Principal Ground Systems Engineer, Strategic Initiatives

SES Space & DEFENSE; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

SES Space & Defense is seeking a Principal Ground Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership across ground segmentation, design, and test. You will guide a multi‑discipline engineering team, interact with customers and subcontractors, and drive mission readiness for complex space programs.

You will mentor teams, contribute to MBSE efforts, and ensure alignment with program goals, cost, schedule, and performance.

Qualifications

• M.S. in Aerospace, Electrical, Software, Computer, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership to cross‑functional teams across design, development, testing, and ground segment operations.

Skills

Systems engineering

Ground systems

Satellite operations

Program management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Cross‑functional coordination

Communication

Agile development

Education

M.S. in Aerospace engineering

M.S. in Electrical engineering

M.S. in Software engineering

M.S. in Computer engineering

M.S. in Mechanical engineering

Tools

MBSE

Job description

Who We Are

At SES Space & Defense, we deliver secure, resilient connectivity and integrated space solutions for customers operating in the world’s most demanding environments. As part of SES S.A., a global leader in satellite-enabled communications, we combine capabilities across all orbits with extensive global ground infrastructure, managed networks, hosted payload solutions, and mission integration services to support communications, sensing, data transport, and operational resilience worldwide. Our vertically integrated space and ground capabilities bring together satellite capacity, terrestrial infrastructure, advanced network technologies, and deployed user terminals to support mission‑critical government operations around the world. We are a trusted partner to the U.S. Federal Government and national security community, allied governments, NATO, NASA, and other civilian agencies, delivering reliable, high‑performance solutions when mission success is critical. At SES Space & Defense, our people are our competitive advantage. You’ll work alongside a mission‑driven team committed to integrity, innovation, accountability, and delivering real‑world impact for customers whose missions matter most.

What You’ll Do

As a talented and motivated professional, the Principal Ground Systems Engineer will be responsible for providing technical leadership to the cross‑functional organization across every aspect of day‑to‑day execution. The individual will have responsibility for helping lead a multi‑discipline engineering team and assist in guiding all program activities related to design, development, testing by focusing on delivering solutions, removing roadblocks, simplifying large, complex problems, and focusing on the technical problems to deliver the end product. This position requires a combination of project management, process optimization, technical proficiency and execution skills. The Principal Ground Systems Engineer serves an integral role in the ground systems team, actively managing design requirements, and driving ground development. This role will be a trusted advisor and thought partner to design leadership in crafting the strategy, vision and operational experience for future war‑fighting capabilities. The individual will be instrumental in fostering a culture of collaboration and user‑focused design excellence through mentorship, coaching, and influence.

• Lead gateway and user level ground equipment development. From every aspect of the ground segment mission lifecycle, from proposal/mission modeling, design, integration and test, launch and on‑orbit operations, to decommissioning


• Define ground and mission operations requirements and flow mission requirements back to space systems engineering.


• Support hardware and software developments, ensuring full system level coordination to the mission requirements.


• Provide technical oversight and direction of the ground segment IPT for assigned program


• Responsible for external stakeholder engagement for IPT’s scope of work frequently collaborating with customers and subcontractors, the overall program IPT, and mission partners.


• Using traditional and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approaches, lead and contribute to the development all SE work products which may include:


• CONOPS


• System Architecture


• Requirements and Interface Control Documents


• Mission and System Analysis


• Trade Studies


• Ensure plans are in place for ground segment requirement verification through the assembly, integration, and test process, including system‑level test


• Contributes to and conducts program design and readiness reviews.


• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to resolve technical and scheduling issues and ensure alignment with overall program objectives


• Collaborate with multi‑discipline development teams to ensure development plans align with operational needs


• Support the preparation and review of cost and resource estimates for proposals and Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs) related to mission operations activities


• Perform other duties as assigned or required


• Develop and implement methods of operational automation, to reduce day‑to‑day operator responsibilities


• Conduct critical ground segment testing, including radio‑frequency compatibility testing, remote ground facility interface testing, and acceptance testing of critical ground assets/locations


• Support the design and validate the mission “sequence of events” for bus commissioning, payload checkout/calibration, and mission operations


• Run formal Mission Rehearsal events to train the mission team and to validate the mission design


• Support a team of spacecraft and subsystem engineers during launch and early orbit activities to commission the space vehicle(s) for service

Who You Are

You are a systems‑oriented leader with experience delivering complex space, satellite, or ground systems programs in highly technical and mission‑driven environments. You understand how satellite operations, mission software, networking, command and control systems, and operational ground infrastructure must come together to support successful mission execution. You bring strong program leadership and cross‑functional coordination skills, with the ability to coordinate with cross functional engineering teams, manage competing priorities, and drive execution across the full system lifecycle. You are comfortable operating at the intersection of technical integration, customer engagement, and operational delivery, helping teams navigate ambiguity while maintaining program discipline and momentum. Ultimately, you serve as the connective force that aligns technology, operations, and execution to deliver mission‑ready ground segment capabilities.

• M.S. in Aerospace, Electrical, Software, Computer, Mechanical Engineering, or related field


• Experience leading technical programs, or product teams supporting satellite, aerospace, or defense‑related systems


• Strong understanding of satellite ground segment architectures, mission operations, networking, command and control, or mission management systems


• Experience managing technical execution across cost, schedule, risk, requirements, and operational delivery objectives


• Familiarity with systems engineering, integration and test, operational readiness, and mission lifecycle execution


• Ability to lead cross‑functional matrixed teams across software, systems engineering, operations, cybersecurity, and infrastructure organizations


• Experience supporting government, defense, intelligence, or national security space customers preferred


• Strong communication, organizational, and stakeholder management skills


• Familiarity with Agile development environments, configuration management, and program controls preferred


• Active Secret clearance preferred; TS/SCI or ability to obtain and maintain strongly desired

SES Space & Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

The final base salary offered will be determined based on factors such as the position’s location, the candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.

Where applicable, this position may also be eligible for an annual bonus. Employees are eligible to participate in SES Space & Defense’s benefits programs, which include paid vacation, sick and personal leave; medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; a 401(k)-retirement plan; and others.