HawkEye 360 is seeking a Principal Systems Architect to lead the development and evolution of our end-to-end architecture spanning space platforms, ground systems, data processing, and customer delivery. This senior technical leader will drive system optimization, scalability, and performance across a growing constellation and advanced mission sets, including SIGINT, space domain awareness, and real-time operations.

As the Principal Systems Architect, your main responsibilities will be:

• Document and maintain the end-to-end system architecture spanning space platforms, ground systems, data processing, and customer delivery, while driving optimization across the constellation.
• Define and track key performance metrics (e.g., latency, tasking efficiency, revisit rates, throughput) to identify bottlenecks and prioritize architectural improvements.
• Evolve the architecture to support advanced CONOPS, including real-time or near real-time latency goals, cross-platform tasking (tip-and-cue), and efficient scaling to new mission areas.
• Assess and recommend improvements in satellite design, RF payload processing, onboard/offboard algorithms, ground infrastructure, and data delivery pathways.
• Ensure the architecture adapts to emerging missions (e.g., signal intelligence, space domain awareness) and future customer needs, integrating them into long-term system roadmaps.
• Develop scalable architectural roadmaps for proliferated constellations, including satellite-to-satellite networking, mesh architectures, and distributed ground station concepts.
• Communicate architectural vision and trade-offs clearly to executives, customers, and engineering teams, balancing performance, cost, and scalability.
• Drive data-informed architectural decisions, using metrics and system analysis to justify changes, investments, and optimizations.
• Bridge near-term delivery with long-term evolution, ensuring today’s system architecture scales to meet tomorrow’s mission and customer demands.

Your skills and qualifications:
Essential education and experience:

• 20+ years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or at least 15 years of work experience with an Advanced degree in Engineering (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) .
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with a demonstrated ability to lead cross-organizational collaboration.
• Demonstrated Systems Engineering skills.
• Experience in developing LEO satellites and ground systems.
• Experience with SIGINT, ELINT or Related ISR Systems.
• US citizenship is required.

Desirable:​​​​​​

• 12+ years’ experience in a systems engineering.
• 8+ years’ experience as a systems architect.
• A high level of general technical knowledge including current, emerging and future technology trends and their potential business impact.
• Experience in leading cross-functional teams in the design, implementation and governance of complex systems and solutions.
• Ability to explain technical concepts to a non-technical audience in a way that is relevant, easy to consume and compelling.
• Experience of leading large-scale transformation initiatives, including the integration of legacy systems and modern technologies.
• Experience in leading delivery of complex, distributed, secure and scalable architecture solutions within a large organization.
• Experience influencing technical strategy and leading execution of cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience with justification phase work – strategic product discovery, opportunity analysis, business case formulation.
• Proven leadership experience in leading technical engineering teams, preferably with a track record of successfully delivering complex architecture projects.
• Experience of stakeholder engagement including executive and/or senior leadership level.
• Experience mentoring junior architects or leading architecture communities of practice.
• Active TS/SCI Clearance.

Base Salary Range: $200,000 - $250,000 annually

HawkEye 360 offers a compensation package that includes a competitive base salary plus annual performance bonus and benefits. We consider many factors when determining salary offers, such as candidate's work experience, education, training & skills, as well as market and business considerations. We are also open to considering candidates with experience and qualifications at a different level than required in a job posting, which may affect the compensation package offered.

Company Overview:
HawkEye 360 is delivering a revolutionary source of global knowledge based on radio frequency (RF) geospatial analytics to those working to make the world a safer place. The company operates a commercial satellite constellation that detects, geolocates, and identifies a broad range of signals & behaviors. We employ cutting edge AI techniques to equip our global customers with high-impact insights needed to make decisions with confidence. HawkEye 360 is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia.

HawkEye 360 is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

To all recruitment agencies: HawkEye 360 does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, HawkEye 360 employees or any other organization location. HawkEye 360 is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.