Principal Systems Architect

Principal Systems Architect

Capstone Research Corporation is seeking to expand our team. Capstone Research Corporation is headquartered in Huntsville Alabama. We are a customer-oriented engineering services company providing world class research and development support across the Department of Defense (DoD): Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Missile Defense Agency (MDA).

Capstone offers 100% Company Provided Medical and Dental Insurance, Matching 401K, and Profit Sharing as part of our top-notch benefits package. Compensation for this position will be determined, but not limited to, factors such as responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, alignment with market data, and internal equity.

We have an immediate opening for a Principal Systems Architect to serve as a senior technical authority and Subject Matter Expert (SME) supporting the development of advanced defense capabilities for the Department of War (DoW) in our Huntsville, AL office.

The ideal candidate possesses exceptional technical expertise in sensor fusion, automated battle management, and weapon assignment, supported by a strong foundation in mathematics, physics, and engineering principles.

This individual will provide technical leadership and architectural direction to multidisciplinary engineering teams developing advanced algorithms and integrated system-of-systems solutions supporting Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD), Command and Control (C2), integrated fire control, and long-range precision fires.

The successful candidate combines deep analytical expertise with broad knowledge of sensor systems, tracking and correlation, guidance and control, modeling and simulation, and systems engineering to guide algorithm development, evaluate technical solutions, and advance mission-critical defense capabilities.

This senior individual contributor position emphasizes technical authority, innovation, and engineering judgment rather than program management or direct personnel supervision.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a principal technical authority and SME, providing technical leadership and architectural direction for advanced IAMD, C2, integrated fire control, and automated battle management solutions supporting joint and multi-domain operations.
• Lead and guide the development of advanced algorithms to include establishing technical approaches, performance requirements, and evaluation criteria for sensor fusion, multi-sensor tracking and correlation, threat evaluation, engagement coordination, and weapon-target assignment.
• Apply advanced mathematical, statistical, and physical principles to evaluate algorithm architectures, assess technical alternatives, resolve complex engineering challenges, and guide multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Direct technical analyses, architectural trade studies, and the development and application of modeling and simulation environments to design, evaluate, refine, and validate advanced algorithms and integrated defense capabilities.
• Provide technical direction for systems engineering, MBSE, and Agile software development activities, ensuring alignment among operational concepts, system architectures, requirements, analytical models, and implemented software solutions.
• Evaluate and guide the application of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), neural networks, and emerging technologies to complex defense problems while serving as a trusted technical advisor to DoW customers and mentoring engineering teams.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a closely related technical discipline, with a minimum of 15+ years of progressively responsible technical experience in defense systems engineering, advanced technology development, applied research, or related disciplines.
• Exceptional technical expertise in sensor fusion, automated battle management, and weapon assignment, including the mathematical foundations, algorithmic approaches, and operational considerations associated with these disciplines.
• Strong foundation in applied mathematics and physics, including estimation theory, probability and statistics, optimization, numerical methods, and system dynamics, with demonstrated ability to establish technical direction and guide advanced algorithm development.
• Working knowledge of radar and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor systems, target tracking and correlation, data association, distributed tracking, guidance, navigation and control (GNC), and sensor-to-shooter integration.
• Working knowledge of the development and application of modeling and simulation for algorithm development, performance evaluation, and validation, combined with an understanding of systems engineering, MBSE, Agile software development, and AI/ML concepts.
• Demonstrated ability to independently evaluate complex technical challenges, lead multidisciplinary engineering efforts, and communicate authoritative technical recommendations to senior government and industry stakeholders.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.

Desired Qualifications

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or a related technical discipline, with 20+ years of relevant experience and recognized technical leadership in IAMD, C2, integrated fire control, or advanced defense research and development.
• Advanced knowledge of statistical estimation, multi-target tracking, and sensor fusion methodologies, including Kalman filtering, interacting multiple model (IMM) estimation, multiple hypothesis tracking (MHT), joint probabilistic data association (JPDA), and distributed track correlation.
• Advanced expertise in threat evaluation and weapon assignment (TEWA), engagement coordination, multi-objective optimization, resource allocation, and automated battle management decision aids.
• Experience applying AI/ML, neural networks, deep learning, reinforcement learning, or AI-assisted engineering tools to sensor fusion, algorithm development, engagement optimization, and automated decision-making.
• Experience directing modeling and simulation activities using tools such as AFSIM or MATLAB with familiarity in scientific computing environments (MATLAB, Python, C++) and MBSE tools and languages (e.g., Cameo Enterprise Architect, SysML, UML, UAFML).
• Experience supporting programs involving IBCS, MDA, JTIFC, or comparable joint defense capabilities, including advanced research, experimentation, and technology development.
• Active Top Secret security clearance, with SCI eligibility preferred.