Principal SATCOM Test & Evaluation Engineer

MITRE; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 162,000 - 244,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE, a nonprofit engineering and research organization, seeks a systems engineer with test and evaluation expertise for the Space Systems Command, SATCOM/NC3 focus. The role emphasizes sponsorship engagement, government liaison, and cross-disciplinary collaboration across MITRE.

The ideal candidate has extensive systems engineering experience, strong communication skills, and the ability to deliver technical products that strengthen national security space capabilities.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in system test and evaluation methodologies.
• Broad systems engineering experience across concept development, requirements definition, system integration, verification and validation.
• Understanding of SATCOM architectures and NC3 mission systems.
• Experience leading cross-disciplinary collaboration to deliver integrated technical solutions.
• Strong written and verbal communication for leadership audiences.
• Active Secret U.S. Government clearance with ability to obtain Top Secret/SCI; U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and sustain strategic S10 sponsor engagement through cross-organizational collaboration across MITRE.
• Perform systems engineering and test & evaluation activities for SATCOM and NC3-related systems and subsystems.
• Support system integration, verification, validation, and operational assessment across the lifecycle.
• Collaborate across software, hardware, network, mechanical, and reliability engineering disciplines to solve complex problems.
• Identify integration risks, interoperability gaps, and communications challenges across system elements.
• Develop technical recommendations and concise leadership-level summaries of complex engineering issues.
• Contribute to strategic technical planning and mission-focused innovation efforts.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Job description

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We're a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies - collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation's health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose - and help shape the future.

MITRE's N114 Resilient Warfighter Space Services Department is committed to ensuring resilient space capabilities that enable joint warfighting across all domains. By combining operational understanding, technical excellence, and cross-enterprise collaboration, our team conducts research, systems engineering, analysis, and prototyping to provide senior government leaders with data-driven insights that strengthen national security space capabilities. Our portfolio focuses on resilient Satellite Communications (SATCOM) and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT), advancing innovative solutions that enhance the effectiveness and resilience of joint warfighters across all domains.

Roles & Responsibilities:

The N114 Department seeks an experienced systems engineer with a Test and Evaluation background to serve as the primary sponsor engagement and technical lead for Space Systems Command's System Delta 88 (SYD 88) S10 sponsors. As part of the Space Capabilities Division, the selected candidate will serve as a trusted advisor to the government and work with sponsors, project leaders, and a multidisciplinary team of engineers and subject matter experts.

The ideal candidate possesses a strong understanding of SATCOM and Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) mission systems. As the primary interface and trusted advisor to the government, the selected candidate will assess SATCOM test and integration activities and deliver technical products that strengthen the SATCOM enterprise.

• Lead and sustain strategic S10 sponsor engagement through cross-organizational collaboration across MITRE
• Perform systems engineering and test & evaluation activities for SATCOM and NC3-related systems and subsystems
• Support system integration, verification, validation, and operational assessment activities across the system lifecycle
• Collaborate across software, hardware, network, mechanical, and reliability engineering disciplines to solve complex technical problems
• Identify integration risks, interoperability gaps, and communications challenges across system elements
• Develop technical recommendations and concise leadership-level summaries of complex engineering issues
• Contribute to strategic technical planning and mission-focused innovation efforts

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 8 years and a Master's degree; or PhD with 5 years' experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience
• Demonstrated experience in system test and evaluation methodologies and practices
• Broad systems engineering experience spanning concept development, requirements definition, system integration, verification, and validation activities
• Understanding of satellite communication system segments and SATCOM architectures
• Experience collaborating across multiple engineering disciplines to deliver integrated technical solutions under cost and schedule constraints
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to leadership audiences
• Demonstrated ability to lead collaboration across organizational boundaries and leverage existing technical work to support sponsor needs
• Must have an active Secret U.S. Government issued Security clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI U.S. Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government's eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 4 days a week on-site

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active TS/SCI clearance
• Expertise in one or more advanced communications technologies, ground station as a service, mesh networking, edge computing platforms, network protocols, encryption technologies, and open architectures/standards
• Experience supporting DoD space, SATCOM, NC3, or resilient communications mission areas
• Familiarity with operational test environments and field experimentation activities
• Experience identifying integration and interoperability challenges across complex systems-of-systems architectures
• Experience supporting geographically distributed engineering teams and sponsor organizations

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Top Secret/SCI

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$162,400 - $203,000 - $243,600 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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