Chief Engineer

Apex Systems; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 94,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

Weekly Pay Periods

401k

Training and Development Programs

Referral Program

Job summary

Apex Systems is seeking a TS/SCI Chief Engineer for an on-site role in Boulder, CO, supporting a US Space Force client. The Chief Engineer will own the Ground Entry Point architecture, translating capability needs into feasible ground system solutions and leading architecture development, requirements, design, integration, and verification activities.

Responsibilities include customer engagement, technical leadership of a multi-disciplinary team, and rapid analysis for proposals and reviews.

Qualifications

• US Citizens with DoD Top Secret/SCI clearance.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, CS, Physics, Math or related field.
• 10+ years in systems engineering or ground station design.
• 5+ years leading technical teams on complex ground/mission systems.
• Experience developing architectures under ambiguous requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end Ground Entry Point / ground station architecture.
• Translate capability needs into feasible, affordable ground solutions.
• Develop architectural products: CONOPS, ICDs, data flows.
• Evaluate design approaches and select components.
• Lead architecture development and requirements definition.
• Verify and document system architectures and performance budgets.
• Capture & Proposal: develop volumes and BOE inputs.
• Engage with customer via TIMs and briefings.
• Mentor and lead cross-disciplinary technical team.

Skills

DoD security clearance

Leadership

Systems engineering

Architecture development

Requirements analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics

Tools

MBSE tools

Job description

Job#: 3052018

Job Description:

Candidates must be U.S. citizens able to obtain and/or maintain a Department of Defense security clearance as a condition and continuation of employment.

TS/SCI Chief Engineer

Apex Systems is hiring for a Chief Engineer with a large aerospace and defense client, in support of the US Space Force, on-site in Boulder, CO!

Position requires a currently active, DoD-issued Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance.

Location: 100% on-site work in Boulder, CO

Contract Type/Duration: W2 Contract; 9 month-contract-to-permanent-hire opportunity

Schedule: 9/80 work schedule (44 hours Monday-Friday one week; then 36 hours Monday-Thursday the following week with that Friday off. Alternating weeks.)

Pay Rate: $68-100/hour (depending upon experience and level)

Role Summary:

The Chief Engineer is a self‑motivated, creative, detail‑oriented, and driven technical leader who owns the Ground Entry Point architecture and overall technical baseline. This role is accountable for translating high‑level capability needs into a feasible, affordable, and verifiable ground system solution in an environment where explicit requirements may be incomplete or evolving.

The Chief Engineer leads architecture development, requirements definition, design, integration, and verification activities, and serves as the primary technical interface to the customer and internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

Architecture & Requirements Development -

• Lead the development and ownership of the end‑to‑end Ground Entry Point / ground station architecture, including RF, baseband, mission processing, networking, cyber, facilities, and external interfaces.
• Operate effectively in environments with incomplete or ambiguous requirements; derive, decompose, and document system and subsystem requirements from capability needs, operational concepts, and user stories.
• Develop and maintain key architectural products (CONOPS, system block diagrams, sequence diagrams, interface control documents (ICDs), data flows, and performance budgets).
• Evaluate and select design approaches, technologies, and COTS/GOTS components to meet performance, resiliency, and affordability objectives.

Ground Station Expertise -

• Apply a deep understanding of ground station architectures and associated complexities, including:
• Antenna/RF front‑end, modems/baseband processing, timing, and frequency control.
• Mission data processing, storage, and distribution.
• Secure IP networking, routing, and interfaces to external mission systems and users.
• Assess and communicate the benefits and challenges of existing Space Force–owned ground stations and enterprise ground solutions (e.g., integration complexity, legacy constraints, interoperability, cybersecurity, sustainment).
• Develop technical recommendations for leveraging or interfacing with existing Space Force ground assets versus deploying new capabilities.

Capture & Proposal Support -

• Serve as the technical lead for capture and proposal activities related to Ground Entry Point opportunities.
• Shape technical solution strategies in partnership with capture and business teams, including trades, discriminators, and win themes.
• Develop technical volumes, engineering sections of management and past performance volumes, and basis‑of‑estimate (BOE) inputs.
• Build, lead, and present internal and external technical reviews (e.g., solution concept reviews, color team briefings, customer technical interchange meetings (TIMs), and proposal orals).
• Provide rapid technical analysis and responses to RFI/RFP questions.

Customer Engagement -

• Engage directly with customer technical counterparts through TIMs, demonstrations, on‑site visits, and reviews.
• Elicit, understand, and document customer needs, wants, and concerns, and translate them into actionable requirements, design changes, or roadmaps.
• Present complex technical concepts in clear, concise language tailored to customer leadership, operators, and technical staff.

Technical Team Leadership -

• Lead a multi‑disciplinary technical team (systems, RF, software, network, cyber, test, logistics) to develop and deliver the Ground Entry Point solution.
• Facilitate technical discussions and decisions, ensuring that trades and recommendations are data‑driven and documented.
• Drive resolution of technical issues and risks, including identification, analysis, mitigation planning, and status reporting.

Mentoring & Collaboration -

• Mentor and develop newer and early‑career team members, providing guidance on systems engineering rigor, architecture development, and customer interaction.
• Foster a collaborative environment across engineering, program management, business management, operations, subcontracts/supply chain, and other functional partners.
• Ensure alignment between the technical baseline, program baseline (cost/schedule), and contractual commitments.

Required Qualifications:

• Candidates must be US Citizens with the ability to obtain and/or maintain an active DoD-issued Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance as a condition and continuation of employment
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in systems engineering, architecture, or design of ground stations, ground entry points, gateway/teleport systems, or mission operations centers.
• 5+ years of experience leading technical teams or serving as a lead systems engineer, architect, or chief engineer on complex ground or mission systems.
• Demonstrated experience:
  • Developing architectures and requirements under ambiguous or incomplete customer direction.
  • Leading technical reviews and presenting technical content to government or prime‑contractor customers.
  • Engaging customers through TIMs, demos, or similar forums and incorporating feedback into the technical solution.

Desired Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in a relevant technical discipline.
• Direct experience with Space Force, Air Force, or other DoD/IC ground/mission systems and their enterprise ground architectures.
• Experience with:
  • RF and antenna subsystems, modems/baseband, and high‑rate data links.
  • Secure IP networking, cross‑domain solutions, and cyber‑hardened architectures.
  • Model‑based systems engineering (MBSE) tools and practices.
  • Prior capture/proposal technical leadership, including orals and color team participation.
  • Proven success mentoring junior engineers and growing technical talent.

Core Competencies / Attributes:

• Self‑motivated and proactive; able to drive technical progress with minimal direction.
• Creative problem‑solver with strong systems thinking and attention to detail.
• Comfortable working in ambiguity and iterating solutions as requirements evolve.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to tailor messages to different audiences.
• Collaborative mindset and ability to influence across organizational boundaries.

#clearance

Please note that as a contract employee of Apex Systems, benefits include the below with employee contribution*

• Health
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance; Short Term Disability
• Hospitalization Coverage
• Direct Deposit
• Weekly Pay Periods
• Training and Development Programs
• 401k
• Referral Program

EEO Employer

Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law. Apex will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law.