Overview
Intelligent Waves is seeking a highly experienced System Engineer Level III - Data Scientist to support our cybersecurity contract in Linthicum Heights, MD. This senior-level position requires 20+ years of relevant systems engineering experience and combines technical leadership with advanced data science expertise supporting complex systems of systems. The role focuses on natural language processing (NLP), machine learning (ML), data extraction and processing, qualitative analysis, and data visualization , including work with unstructured and semi-structured sources such as PDFs, CONOPS, and DoDAF artifacts. Candidates should be proficient in Python and/or R , with experience or familiarity with technologies such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, Apache Tika, and PDFMiner . The position leads requirements analysis, system architecture and design, integration, testing, implementation planning, and technical documentation while working closely with Government stakeholders and senior program leadership to ensure the technical integrity of systems engineering activities and deliverables.
Location: Linthicum Heights, MD
Travel: None
Clearance Requirement: Active TS/SCI level security clearance (with polygraph conducted within the past 10 years).
Salary Range : $165k - $183k Annually
Intelligent Waves delivers mission-focused multi-domain operational expertise and innovation to the Government through high-impact technology solutions in cybersecurity, data science, enterprise network & systems engineering, software development, and cognitive human performance.
ANYTIME. ANYWHERE. ANY DOMAIN.
Since 2006, we have proudly served federal agencies including the Department of Defense. Our ability to operate globally in a wide range of environments, coupled with our deep understanding of customer needs and requirements, enables us to provide cost-effective solutions to support the most complex missions.
Adherence to all customer site protocols is mandatory for employees.
Responsibilities
Systems Requirements & Requirements Management
Manage system and derived requirements throughout the lifecycle, ensuring alignment with defined architectures, stakeholder needs, functional requirements, and allocated hardware, software, facility, and personnel components.
Derive and manage lower-level requirements from higher-level requirements, ensuring they are complete, correct, unique, unambiguous, realizable, verifiable, traceable, and aligned with system effectiveness.
Establish and manage formal requirements-change processes that evaluate impacts, obtain stakeholder approval, maintain traceability, eliminate ambiguity, and track open actions through resolution.
System Architecture, DoDAF & SOA
Develop system architectures, physical architectures, system concepts, design solutions, and alternatives that satisfy requirements while considering lifecycle cost, reuse, complexity, risk, expansion, and growth.
Develop and implement comprehensive Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) solutions and DoDAF-compliant operational, technical standards, system, and services views.
Develop operational scenarios, threads, and concepts describing interactions among the system, users, and environment across operational, support, maintenance, and disposal needs.
Systems Engineering & Technical Documentation
Develop, review, and approve systems engineering documentation, including Systems Engineering Plans, Initial Capabilities Documents, Requirements Specifications, Interface Control Documents, and JCIDS documentation.
Review and provide input to program and contract Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), work packages, and Integrated Master Plans (IMP).
System Integration & Interface Management
Provide technical direction for the development, engineering, integration, interfacing, and testing of complex hardware/software systems, including requirements elicitation, functional allocation, systems requirements reviews, concepts of operation, interface standards, system architectures, assessments, and end-to-end flow analysis.
Define, document, and manage hardware and software interfaces throughout the system lifecycle, including origination, destination, stimulus, data characteristics, and applicable electrical and mechanical characteristics.
Establish formal integration processes across multiple teams, coordinate interface activities, and improve integration strategies based on previous performance and lessons learned.
Verification, Testing & Certification
Develop verification methods, processes, evaluation criteria, and written plans to verify systems, subsystems, and work products against established requirements, including early verification planning for new or unproven designs.
Support system testing, including planning and test analysis for DoD and other Government Certification and Accreditation (C&A) processes.
Configuration & Lifecycle Management
Manage system configuration and technical baselines throughout development, deployment, operations, and maintenance; participate in the Configuration Control Board (CCB) and coordinate actions resulting from CCBs, design reviews, program reviews, and test reviews.
Risk, Analysis & System Performance
Assess and manage program risks by determining probability and consequences, developing alternative courses of action and fallback positions, monitoring risks at key milestones, and using Earned Value Management (EVM) data where applicable.
Conduct or approve system trade analyses and quantitative assessments of non-functional performance areas, including reliability, maintainability, vulnerability, survivability, and producibility.
Use validated models, simulations, and prototyping to reduce system-development risk and cost, including allocation of real-time process and error budgets and development of time-line analysis diagrams.
Participate in Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) and Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) efforts to evaluate capabilities and recommend solutions based on operational considerations, assumptions, technology limitations, environmental impacts, and lifecycle costs.
Information Assurance & Security
Develop Information Assurance requirements addressing confidentiality, integrity, nonrepudiation, availability, identification, authentication, access control, accountability, cryptography, hashing, key management, and other applicable security mechanisms.
Standards & Interoperability
Maintain knowledge of applicable agency, national, and international standards and apply appropriate standards to promote consistency and interoperability across system hardware and software.
Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering Science, Engineering Management, or a related field.
Five (5) additional years of relevant experience may be substituted for the degree.
Experience: Twenty (20) years of systems engineering experience with a bachelor's degree, or twenty-five (25) years without a degree.
Large Data Systems: Experience with large data systems, including Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML).
Data Extraction: Experience extracting and loading data from unstructured and semi-structured sources, including PDFs, CONOPS, and DoDAF.
Programming: Experience with Python and/or R.
Clearance: Active TS/SCI with polygraph conducted within the past 10 years.
Desired Qualifications
Experience with TensorFlow and/or PyTorch.
Experience with Apache Tika and/or PDFMiner.
Benefits
Intelligent Waves offers a generous benefits package including medical, dental, vision, paid PTO, life and disability insurance. We invest in our employees' futures by contributing with vesting starting from DAY 1, technical training, tuition bonuses, and much more.
Clearance Statement
Applicants selected for this position will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance. For this position, Intelligent Waves will consider only applicants with current security clearances or those eligible to obtain one.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Intelligent Waves LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal opportunity to all applicants and employees in full compliance with all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, military and/or veteran status, or any other class protected by applicable state or federal law.
As an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, Intelligent Waves is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified candidates and employees. If you need reasonable accommodations for any part of the application or interview process, or to perform essential job functions, please contact humanresources@intelligentwaves.com .
A Veteran-Friendly Organization
IW
CJ
Job Locations US-MD-Linthicum Heights
Job ID 2026-4421
Category Systems Engineering/Admin
Employment Type Regular Full-Time
Travel None
Contract Status Immediate Hire
Remote No Remote Work
Intelligent Waves LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal opportunity to all applicants and employees in full compliance with all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, military and/or veteran status, or any other class protected by applicable state or federal law.
As an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, IW is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified candidates and current employees. As part of this commitment, IW will ensure that those in need are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact humanresources@intelligentwaves.com.
