About the role

Are you an engineer who enjoys a challenge? Are you excited about working for an FFRDC focused on areas critical to national security? Do you want to join a collaborative team that develops and uses best-in-class tools to enable end-to-end software development? If so, we want you for our team, where you’ll be part of an exciting and impactful culture of collaboration that delivers timely and high-quality results.

We are seeking a part-time engineer to support architecture assessments, effort estimation, and technical evaluations for space and weapons systems. This role is ideal for a highly experienced professional with a strong background in systems engineering, data analytics, and cost estimation—especially in defense and intelligence environments.

Who we are

The SEI helps advance software engineering principles and practices and serves as a national resource in software engineering, computer security, and process improvement. The SEI works closely with defense and government organizations, industry, and academia to continually improve software-intensive systems. Its core purposes are to help organizations improve software engineering capabilities, advance cybersecurity methods and technologies, and bring the discipline of software engineering to AI systems. Learn more about Careers at the SEI.

What you’ll do

• Development analytics to support cost estimation and risk analysis across system lifecycles.
• Contribute to technical baseline assessments and architecture studies for space systems, including satellite constellations.
• Collaborate with government stakeholders to define system requirements and assess technical feasibility.
• Support strategic decision-making with data-driven insights and engineering rigor.

Who you are

•  Applicants must possess an active Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance issued by the U.S. Department of Defense. A counterintelligence (CI) polygraph may be required or must be obtained upon request. Candidates must also satisfy additional customer-specific security requirements, including eligibility for and willingness to apply for Special Access Programs (SAPs).
• You have a BS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related disciple with ten (10) years of experience; OR MS in the same fields with eight (8) years of experience; OR a PhD in the same fields with five (5) years of experience.
• You have previous work experience with the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of State (DoS), or Government Accountability Office (GAO).
• You have a deep understanding of the systems engineering lifecycle, particularly in defense sectors.
• You’re a recognized leader in data analytic techniques (regression, cohort, cluster and time series) as applied to space systems.
• You’re willing to travel (25%) outside your office location to other SEI offices, sponsor sites, conferences, and offsite meetings.

Why work here?

• Join a world-class organization that has significant impact software in government.
• Work with cutting edge technologies and experts to solve tough problems for the government and the nation.
• Publish your research, attend or present at prestigious events, and enjoy annual professional development opportunities.
• Work in the heart of Oakland, a few blocks from the Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function

Software/Applications Development/Engineering

Position Type

Staff – Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Full time/Part time

Part time

Pay Basis

Hourly

More Information: 

• Please visit “Why Carnegie Mellon” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world. 

• Click here to view a listing of employee benefits

• Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran. 

• Statement of Assurance