Senior Systems Engineer
Peraton
McLean, VA · Posted November 4, 2026
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Where McLean, VA ranks
Where McLean, VA placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #1Best all-round cities for mid-career professionals in the Mid-Atlantic79 / 100 · of 37
- #1Best all-round cities for mid-career professionals in the Southeast78 / 100 · of 33
- #1Best all-round cities for AI careers in the Southeast91 / 100 · of 33
- #2Best cities for AI-skill jobs in the Southeast17% · of 87
- #2Best all-round cities for AI careers in the Mid-Atlantic89 / 100 · of 37
- #3Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the Southeast10% · of 77
Rankings about engineering jobs
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs #1 San Francisco (3,412 openings)
- Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($216k)
- Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (6.1%)
- AI tools named most often in engineering jobs #1 Claude (1.7%)
- Employers with the most engineering jobs #1 Amazon (2,992 roles)
Pay compared with the market
This listing does not state pay. Across 190 open senior systems engineer listings that state pay, the middle half runs $133,000 to $174,000 and the median is $133,000.
Listed pay is what employers advertise, not what people are paid.
Senior Systems Engineer salaries by state · Check your own pay
How AI is used in this kind of work
Among computer occupations, all other, AI is already used for a large share of the tasks. Measured exposure for computer occupations, all other: 31% (high).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
Peraton has filed 3 layoff notices in the last twelve months, covering 133 workers, most recently October 2026. These are public filings with state labor departments, and an open role can sit alongside them. See the filings
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About the job
Peraton Overview
Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.
Responsibilities
Support the system development of a software tool, including assisting project teams with system requirements definition and ensuring that requirements are properly translated into contractual tasks for the commercial development contractor.
Oversee the commercial development contractor’s development of the software tool, ensuring that good system engineering practices are being observed, tasking is being efficiently executed, and deliverables meet stated requirements.
Monitor and report on the contractor’s progress, identifying and mitigating risks, and ensuring compliance with contractual requirements.
Advise the vendor on system engineering process improvements aimed at realizing higher quality products sooner, including recommendations for process enhancements, tooling, and methodologies.
Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure effective communication and coordination, and to identify and address any technical or programmatic issues that may impact software development.
Review and assess the contractor’s system engineering processes, including requirements management, design, testing, and validation.
Evaluate the contractor’s deliverables, including software builds, documentation, and test results, to ensure compliance with contractual requirements.
Identify and report on any technical or programmatic risks, and work with the contractor to develop mitigation plans.
Provide technical guidance and oversight to ensure that the contractor is following good system engineering practices.
Analyze the contractor’s system engineering processes and identify areas for improvement.
Provide recommendations for process enhancements, tooling, and methodologies to improve the quality and efficiency of the contractor’s development efforts.
Collaborate with the contractor to implement process improvements and monitor their effectiveness.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
TS/SCI with relevant polygraph.
Minimum of 15 years with BS/BA; an additional four years of experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
Familiarity with software development methodologies, such as Agile or waterfall.
Experience overseeing commercial development contractors.
Strong understanding of system engineering principles and practices.
Desired Qualifications:
Familiarity with IC, DoW operations/procedures
Knowledge of commercial software development practices and methodologies.
Experience with system development lifecycle management.
Knowledge of C2 systems.
Target Salary Range $146,000 - $234,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.
Benefits Statement
Peraton offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, health savings account, short/long term disability, EAP, parental leave, 401(k), paid time off (PTO) for vacation, and company paid holidays. A full listing of available benefits can be viewed at https://www.careers.peraton.com/benefits.
Application Statements The application period for the job is estimated to be 30 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in the role and the Company. During the review of your application, you may be required to participate in an on-camera interview, as well as participate in a process to verify your identity. Use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools of any kind during Peraton interviews is strictly prohibited unless the candidate has obtained prior written authorization. All interview responses must be the candidate’s own.
EEO EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.