Mission Engineer - Autonomy Test Focused (Aurora, CO; Chantilly, VA; Herndon, VA; Hybrid)

Trusted Space, Inc.; Aurora, Chantilly (CO, VA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision plans

401(k) plan

paid holidays and generous PTO

Short/long-term disability insurance

Job summary

Trusted Space, LLC seeks a Mission Engineer focused on testing and integration of space mission autonomy. You will drive automated testing, MBSE alignment, and data-driven evaluation across SIL/HIL and digital twins to ensure robust autonomous behaviors for mission programs.

Applicants should have TS/SCI clearance, 8+ years in relevant roles, strong Python testing skills, and experience with MBSE, Linux, and CI/CD tooling. This is a hybrid role based in Aurora, CO with work across multiple sites.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance required.
• 5+ years in systems engineering, software test, or verification on safety‑critical systems.
• 3+ years testing embedded or real‑time C++ applications (space/aerospace favored).
• Strong Python 3 for test automation and data analysis.
• Linux environments and CI/CD tooling experience (Jenkins, GitLab).
• MBSE (SysML/UAF, Cameo) for requirements traceability and design verification.

Responsibilities

• Lead integration and validation of complex autonomous systems across flight and ground segments.
• Define and execute test strategies for mission autonomy (SIL/HIL/digital twin).
• Evaluate autonomy software for safety/quality standards; author test plans/procedures/reports.
• Collaborate with software, systems, operations, and test teams to ensure traceability and V&V.
• Design, implement, and maintain automated test scripts and pipelines (Python-first).
• Maintain test data sets, metrics, and dashboards for mission performance and reliability.
• Support MBSE artifacts to align autonomy with interfaces and constraints.
• Support simulation and mission analysis for autonomy evaluation.

Skills

TS/SCI clearance

MBSE

Test automation

C++ tests

Python

Linux

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or related field

Tools

Python

Linux

SysML/UAF Cameo

Docker

Jenkins

GitLab

MongoDB

C++

Job description

Mission Engineer - Autonomy Test Focused (Aurora, CO; Chantilly, VA; ...)

Summary
Position Title: Mission Engineer - Autonomy Test Focused
Position ID: TA283
Location(s): Hybrid; Aurora, CO; Chantilly, VA; Herndon, VA
Application Deadline: November 30, 2026
Security Clearance Requirement: TS/SCI Security Clearance
Job Description
Trusted Space is seeking a Mission Engineer with a strong focus on testing, integration, and quality assurance of space mission autonomy. In this role, you will be a key contributor to our hybrid test environment—spanning software-in-the-loop (SIL), hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and digital mission simulation—ensuring highly reliable autonomous behaviors are designed, validated, and delivered to mission‑critical space programs. You will help mature and verify autonomous capabilities such as onboard decision making, fault detection/isolation/recovery (FDIR), distributed constellation coordination, and ground-to-space autonomy—building confidence through rigorous scenario-based testing, simulation, and data-driven evaluation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead integration and validation of complex autonomous systems across flight and ground segments.
• Define and execute test strategies for mission autonomy (SIL/HIL/digital twin), including scenario generation, Monte Carlo campaigns, safety envelopes, and regression suites.
• Evaluate autonomy software and mission systems for compliance with government and commercial safety and quality standards; author test plans, procedures, and verification reports.
• Collaborate closely with software, systems, mission operations, and test engineering teams to ensure requirements traceability and effective verification/validation (V&V).
• Design, implement, and maintain automated test scripts and pipelines (Python-first) for repeatable, high‑fidelity autonomy testing.
• Translate integration steps into robust automated regression tests; stand up and maintain test data sets, metrics, and dashboards for mission performance and reliability.
• Use model-based systems engineering (MBSE) artifacts (e.g., SysML/UAF in Cameo) to align autonomy behaviors with mission requirements, interfaces, and constraints.
• Support simulation and mission analysis for autonomy evaluation (e.g., scenario modeling, timing/performance assessments, and interface validation).

Qualifications

• An Active Top Secret/SCI clearance.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or related field (Mechanical/Electrical/Systems or equivalent experience welcome).
• 8+ years in systems engineering, controls/automation, software test, integration, or verification roles on complex, safety-critical systems.
• 3+ years testing embedded or real‑time C++ applications (space or aerospace/industrial controls preferred).
• Strong proficiency with Python 3 for test automation, data analysis, and tooling.
• Comfortable working in Linux and Windows environments (primarily Linux).
• Experience applying MBSE (e.g., SysML/UAF, Cameo) for requirements traceability, interface definition, and design verification.
• Familiarity with SIL/HIL test environments, digital twins, or closed‑loop control/autonomy validation.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Experience with mission autonomy test and evaluation (FDIR, autonomy safety cases, scenario‑based testing, Monte Carlo methods).
• Tools/frameworks for ML/AI or autonomy (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, RLlib) and safe‑autonomy testing concepts.
• Experience with STK/GMAT or similar mission simulation tools for scenario generation and analysis.
• Familiarity with Agile development practices and CI/CD (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab).
• Experience with Java or Scala for tooling or services.
• Background in database programming (MongoDB preferred).
• Containerization experience (Docker).
• Experience with C++20 or newer.
• Scripting/automation within modeling environments (e.g., VTL, Jython in Cameo).

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $150,000 - $200,000. Please note that this range is a general guideline and can vary. Trusted Space, LLC considers several factors when extending an offer including, but not limited to: scope, location, position responsibilities, education/training, key skills and business considerations.

Benefits

Trusted Space seeks to create an environment where Employees are empowered and supported to achieve their full potential. We encourage life‑long learning within our agile and innovative work environment. We offer competitive compensation and benefits including medical, dental, and vision plans; life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance; 401(k) plan; paid holidays and generous paid time off; short‑term and long‑term disability insurance; and other benefits to promote health, wellness, and a positive work‑life balance.

About Trusted Space

Trusted Space is the premier provider of trusted autonomy and battlespace management software solutions enabling machine speed sensing, sense making, decision making, and acting for critical space and intelligence missions. Our portfolio includes trusted autonomy software products, real‑time image processing capabilities, advanced space mission engineering services, and space operations & training solutions. We empower government and commercial customers to achieve mission superiority in space reconnaissance & surveillance, dynamic space operations, space‑based ISR, and ground/command & control (C2) systems.

Company Culture and Values

Rooted in our adherence to the Golden Rule – to treat others as we want to be treated – Trusted Space fosters a culture of innovation, mission‑focus, agility, and technical excellence. We offer a collaborative and supportive work environment, world‑class benefits, and work‑life balance. We encourage life‑long learning and continuous improvement in all we do. We consider it a privilege to work with our customers to provide solutions to their most difficult national security and intelligence challenges.

Trusted Space, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, national origin, veteran status, disability status or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. All aspects of employment are decided based on qualifications, merit, competence, performance, and business need.

DISCLAIMER: Trusted Space, LLC only uses the respective domains of trustedspace.com and trustedspace.us for official contact and any other domains are likely a scam and do not originate from our company.Trusted Space will never ask a candidate for access or pass codes to personal accounts including e-mails, bank accounts, CashApp, Paypal, Venmo, etc.

This is a full time position