Ground Segment Systems Engineer

SES Space & Defense; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal Opportunity Employer

Competitive salary

Career development opportunities

Job summary

SES Space & Defense in Reston, Virginia is looking for a Ground Segment Systems Engineer who will support systems engineering and integration for Government missions. You will contribute to technical baseline development, requirements management, and interface control.

The ideal candidate holds a relevant Bachelor's degree and has 3–5 years of experience in aerospace or satellite communications. Excellent communication skills and experience with multidisciplinary teams are essential for this role.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience supporting systems engineering in technical environments.
• Working knowledge of systems engineering principles and lifecycle processes.
• Proficient in Model-Based Systems Engineering methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Support Ground Segment engineering activities and manage technical baseline.
• Assist with requirements management, interface definition, and verification planning.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external stakeholders to maintain requirements.

Skills

Requirements management

Analytical skills

Technical documentation development

Team collaboration

Configuration management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Jira

Confluence

IBM DOORS

Job description

At SES Space & Defense, we are a trusted partner ensuring mission success for customers operating in the most demanding environments. As part of SES S.A., a global leader in satellite‑enabled connectivity, we deliver multi‑orbit, end‑to‑end satellite and technology solutions that provide secure, reliable, and high‑bandwidth communications across the globe. Our differentiated multi‑orbit architecture combines GEO and MEO satellite systems with integrated terrestrial and network infrastructure to deliver resilient, low‑latency, high‑throughput connectivity at a global scale. With more than 120 satellites covering nearly the entire world, a global ground network, and thousands of deployed terminals supporting over 5,000 government missions annually, we are a trusted partner to the U.S. Federal Government and national security community, allied governments, NATO, and agencies including NASA for mission‑critical communications.

We strive to be the only solution when success is critical and recognize our people as our competitive advantage. At SES Space & Defense, you’ll work alongside a mission‑driven team committed to integrity, honor, and accountability, delivering real‑world impact across today’s most critical missions.

What You’ll Do

The Ground Segment Systems Engineer will support the systems engineering, technical integration, and lifecycle management of the Ground Segment supporting a Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) communications satellite operating in a Government‑Owned, Contractor‑Operated (GOCO) environment. Reporting to the Ground Segment IPT Lead, this role will help develop and maintain the Ground Segment technical baseline while contributing to requirements management, interface definition, Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), verification planning, and Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T) activities.

• Support the Ground Segment IPT Lead in the planning, coordination, and execution of Ground Segment engineering activities.
• Assist in the development, maintenance, and management of the Ground Segment technical baseline, ensuring consistency between requirements, architecture, interfaces, and implementation.
• Support the development, coordination, review, and maintenance of Ground Segment Interface Control Documents (ICDs), including interfaces between:
  • Ground Control Software
  • RF Ground Systems
  • Anchor Stations
  • TT&C Systems
  • Cloud Infrastructure
  • Network Infrastructure
  • Mission Planning Systems
  • External Government Systems
  • Space Vehicle Interfaces
• Coordinate with internal engineering teams and external stakeholders to ensure interface requirements are properly documented, reviewed, baselined, and maintained throughout the program lifecycle.
• Support Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) activities, including system modeling, architecture updates, requirements traceability, and management of engineering artifacts.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of the Verification Cross Reference Matrix (VCRM) to ensure Ground Segment requirements are properly allocated and verified.
• Support development and maintenance of the Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP) and other Ground Segment systems engineering documentation.
• Support planning and coordination of Ground Segment Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T) activities, including:
  • Integration planning
  • Verification planning
  • Test coordination
  • Requirements validation
  • Test documentation support
• Assist in the development and maintenance of Ground Segment requirements, verification matrices, engineering documentation, and technical reports.
• Support requirements traceability and configuration management activities throughout the system lifecycle.
• Participate in engineering working groups, technical interchange meetings, design reviews, and integration planning sessions.
• Support preparation for major program reviews, including:
  • System Requirements Review (SRR)
  • Preliminary Design Review (PDR)
  • Critical Design Review (CDR)
  • Test Readiness Review (TRR)
  • Operational Readiness Review (ORR)
• Track engineering action items, technical issues, and interface coordination efforts across the Ground Segment IPT.
• Support technical risk identification, documentation, and mitigation planning under the guidance of senior engineering staff.
• Assist in the transition of the Ground Segment from development and integration into operational service and long‑term sustainment.

Who You Are

You are a motivated systems engineer with a strong interest in multidisciplinary integration and the delivery of complex aerospace and satellite communications capabilities. You understand the importance of maintaining technical baselines through disciplined requirements management, interface control, verification planning, and configuration management processes. You thrive in collaborative engineering environments, working across multiple technical domains to ensure that complex systems function as an integrated whole. You bring strong analytical skills, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders. You are eager to continue growing your expertise in satellite communications, MBSE, and systems integration while supporting mission‑critical government programs. Ultimately, you contribute to building reliable, operationally effective ground systems that enable successful mission execution across the full system lifecycle.

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
• 3–5 years of professional experience supporting systems engineering, aerospace, satellite communications, defense programs, or other complex technical environments.
• Working knowledge of systems engineering principles and lifecycle processes.
• Familiarity with:
  • Requirements management
  • Requirements traceability
  • Interface Control Documents (ICDs)
  • Configuration management
  • Verification and validation processes
  • Technical documentation development
• Experience working in multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively coordinate across multiple technical disciplines and stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and common engineering collaboration tools.
• Active U.S. Secret Security Clearance, or the ability to obtain and maintain one.
• Experience supporting satellite communications, aerospace, or Department of Defense programs.
• Familiarity with Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite systems and Ground Segment architectures.
• Experience developing or maintaining Interface Control Documents (ICDs) for complex hardware and software systems.
• Experience with Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodologies and tools such as Cameo Systems Modeler.
• Experience using requirements management tools such as IBM DOORS or DOORS Next.
• Familiarity with Verification Cross Reference Matrices (VCRMs), verification planning, and requirements verification methodologies.
• Experience supporting Systems Engineering Management Plans (SEMPs) and related engineering documentation.
• Experience supporting Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T) activities for complex systems.
• Familiarity with cloud‑native Ground Systems, mission planning systems, or satellite command and control architectures.
• Experience with Jira, Confluence, or similar engineering collaboration platforms.
• Knowledge of systems integration principles across RF Ground Systems, Cloud Infrastructure, Software, Networks, and Mission Operations.
• Experience with or knowledge of SES/Intelsat Ground Segment architectures, satellite control systems, engineering processes, or GEO satellite operations is highly desirable.
• Strong systems‑thinking mindset with an interest in multidisciplinary engineering and integration.
• Self‑motivated with a desire to learn and grow in a complex aerospace and satellite communications environment.
• Excellent organizational and technical writing skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, mission‑critical Government program environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships across engineering disciplines and with Government and contractor stakeholders.

SES Space & Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.