CONOPS Engineer/System Engineer
Current Open Positions · Manassas, VA
$90,000–$160,000from the description
Jul 2, 2026
Manassas, VA
Jul 20, 2026
What this job asks for AI summary
A systems engineering role supporting submarine imaging suite programs, focused on translating operational requirements into hardware and software specifications, conducting test and evaluation, and managing configurations. The work involves collaboration with a CONOPS lead, dockside and potential at-sea testing, and requires prior Navy experience as an imaging system operator and maintainer, along with a DoD Secret clearance.
Senior level · 6+ years · National · Secret clearance · Full-time
“or” means any one of them counts — you don't need all of them.
We read this from the posting text with AI. Skim the description below before ruling yourself out.
Why we read it this way (10)
No work location is specified in the posting; the role involves domestic and international travel, dockside support, and at-sea testing, suggesting a Navy installation/submarine-adjacent environment — likely East or West Coast US but not determinable from the text alone.
The 6-year minimum is explicitly tied to 'Navy experience as an Imaging System operator and maintainer,' which functions as the overall experience gate and is reflected in the overall years minimum.
The clearance gate states 'Must have clearance to begin work,' meaning an active Secret clearance is required at hire — not merely the ability to obtain one.
SOC classification is genuinely ambiguous: the role blends systems engineering/CONOPS analysis (15-1211) with hands-on test and evaluation work (15-1253). 15-1211 was chosen as primary because the job title and the bulk of the description emphasize systems integration, requirements analysis, and CONOPS development; T&E is a significant but secondary duty.
Skills such as 'SSN/SSGN/SSBN Imaging Suite operation and maintenance,' 'Test and Evaluation,' 'test documentation,' 'hardware/software troubleshooting,' and 'configuration management' are listed under the 'Additional Requirements' hard-gate section and are marked required accordingly.
Desired Skills (PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop/Paint Shop Pro, ISR/TCPED expertise, ASW community experience, training background) are listed under a clearly secondary 'Desired Skills' heading and are marked preferred.
'TCPED' (Tasking, Collection, Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination) is listed as a preferred skill tied to ISR systems expertise; captured as a separate preferred skill alongside ISR systems.
The posting does not specify a degree requirement; no degree is mentioned anywhere in the JD.
Ignored 5 non-technology phrase(s) as skills (responsibilities/concepts, not named tools): SSN/SSGN/SSBN Imaging Suite, Test documentation, Hardware troubleshooting, Software troubleshooting, Configuration management.
Requires a Secret clearance — the cleared population is a small fraction of this occupation, so the real candidate pool is materially smaller than the estimate below, which does not model clearance.
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