Senior Principal Data Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC

We Are

Synopsys is the leader in engineering solutions from silicon to systems, enabling customers to rapidly innovate AI-powered products. We deliver industry-leading silicon design, IP, simulation and analysis solutions, and design services. We partner closely with our customers across a wide range of industries to maximize their R&D capability and productivity, powering innovation today that ignites the ingenuity of tomorrow.

You Are

You have spent years in the rooms where missile defense decisions get made, and you understand that the hardest part is not the technology itself but translating mission need into architecture that actually works when it matters. You know the difference between a system that looks good in a briefing and one that holds up in a contested environment, and you have built enough of both to recognize the gap early.

You are comfortable walking into a program office at MDA or Space Force, listening to what they are trying to solve, and sketching out an architecture on a whiteboard that makes the customer lean in. You do not oversell, you do not hand-wave the hard parts, and you do not wait for perfect information before offering a point of view. You have worked in classified spaces long enough to know what good looks like and what does not, and you are not afraid to say so.

You think in systems, not just software. Sensor integration, C2 workflows, data fusion, cloud platforms, you have touched enough of the stack to know how the pieces fit and where they break. At Synopsys, you will shape solutions for programs that matter, with customers who expect you to know your stuff.

What You'll Be Doing

• Engage directly with stakeholders at the Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Space Force, and Intelligence Community to understand mission requirements, acquisition timelines, and technical constraints
• Define end-to-end architectures for missile defense and space mission systems, including C2 software, sensor integration, data fusion platforms, cloud-native environments, and GPU computing
• Lead technical strategy during capture, writing technical volumes, building architecture diagrams, contributing to basis-of-estimate inputs, and delivering oral presentations to customer evaluators
• Provide architectural leadership to engineering teams throughout development, integration, test, and deployment, ensuring solutions meet DoD and IC cybersecurity standards including RMF, Zero Trust, and DevSecOps
• Represent Synopsys at mission forums, technical interchange meetings, industry days, and classified discussions with program offices and technical decision-makers
• Participate in design reviews, risk assessments, and readiness events, serving as the trusted technical advisor for missile defense and space mission systems across the program lifecycle
• Collaborate with business development and program leadership to influence capture strategy and shape opportunities before RFPs drop
• The Impact You Will Have
• Shape the technical direction of mission-critical programs that directly support national security and missile defense operations
• Influence how MDA, Space Force, and IC customers architect and deploy next-generation C2, sensor, and data fusion systems
• Enable engineering teams to deliver secure, scalable, and resilient solutions in contested and denied environments by providing clear architectural guidance
• Accelerate win rates by translating complex customer needs into compelling, technically sound proposal strategies
• Build long-term trust with government stakeholders, positioning Synopsys as a go-to partner for high-stakes defense programs
• Drive adoption of modern architecture patterns and cloud-native approaches within traditionally conservative mission environments
• Ensure that solutions you design meet the highest standards for security, performance, and accreditation, reducing risk and rework downstream

What You'll Need

• 8+ years of experience in mission engineering, systems engineering, or solution architecture supporting DoD or Intelligence Community programs
• Deep familiarity with missile defense missions, sensor networks, C2 systems, and the operational context of MDA, USSF, or IC programs
• Hands-on experience with Live, Virtual, Constructive (LVC) environments and how they integrate into mission architectures
• Expertise in modern architecture patterns including microservices, APIs, event-driven systems, and cloud-native design
• Working knowledge of AWS, Azure, or DoD/IC cloud environments at IL-5 or higher classification levels
• Understanding of DoD and IC cybersecurity frameworks such as RMF, Zero Trust, STIGs, DevSecOps pipelines, and cross-domain solutions
• Active TS/SCI clearance required

Who You Are

• You can walk into a room full of government program managers and engineers, listen to a half-formed requirement, and sketch out an architecture that makes sense to everyone without losing the technical nuance
• You have worked enough capture cycles to know what a winning technical volume looks like and what evaluators actually care about when they score your response
• You are comfortable operating in ambiguity, whether that means shaping a solution before the RFP drops or troubleshooting an integration issue three months into delivery
• You build relationships that last beyond a single proposal, customers remember you because you showed up, knew your stuff, and did not waste their time
• You can explain a complex tradeoff between performance, security, and cost to a senior leader in two sentences without oversimplifying or losing the thread
• You are willing to travel up to 50% to meet customers where they are, whether that is Huntsville, Colorado Springs, or a SCIF in the D.C. area

The Team You'll Be Part Of

Your recruiter will share more about the team structure and mission during the interview process.

Rewards and Benefits

We offer a comprehensive range of health, wellness, and financial benefits to cater to your needs. Our total rewards include both monetary and non-monetary offerings. Your recruiter will provide more details about the salary range and benefits during the hiring process.