Deep Space Comms, Tracking & Cislunar SDA Analyst

Space Systems Integration; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision benefits

401k contribution

Job summary

Space Systems Integration is seeking a Deep Space Comms, Tracking & Cislunar SDA Analyst to join our Chantilly, VA team. The role advises government leadership on Space Domain Awareness, deep space tracking, RF/optical communications, and ground network integration.

The ideal candidate provides technical oversight for national security space missions, with expertise in multi-body dynamics and orbit determination. EO/RF sensing and telescope/receiver design knowledge is highly valued.

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with ability to obtain a Polygraph.
• Experience in detecting, tracking, and custody of dim targets in cislunar space.
• Knowledge of deep space optical/RF communications and link budgets.
• Familiarity with DTN/UDL data ingest and ground network integration.
• Experience providing system engineering guidance for satellite ground systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain system-level requirements for assigned systems.
• Support lifecycle engineering reviews to verify specifications and requirements.
• Review CDLLR deliverables for content, accuracy, and design detail.
• Participate in technical interchange meetings with developers and contractors.
• Evaluate vendor proposals and review technical reports and program plans.
• Serve as a systems engineering liaison to SPO divisions.
• Conduct trade studies to define future satellite capability requirements.
• Support ground system readiness reviews and major program reviews.

Skills

Cislunar SDA

Orbit Determination

Link Budgets

Ground Integration

SETA Oversight

Leadership

Systems Engineering

Cross-Functional Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree +14+ years experience

Master's degree +12+ years experience

Job description

SSI is seeking a Deep Space Comms, Tracking & Cislunar SDA Analyst to join our team in Chantilly, VA.

This role will advise government leadership on Space Domain Awareness (SDA),
deep space tracking, radio frequency (RF)/optical communication architectures, and
ground network integration.

The ideal candidate will provide critical technical oversight and advisory support for advanced national security space missions. The candidate will have expertise in complex multi-body dynamics and advanced orbit determination techniques required for tracking, characterizing, and maintaining custody of objects in the cislunar regime.

The ideal candidate will also have a strong focus on advanced multi-phenomenology observational technologies as well as possess expertise in electro-optical (EO) and/or passive radio frequency (RF) sensing, observational astronomy, and cutting-edge telescope/receiver design to support the detection, tracking, and characterization of faint objects and signals in the cislunar regime.

Role and Responsibilities include:

• Develop and maintain an in-depth understanding of system-level requirements for assigned systems and the design features that satisfy these requirements.
• Support full lifecycle engineering reviews to demonstrate the design meets all specifications and customer requirements.
• Review Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) deliverables to ensure content, technical accuracy, and sufficiency of design details to meet program requirements and objectives.
• Participate in technical interchange meetings between developers and contractors.
• Evaluate vendor proposals and review technical reports, design artifacts, and program plans.
• Serve as a system engineering liaison to other divisions in the SPO.
• Conduct trade studies to define and refine requirements for future satellite capabilities.
• Support acquisition documentation development (CDRLs, SOWs, MPPs, etc) related to ground systems.
• Support readiness reviews and major program reviews to evaluate ground system readiness.
• Resolve highly complex and multi-dimensional problems requiring consideration of variables that impact multiple aspects of the project/program.
• Develop documents and briefings to communicate work or study status and brief Government and industry as required.
• Provide technical insight for EO/RF sensor designs.
• Evaluate contractor system architectures.
• Assess the utility and integration of commercial SDA data sources.
• Support the transition of next‑generation cislunar capabilities into operational enterprise frameworks.

Required Qualifications:

• Must possess an active Top Secret/SCI clearance with the ability to obtain a Polygraph.
• Bachelor's and fourteen (14) years or more experience, or Master's and twelve (12) years or more experience.
• Technical & Capability Requirements:
  • Cislunar Space Domain Awareness (SDA): Technical knowledge of detecting,tracking, and maintaining custody of dim targets in non-traditional observationgeometries, high luminance backgrounds, and lunar exclusion zones.
  • Orbit Determination (OD): Evaluation of vendor tracking capabilities using non-cued optical, RF, ranging, and Doppler measurements in deep space.
  • Communications & Link Budgets: Technical review of long-range X-band, Ka-band, and deep-space optical/laser communication systems and link budgetsacross 400,000+ km baseline distances.
  • Protocol & Ground Integration: Familiarity with Delay‑Tolerant Networking(DTN), Unified Data Library (UDL) data ingest, and ground network scheduling(e.g., NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) or commercial lunar data networks).
  • SETA Oversight Duties: Evaluates vendor RF/Optical payload performance
    specifications, sensor integration trades, and ground infrastructure readiness.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, team building, and problem‑solving skills with a demonstrated ability to be effective in a government/contractor team environment.
• Experience providing systems engineering support and technical guidance in the acquisition, development, and deployment of satellite ground systems.
• Ability to work in a very dynamic environment and effectively interact with numerous DOD, military/civilian personnel and industry partners.
• Ability to facilitate technical discussions with SMEs.
• Ability to communicate with a diverse audience of senior decision makers with varying levels of programmatic and technical expertise.
• Effective communication, coordination, and customer engagement skills.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced, dynamic, and team environment with no supervision.
• Previous SAP experience Preferred.
• Travel is 10%

$180,000 - $240,000 a year

Target salary range: $180,000 - $240,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors. We offer medical/dental/vision benefits and 401k contribution.