Advanced Capabilities Engineer – NRO Programs

Advanced Capabilities Engineer – NRO Programs

Within Peraton's Space and Mission Solutions sector, there is an immediate need for a cleared Advanced Capabilities Engineer (ACE) to serve as the secondary technical proposal lead for National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) opportunities, with a focus on sense-making, data exploitation, and AI-enabled intelligence workflows. This is a full-time, on-site position based at Peraton locations in the Northern Virginia area, with flexibility to support NRO facilities and program offices as required.

As an ACE, you sit at the intersection of technical strategy and proposal execution. You complement the primary NRO ACE by bringing depth in intelligence data sense-making, multi-source data fusion, and the application of AI and machine learning to NRO's exploitation and dissemination mission. Together, the two NRO ACEs ensure Peraton can surge on large pursuits and maintain continuous technical engagement across the full NRO portfolio.

This role is designed for a mid-career systems engineer or data architect who has led or significantly contributed to technical volumes on competitive NRO proposals — and who brings specific expertise in intelligence data workflows, sense-making architectures, and AI-enabled exploitation. You will work closely with the primary NRO ACE, the Mission Domain Expert, and the CTO Office's Next-Gen Technology Engineers to ensure Peraton's NRO pursuits are technically differentiated from the first day of capture through final proposal submission.

What you'll do:

• Lead or co-lead the development of technical volumes for NRO proposals focused on sense-making, data exploitation, and AI-enabled intelligence workflows
• Provide technical depth in multi-source data fusion, intelligence data processing pipelines, and AI/ML applications for NRO's exploitation and dissemination mission
• Engage with NRO program offices and technical directorates during pre-RFP phases to build understanding of requirements and mission priorities in the sense-making and data exploitation domains
• Collaborate with the primary NRO ACE and Mission Domain Expert to ensure technical approaches are coherent, differentiated, and aligned to customer priorities
• Work with the AI/Data Fusion Next-Gen Technology Engineer to incorporate the latest AI and machine learning capabilities into NRO sense-making solutions
• Support competitive analysis and differentiation strategy development for NRO data exploitation and sense-making pursuits
• Participate in color team reviews as both author and reviewer, providing substantive technical feedback on data architecture and AI content
• Maintain awareness of NRO's evolving data strategy, exploitation priorities, and AI adoption roadmap
• Provide surge capacity to the primary NRO ACE on large, complex pursuits requiring multiple technical leads

Required Qualifications:

• A minimum of 5+ years of experience with a BS/BA in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field; 3+ years with MS/MA; or 1+ years with PhD.
• Direct experience supporting NRO programs in a data, exploitation, sense-making, or AI/ML capacity
• Demonstrated experience leading or significantly contributing to technical volumes on competitive NRO proposals — you have owned sections, not just reviewed them
• Technical expertise in intelligence data processing, multi-source data fusion, or AI/ML applications for exploitation and sense-making workflows
• Understanding of NRO's data architecture, dissemination systems, and the technical challenges of processing large volumes of classified intelligence data
• Strong written communication skills — ability to write clear, compelling, evaluator-focused technical content
• An active TS/SCI with polygraph is required

Desired Qualifications:

• Prior career within NRO, a major NRO contractor, or a closely affiliated intelligence community program office focused on data exploitation or sense-making
• Experience with AI/ML frameworks and their application in classified environments — including model training, validation, and deployment within IC constraints
• Familiarity with NRO's data fabric strategy, cloud-based exploitation initiatives, and enterprise data management priorities
• Knowledge of multi-INT fusion approaches combining GEOINT, SIGINT, or other intelligence sources
• Experience with MLOps practices, model monitoring, and AI system lifecycle management in operational environments
• INCOSE certification (ASEP, CSEP), relevant AI/ML certifications, or PMP certification
• Experience working alongside or in support of a business development or capture team on NRO data or exploitation opportunities

Benefits: 

At Peraton, our benefits are designed to help keep you at your best beyond the work you do with us daily. We’re fully committed to the growth of our employees. From fully comprehensive medical plans to tuition reimbursement, tuition assistance, and fertility treatment, we are there to support you all the way.