echnical SETA SME – Space Systems & Space Environment

TRIAEM LLC; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

TRIAEM LLC in Bethesda, MD seeks a Technical SETA SME for Space Systems & Space Environment to support IC R&D programs. You will provide technical advisory across satellite systems, space environment effects, and sensing technologies, helping shape designs and assessment processes.

The role requires active TS/SCI with poly, a strong background in space systems engineering, and experience with constellation operations, orbital mechanics, and space domain awareness.

Qualifications

• ACTIVE TS/SCI Federal or DoD clearance with polygraph required.
• Bachelor's degree in a technical field; Master’s may substitute two years' experience.
• 6+ years in space systems engineering, mission design, or space operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical insight and advisory support across R&D efforts for space systems.
• Assess emerging technologies and evaluate approaches for space missions.
• Understand system vulnerabilities and resilience against space environment disturbances.
• Support development and transition of capabilities for space missions.
• Collaborate across orbital mechanics, constellation operations, and sensing technologies.

Skills

Space systems engineering

Mission design

Space operations

Orbital mechanics

Space environment

Satellite subsystems

Attitude control

Satellite communications

Payloads

Space domain awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Technical SETA SME - Space Systems & Space Environment

Bethesda, MD | Active TS/SCI with Polygraph

Intelligence Community | Space Systems | Space Environment | Advanced R&D

Help Advance the Technologies Protecting Critical Space-Based Missions

TRIAEM is seeking an experienced Technical SETA SME - Space Systems & Space Environment to support advanced research and development within the Intelligence Community. This is an opportunity for a highly skilled space systems professional to contribute technical expertise to complex challenges involving satellite systems, space operations, space domain awareness, and the effects of the space environment on mission-critical capabilities.

In this role, you will provide technical insight and advisory support across innovative R&D efforts involving space-based assets and their operating environments. You will help assess emerging technologies, evaluate technical approaches, understand system vulnerabilities, and support the development and transition of capabilities designed to strengthen the resilience and effectiveness of space missions.

We’re looking for someone who understands how spacecraft operate as integrated systems—from orbital mechanics and constellation operations to satellite subsystems, space environmental effects, sensing technologies, and space domain awareness.

If you are energized by complex technical challenges and want to apply your space systems expertise to advanced research supporting the nation’s intelligence mission, we’d like to hear from you.

What Candidates Will Need

• An ACTIVE and MAINTAINED TS/SCI Federal or DoD security clearance with a polygraph.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, applied physics, electrical engineering, systems engineering, or a related technical field. A Master’s degree may be used in lieu of two (2) years of relevant work experience.
• Six (6) or more years of work experience, including experience in the following areas:
• 6+ years of experience in space systems engineering, mission design, or space operations.
• Working knowledge of satellite constellation operations, orbital mechanics, and space environmental effects on space-based assets.
• Familiarity with satellite subsystems, including power, propulsion, attitude control, communications, and payloads, as well as their vulnerabilities to space environment disturbances.
• Understanding of space domain awareness approaches and systems.
• Familiarity with space environment sensing modalities, including coronagraphs, magnetometers, particle detectors, ionospheric sounders, and GNSS receivers.

What Would Be Nice To Have

• Master’s degree or PhD in computer science, applied physics, electrical engineering, systems engineering, or a related field, with four (4) or more years of work experience.
• Two (2) years of experience within the Intelligence Community (IC), including experience with requirements, Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), and technology transition.
• Knowledge of space weather phenomena and their effects on space systems, communications, navigation, and ground-based infrastructure.
• Understanding of the Sun-Earth system, including solar activity, solar wind, magnetosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere interactions.
• Experience with geophysical data types, formats, and sources, including NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), NASA heliophysics missions, and ionospheric networks.