Mission Engineer - Software SME

Space Dynamics Laboratory; Logan (UT); On-site; USD 118,000 - 226,000; Full time

Job summary

The Space Dynamics Laboratory is looking for a Mid-level Systems Engineer to lead software development projects supporting the Space Development Agency. This role requires providing technical oversight and mentoring junior engineers, with a strong focus on managing systems engineering tasks across complex projects.

Qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in engineering and over 10 years of experience. The salary range is $118,000 - $226,000, based on education and experience.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of combined software engineering and systems engineering experience.
• Ability to mentor junior engineers and lead technical teams.
• Ability to abstract progress and communicate effectively with senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Supports program managers and lead systems engineers on technical management.
• Designs and coordinates complex interdisciplinary systems.
• Creates and maintains documentation to ensure efficient planning.

Skills

Leadership and communication skills

Technical oversight on systems engineering

Risk management strategies

Proficiency in software development lifecycle

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical field

Job description

Job Overview

Job ID: 8319A • Date Posted: June 6, 2026

Mid-level Systems Engineer

Join the Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) team, where you'll contribute to groundbreaking innovations! We are seeking a mid-level Systems Engineer to help manage software development projects that support the Space Development Agency’s PWSA with our Strategic & Military Space Division.

Location: Huntsville, AL (preferred; locations also considered.)

Locations considered: North Logan, UT; Chantilly, VA; Huntsville, AL.

Key Responsibilities

• Supports program managers and lead systems engineers on a program in technical management of projects through tracking, risks, requirements, interfaces, configurations, and related tasks.
• Has technical responsibility for planning and conducting technical projects or phases of projects.
• Designs and coordinates complex systems that involve interdisciplinary engineering such as software, hardware, thermal, structural, optical, and electrical.
• Defines and develops interfaces between development teams.
• Ensures common understanding between teams throughout development and is responsible for coordinating the work of many engineers, each of whom is an expert in one part of a system.
• Gathers all the necessary information about what is needed in a system, selects several possible ways of designing the system, and uses systems analysis to break down the possible solutions into smaller parts.
• Creates and maintains programmatic and technical documentation to ensure efficient planning and execution.
• Coordinates system development tasks to include design, integration, and formal testing.
• Oversees software development activities of SDA contractors to ensure appropriate processes and procedures are followed.
• Operates as a subject matter expert on behalf of SDA to influence mature software development practices across the organization.
• Operates as a technical point of contact for SDA upper management.

Required Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen with an active, or previously held, U.S. Government security clearance.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field and 10+ years of combined software engineering and systems engineering experience.
• Systems engineering experience with familiarity with satellite bus architectures.
• Ability to lead and communicate effectively to interdisciplinary technical teams in proposal and design efforts for small- to mid-sized programs.
• Ability to provide mitigation strategies to minimize risk.
• Ability to interpret customer-driven requirements to determine areas of risk from a technical, cost, and schedule perspective.
• Ability to provide leadership and mentoring to junior engineers.
• Ability to respond resourcefully to new demands and challenges.
• Proficiency in managing and prioritizing requirements development and verification, risks, interfaces, configurations, and trade studies on medium to large complexity programs.
• Proficiency in providing technical oversight and leadership as the Lead Systems Engineer on small- to medium-sized programs.
• Proven organization and planning skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both individually and within a team environment.
• Strong attention to detail while still having a system-level perspective.
• Ability to anticipate software development risks and develop contingency plans to manage them.
• Proficiency in all phases of a software development lifecycle.
• Ability to relate well with outside customers and maintain good relationships under challenging circumstances.
• Ability to abstract the progress of a software development project and present appropriate status to senior leadership (may include remote presentations, white papers, and/or personal communications).
• Moderate travel to support SDA (approximately 6-9 weeks a year).

Salary Range

• $118,000 - $226,000
  • Salary commensurate based on education and experience.

This range serves as a general guideline and may vary based on factors such as role, level, location, market conditions, and individual qualifications, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.