
• Demonstrated ability to develop executive-level briefings, strategic (technical) recommendations, and decision-support products for Senior Executive Service (SES), General Officer, and Flag Officer audiences.
• Experience integrating AI/ML into fire control algorithms
• Active DoW Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance.
• Demonstrated engagement with industry, academia, FFRDCs, UARCs, National Laboratories, and the broader defense innovation community to identify emerging technologies and mission applications.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Top Secret/SCI

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$162,400 - $203,000 - $243,600 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

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.

MITRE intends to maintain a website that is fully accessible to all individuals. If you are unable to search or apply for jobs and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of MITRE’s employment process, please email [email protected] for general support and [email protected] for intern positions. This service is for individuals requiring reasonable accommodation requests. Please note that vendor solicitations will not receive a reply.

Benefits information may be found here.

Copyright © 1997-2026, The MITRE Corporation. All rights reserved. MITRE is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation. Material on this site may be copied and distributed with permission only.