About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Engineering.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Role overview

Confidential client is seeking a Junior Systems Engineer to support the design, integration, and test of mission-critical systems in a secured (SCIF) environment in Odenton, MD. This is an entry-level / early-career engineering role focused on requirements analysis, systems integration, test & evaluation, and documentation (ICDs, XML schemas, metadata models). Active TS/SCI with polygraph and SCIF eligibility are required.

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What you’ll do

• Support development of system requirements, specifications, and Concept of Operations (CONOPs) from stakeholder input
• Assist with functional analysis and interface definition, including data-flow diagrams and system design artifacts
• Help plan and execute integration and test activities following applicable Test & Evaluation policies; develop test plans and analyze results
• Contribute to configuration management, system troubleshooting, and implementation of changes
• Support creation and maintenance of Interface Control Documents (ICDs), XML schemas, and metadata models
• Work with program engineers and government stakeholders to prototype and mature solutions for high-priority missions
• Travel CONUS/OCONUS as mission requires

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Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (ABET-accredited) with no experience, OR
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, or Physics plus 1 year of relevant systems engineering experience
• For non-ABET degrees: coursework must include differential & integral calculus and 5 of the specified technical areas noted by the client
• Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph required
• Ability to work in a SCIF environment
• Willingness to travel as required
• Strong written and verbal technical communication skills
• Familiarity with systems engineering artifacts (requirements, ICDs, CONOPS), integration/test processes, and basic scripting or XML helpful

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Preferred / nice-to-have

• Hands-on experience with integration & test or configuration management
• Prior exposure to mission systems, signals intelligence (SIGINT), or security engineering
• Knowledge of XML schema design, metadata modeling, and interface control documentation
• Experience with formal Test & Evaluation (T&E) processes or NSA T&E policies

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Pay & benefits

• Pay range (provided by client): $57,850 — $104,575 per year
• Benefits typically include: paid time off, paid holidays, retirement plan with company match, education & training support, flexible schedules, and health & wellness programs (benefits vary by client policy and location).

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How we work

This role supports critical national-security missions. Expect a fast-paced, mission-focused environment that values initiative, technical rigor, and collaboration with engineers and government stakeholders.

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.