Six Figure Work

Principal Systems Engineer

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC)

Company websitesncorp.com (Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), opens in new tab)

Base salary $173,261  to $238,233

Employer-published annual base salary, USD. Advertised base range in Lone Tree, CO

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  • LocationLone Tree, CO
  • WorkplaceWorkplace not stated
  • Status at last checkSource accepting applications when checked
  • Last checked (2 h ago) · observed since

About this job

Are you a bold thinker? We dream big at SNC—advocating the exploration of space, keeping service members safe and creating the systems that keep our world united and sustain our way of living. Join our team! As a Principal Systems Engineer, you will demonstrate mastery in requirements engineering, systems integration, Verification & Validation (V&V), and Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). You will guide strategic system and decision analysis, technical planning, and risk management initiatives. You will manage critical project components, applying extensive expertise in architecture/design development, technical monitoring, and lifecycle management. Your role requires exceptional leadership, communication, and collaboration skills to drive innovation, mentor senior engineers, and achieve strategic objectives.The ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance), Aviation, and Security (IAS) business area is a leader in ISR and aviation, it is a leading prime manned and unmanned aircraft systems integrator for innovative, high-performance ISR and aviation systems. Its end-to-end Command, Control, Computers, Communications and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities encompass design, integration, test, certification, ground/flight training and complete logistics support. IAS tailors solutions to customer cost, performance, and schedule requirements and designs to consistently exceed expectations – with an unrivaled record of on time and on (or under) budget deliveries.

Responsibilities:

  • Demonstrate mastery in requirements engineering, systems integration, V&V, and MBSE.
  • Interpret and implement technical interface specifications and standards for component subsystems.
  • Troubleshoot to address hardware/software interface issues and define input/output parameters to ensure system integration.
  • Guide strategic system and decision analysis, technical planning, and risk management initiatives.
  • Manage critical project components and influence project direction.
  • Apply extensive expertise in architecture/design development, technical monitoring, and lifecycle management.
  • Exhibit exceptional leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.
  • Mentor senior engineers and drive innovation.

Qualifications You Must Have:

  • Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field; Master's degree preferred.
  • 14+ years of experience in systems engineering or related field.
  • Higher level relevant degree may substitute for experience.
  • Expert proficiency with Systems modeling and simulation tools.
  • Extensive leadership experience in systems engineering.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of multiple Engineering principles and practices.
  • Progressive experience working in multi-disciplinary design and development teams.
  • Advanced understanding of requirements management, functional requirements parsing, derivation, and allocation; systems design, systems integration, technical risk identification and management strategies, and V&V principles.

Qualifications We Prefer:

  • Expertise in advanced systems technologies (e.g., AI, machine learning, cloud computing).
  • Familiar with real-time operating systems and embedded systems.
  • Experience with requirements management and system modelling tools, such as DOORS, Cameo, MATLAB.
  • Advanced Knowledge of industry-standard mechanical design principles, to include, but not limited to requirements management, MBSE.
  • Experience or certification in International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) standards [Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP)].
  • Background in the Aerospace and Defense Industry.
  • Progressive experience leading baseline definition and maturation in a complex development setting, including the use of high impact trade studies.
  • Ability to establish and track key Technical Performance Measurements (TPM).
  • Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
  • Agile methodologies and Scrum Master certification.

Essential Functions:

  • Ability to work on a computer for extended periods.
  • Hand/finger dexterity for system modeling and documentation.
  • Ability to work in a hybrid environment with occasional travel.

This posting will be open for application for a minimum of 5 days and may be extended based on business needs.

Estimated Starting Salary Range: $173,260.72 - $238,233.49. Compensation varies depending on a wide array of factors, such as candidates' key skills, relevant work experience, and education/training/certifications. The disclosed range estimate may be adjusted for any applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.

SNC offers annual incentive pay based upon performance that is commensurate with the level of the position.

SNC offers a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance. The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination include, but are not limited to, allegiance to the U.S., foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations and illegal drug use.

Learn more about the background check process for Security Clearances.

SNC is a global leader in aerospace and national security committed to moving the American Dream forward. We’re known and respected for our mission and execution focus, agility, and disruptive and rapid innovation. We provide leading edge technologies and transformative solutions that support our nation’s most critical security needs. If you are mission-focused, thrive in collaborative environments, and want to make our country stronger with state-of-the-art technologies that safeguard freedom, join our team!

SNC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an environment free of discrimination.  Employment decisions are made based on merit without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.

Source: Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) on Workday · View original posting (opens in new tab)

Pay in context

This role's base floor ($173,261) is above 79% of the 228 Software Engineering roles in Colorado listed on this site; 1 other lists the same floor. Their median floor is $143,700; the middle half runs from $125,000 to $165,000.

Only jobs on this site count, and each one publishes a base salary of $100,000 or more, so this compares six-figure jobs with each other, not with the whole market. Computed Nov 7, 2026.

This range next to 6 other live Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) roles with the nearest advertised base floor
Chart as a table
This range next to 6 other live Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) roles with the nearest advertised base floor
RolePublished base
Principal Systems Engineer (this listing)$173,261 - $238,233
Sr Program Master Planner$173,261 - $238,233
Sr. Human Resource Business Partner Manager$173,261 - $238,233
Sr Program Planning and Scheduling Manager$173,261 - $238,233
Project Engineer II$173,261 - $238,233
Project Engineer II$173,261 - $238,233
Principal Software Engineer$173,261 - $238,233

Same $100K to $400K scale as every card. All Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) roles · How to read the bar

Observed changes

  1. First observed on the employer's board
  2. Began meeting the published-salary criteria
Observed since
Employer-stated posting date
2026-11-04
Where this pay comes from

Location as the employer wrote it: Lone Tree, CO

Estimated Starting Salary Range: $173,260.72 - $238,233.49. Compensation varies depending on a wide array of factors,

Method
Employer text, read with fixed rules and re-verified
Checked
Rule set
us-base-v2

The pay passage appears in the employer's own job text. Fixed, deterministic rules located it, and the passage below was checked against the stored copy of the posting.

What we verified

  • The pay figures come from the employer's own listing, quoted exactly above.
  • The pay is an annual base salary in US dollars with a minimum of at least $100,000.
  • The role was publicly listed on the employer's job board when last checked.

We do not verify what the employer will actually offer, whether the employer is still recruiting for the role, or anything beyond what the employer published. Full methodology.