Principal / Senior Principal Systems Engineer (Integration, Test & MBSE) Mid–Senior Level | $98,400 – $184,200 | Orlando, FL | Secret Clearance Required
Design, integrate, and verify complex defense systems where disciplined systems engineering, automation, and model-based design ensure mission success in high-consequence environments.
A Day in the Life – What You’ll Do
- Serve as a key member of the systems engineering and integration & test (I&T) team supporting secure, mission-critical systems
- Collaborate with customers, systems engineering leads, architects, software, gateware, infrastructure, and test teams
- Develop concepts of operations (CONOPS), system concept definitions, and interface specifications
- Decompose, allocate, and manage system-level requirements across hardware and software components
- Apply Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) practices to define, analyze, and document system behavior
- Develop and maintain SysML models (use cases, sequence diagrams, activity diagrams) to support system design and traceability
- Design, implement, and maintain automated test solutions to verify requirements and system functionality
- Develop formal test plans, test procedures, and test reports
- Support hardware-software integration, deployment, configuration, validation, and troubleshooting on custom platforms
- Analyze complex system behaviors, identify defects, and document issues using structured change-control processes
- Operate effectively in Agile development environments while maintaining accuracy, traceability, and technical rigor
- Communicate technical content clearly to customers, stakeholders, and senior leadership
Education & Experience Requirements Principal Level
- Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 5+ years of relevant experience
- OR Master’s degree in STEM with 3+ years of relevant experience
- OR PhD in STEM with 1+ year of relevant experience
Senior Principal Level
- Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 8+ years of relevant experience
- OR Master’s degree in STEM with 6+ years of relevant experience
- OR PhD in STEM with 4+ years of relevant experience
Required Qualifications Citizenship & Clearance
- U.S. Citizenship required
- Active DoD Secret clearance required
Systems Engineering & Technical Skills
- Experience developing concepts of operations and interface definitions
- Experience decomposing, allocating, and translating requirements into hardware and software specifications
- Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and lifecycle processes
- Experience with requirements analysis, development, traceability, and management
- Proficiency with requirements management tools (Rational DOORS or equivalent)
- Experience implementing and using Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools and practices
- Proficiency in SysML, including use cases, sequence diagrams, and activity diagrams
- Experience developing models in Cameo Enterprise Architecture or equivalent MBSE tools
- Experience testing software applications and verifying system requirements
- Experience developing formal test plans, procedures, and reports
- Knowledge of Agile principles, tools, and implementation
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Proven ability to collaborate across cross-functional engineering teams
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience developing automated tests (Eggplant or similar tools)
- Experience scripting in Python to automate manual processes
- Experience with version control and code repositories (Git, GitLab, etc.)
- Proficiency working in Linux environments (RHEL preferred)
- Proven experience in hardware-software integration on custom platforms
- Experience across the full systems engineering lifecycle, including:
- Requirements decomposition
- Test planning
- Verification and validation
- Integration and system sell-off
- Large-scale or complex system development experience across multiple program phases
- Understanding of software development methodologies
- Experience preparing verification documentation for system-level requirements
- Strong customer-facing communication and presentation experience
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and concurrent projects
Salary Range
- Principal Level: $98,400 – $147,600
- Senior Principal Level: $122,800 – $184,200
Final compensation is based on experience, education, technical skill set, and mission requirements.
Who is Caribou Thunder? Caribou Thunder is a HUBZone-certified small business providing advanced technical and engineering services to the U.S. Department of War and its mission partners.
With operations in
35+ states and 20+ countries, we have delivered trusted, mission-critical solutions for over two decades—strengthening national readiness across land, undersea, air, and space domains including
LEO, MEO, GEO, and deep space.
Why Caribou Thunder? TEAM THUNDER — Mission Focused. Delivery Proven. Ready to Serve.
- Employee Advocacy
- Mission Proven
- Global Reach
- Skilled Teams
- Modern Tools
- Empowering Culture
Our engineers and innovators ensure capability from sea floor to space frontier—delivering precision, compliance, and performance in high-consequence environments.
We specialize in
Engineering Services, Cybersecurity, Software Development, Modeling & Simulation, Digital Engineering, and Artificial Intelligence.
Employee Advocacy + Benefits Our people are the heart of Caribou Thunder. We invest in their growth, flexibility, and well-being—because their success drives ours.
Benefits include:
- Premium Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
- 401(k) with 6% Company Match
- Flexible PTO & Work Schedule
- Education & Certification Reimbursement
- Support for Military Leave
- Work–Life Balance & Traditional Family Values
Your future, your flexibility, your well-being—we invest in you. Apply today and let’s connect.
Principal / Senior Principal Systems Engineer (Integration, Test & MBSE) Mid–Senior Level | $98,400 – $184,200 | Orlando, FL | Secret Clearance Required
Design, integrate, and verify complex defense systems where disciplined systems engineering, automation, and model-based design ensure mission success in high-consequence environments.
A Day in the Life – What You’ll Do
- Serve as a key member of the systems engineering and integration & test (I&T) team supporting secure, mission-critical systems
- Collaborate with customers, systems engineering leads, architects, software, gateware, infrastructure, and test teams
- Develop concepts of operations (CONOPS), system concept definitions, and interface specifications
- Decompose, allocate, and manage system-level requirements across hardware and software components
- Apply Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) practices to define, analyze, and document system behavior
- Develop and maintain SysML models (use cases, sequence diagrams, activity diagrams) to support system design and traceability
- Design, implement, and maintain automated test solutions to verify requirements and system functionality
- Develop formal test plans, test procedures, and test reports
- Support hardware-software integration, deployment, configuration, validation, and troubleshooting on custom platforms
- Analyze complex system behaviors, identify defects, and document issues using structured change-control processes
- Operate effectively in Agile development environments while maintaining accuracy, traceability, and technical rigor
- Communicate technical content clearly to customers, stakeholders, and senior leadership
Education & Experience Requirements Principal Level
- Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 5+ years of relevant experience
- OR Master’s degree in STEM with 3+ years of relevant experience
- OR PhD in STEM with 1+ year of relevant experience
Senior Principal Level
- Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 8+ years of relevant experience
- OR Master’s degree in STEM with 6+ years of relevant experience
- OR PhD in STEM with 4+ years of relevant experience
Required Qualifications Citizenship & Clearance
- U.S. Citizenship required
- Active DoD Secret clearance required
Systems Engineering & Technical Skills
- Experience developing concepts of operations and interface definitions
- Experience decomposing, allocating, and translating requirements into hardware and software specifications
- Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and lifecycle processes
- Experience with requirements analysis, development, traceability, and management
- Proficiency with requirements management tools (Rational DOORS or equivalent)
- Experience implementing and using Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools and practices
- Proficiency in SysML, including use cases, sequence diagrams, and activity diagrams
- Experience developing models in Cameo Enterprise Architecture or equivalent MBSE tools
- Experience testing software applications and verifying system requirements
- Experience developing formal test plans, procedures, and reports
- Knowledge of Agile principles, tools, and implementation
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Proven ability to collaborate across cross-functional engineering teams
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience developing automated tests (Eggplant or similar tools)
- Experience scripting in Python to automate manual processes
- Experience with version control and code repositories (Git, GitLab, etc.)
- Proficiency working in Linux environments (RHEL preferred)
- Proven experience in hardware-software integration on custom platforms
- Experience across the full systems engineering lifecycle, including:
- Requirements decomposition
- Test planning
- Verification and validation
- Integration and system sell-off
- Large-scale or complex system development experience across multiple program phases
- Understanding of software development methodologies
- Experience preparing verification documentation for system-level requirements
- Strong customer-facing communication and presentation experience
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and concurrent projects
Salary Range
- Principal Level: $98,400 – $147,600
- Senior Principal Level: $122,800 – $184,200
Final compensation is based on experience, education, technical skill set, and mission requirements.
Who is Caribou Thunder? Caribou Thunder is a HUBZone-certified small business providing advanced technical and engineering services to the U.S. Department of War and its mission partners.
With operations in
35+ states and 20+ countries, we have delivered trusted, mission-critical solutions for over two decades—strengthening national readiness across land, undersea, air, and space domains including
LEO, MEO, GEO, and deep space.
Why Caribou Thunder? TEAM THUNDER — Mission Focused. Delivery Proven. Ready to Serve.
- Employee Advocacy
- Mission Proven
- Global Reach
- Skilled Teams
- Modern Tools
- Empowering Culture
Our engineers and innovators ensure capability from sea floor to space frontier—delivering precision, compliance, and performance in high-consequence environments.
We specialize in
Engineering Services, Cybersecurity, Software Development, Modeling & Simulation, Digital Engineering, and Artificial Intelligence.
Employee Advocacy + Benefits Our people are the heart of Caribou Thunder. We invest in their growth, flexibility, and well-being—because their success drives ours.
Benefits include:
- Premium Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
- 401(k) with 6% Company Match
- Flexible PTO & Work Schedule
- Education & Certification Reimbursement
- Support for Military Leave
- Work–Life Balance & Traditional Family Values
Your future, your flexibility, your well-being—we invest in you. Apply today and let’s connect.
#PAS123