Senior Acquisition Engineer 
Clearance Required: Secret
Schedule: 5 days onsite at the Pentagon, with telework on an ad hoc/case-by-case basis

Nationwide IT Services, NIS, is seeking a Senior Acquisition Engineer to provide engineering support to SAF/AQR (The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics). This individual must have relevant acquisition systems engineering experience in a System Program Office and/or HAF.

Position Overview:
The Senior Acquisition Engineer will provide critical engineering support to the maturation of technologies and programs within the AQR portfolio, leveraging systems engineering and integration expertise. This role involves conducting engineering assessments, analyzing weapon systems, and providing recommendations to inform decision-making for Air Force acquisition programs. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in systems engineering, program management, and the DoD Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process and Program Objective Memorandum (POM) Key Responsibilities:
Technical Analysis and Engineering Assessments:

• Study, analyze, and provide recommendations on requirements, acquisition strategies, program documentation, and program execution.
• Conduct impartial assessments of programs approaching milestone decisions and evaluate prime Contractor technical and operational issues.
• Perform technical studies on individual weapon systems, weapon system integration, and capability areas.
• Analyze weapon systems architecture and integration to identify issues and recommend solutions.
• Assess weapon system design alternatives to ensure they meet required capabilities.

Research and Program Support:

• Research and provide technical analysis to support the preparation of programmatic documentation and responses to Congressional, DoD, Air Force Secretariat, and Air Staff inquiries.
• Identify operational deficiencies and key issues, conduct research to develop alternatives, and provide actionable recommendations for resolution.
• Perform weapon system/technology/cost trade-off studies to inform decision-making.
• Review and assess technical, operational, and management concepts, documents, and specifications.

Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and Policy:

• Provide expertise on MBSE implementation and policy, ensuring alignment with Air Force acquisition engineering standards.
• Assess policy requirements and procedures governing Air Force acquisition engineering and technical services.
• Evaluate operating system end-of-life support and recommend strategies to mitigate impacts on weapon systems.

Technology Transition and S&T Integration:

• Assess Technical Transition activities, including mission engineering, early systems engineering, experimentation, and prototyping.
• Identify technology gaps and align them with Science and Technology (S&T) efforts to address future force requirements.
• Provide advice on leveraging S&T efforts to enhance future force capabilities.

Communication and Collaboration:

• Communicate technical ideas effectively to non-technical stakeholders, ensuring clarity and understanding.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align engineering efforts with program objectives.
• Handle confidential and classified (Secret) information, correspondence, and communications with discretion.

Administrative and IT Proficiency:

• Demonstrate proficiency in computer-based communication and office IT tools.
• Quickly learn and adapt to software packages used by the Department of the Air Force (DAF).

Performance Metrics:

• Timely Delivery of Assessments: Provide accurate and actionable engineering assessments within established deadlines.
• Quality of Recommendations: Deliver well-researched, data-driven recommendations that address programmatic and technical challenges.
• Stakeholder Satisfaction: Ensure positive feedback from stakeholders on the clarity, relevance, and impact of technical analyses and recommendations.
• Compliance with Policies: Adhere to Air Force acquisition policies, MBSE standards, and security protocols.
• Effective Communication: Demonstrate the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable insights for non-technical audiences.

Qualifications:
Education:

• Master’s degree in any engineering specialty relevant to the position description duties.
  • Substitutions:
    • 12 years of relevant work experience may substitute for a Master’s degree.
    • Bachelor’s degree plus 8 years of relevant work experience may substitute for a Master’s degree.

Experience:

• 10+ years of systems engineering experience in a System Program Office (SPO) and/or Headquarters Air Force (HAF).
• 10+ years of experience in the Air Force or DoD PPBE process with programs of record.
• Demonstrated expertise in weapon systems analysis, technical assessments, and MBSE implementation.

Desired Skills:

• Familiarity with MBSE tools (e.g., DOORs, CAMEO).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.

About Nationwide IT Services
NIS is an IT and Management consulting company, a CVE-verified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business. Our mission is to deliver value-added services to our customers, leveraging technology, people, and industry best practices to implement innovative solutions through our trusted employees and team members.  
 
Our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability insurance, 401(k) plan with employer match, paid holidays, PTO (sick/vacation), commuter benefits, employee assistance program (EAP) and educational reimbursement along with Pet Insurance.
 
Nationwide IT Services, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, disability or protected veteran status.