SEIT Lead

Apex Systems; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Apex Systems in Boulder, CO seeks a SE/IT Lead to plan and execute Systems Engineering and Integration & Test for Ground Entry Point solutions. You will translate architecture into requirements, interfaces, and verification plans for a field-ready ground system, under real-world conditions.

The role requires leading SE/I&T from early integration through system validation and customer demonstration, guiding teams across RF, baseband, networks, and mission processing with a focus on clear,

Qualifications

• Experience leading SE and I&T for complex programs.
• Ability to derive requirements from high-level needs and CONOPS.
• Experience with Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and interface descriptions.
• Security clearance of Top Secret or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day SE planning and execution for GEP programs, aligning with the Chief Engineer’s baseline.
• Derive and document system, segment, and subsystem requirements from capability needs.
• Develop SE artifacts like requirements specs, use cases, ICDs, and interface descriptions.

Skills

Systems Engineering

Integration & Test

Requirements Management

Leadership

Customer Engagement

Tools

DOORS

Job description

Job#: 3052017

Job Description

Candidates must be U.S. citizens able to obtain and/or maintain a Department of Defense security clearance as a condition and continuation of employment.

SEIT Lead

Boulder, CO

Top Secret Clearance

The SE/IT Lead is a self‑motivated, creative, detail‑oriented, and driven technical leader responsible for planning and executing Systems Engineering (SE) and Integration & Test (I&T) for Ground Entry Point (GEP) solutions. This role translates the Chief Engineer’s architecture and technical vision into a disciplined set of requirements, interfaces, verification plans, and integration activities, ensuring the delivered ground system meets customer capability needs under real‑world operating conditions.

The SE/IT Lead operates effectively in environments with incomplete or evolving requirements, driving clarity through SE rigor and leading I/T from early integration through system validation and customer demonstration.

Key Responsibilities

Systems Engineering Leadership

• Lead day‑to‑day SE planning and execution for GEP programs, in alignment with the Chief Engineer’s technical baseline.
• Derive, decompose, and document system, segment, and subsystem requirements from high‑level capability needs and CONOPS when explicit requirements are lacking.
• Develop and maintain core SE artifacts, including:
  • Requirements specifications and traceability (e.g., DOORS or equivalent).
  • Use cases, operational threads, and mission flows.
  • Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and interface descriptions for RF, baseband, networks, mission processing, and external systems.
• Implement configuration management and technical baseline control via participation in the Technical Review Board / Configuration Control Board.
• Conduct and lead trade studies to balance performance, reliability, affordability, and schedule across the ground station elements.

Ground System / Ground Station SE

• Apply a deep understanding of ground station architectures and complexities to guide SE and I/T planning (antenna/RF chain, modems/baseband, mission data processing, networking, cyber, facilities).
• Incorporate the benefits and challenges of existing Space Force‑owned ground stations into SE plans (e.g., integration strategies, legacy constraints, interoperability, sustainment considerations).
• Ensure SE deliverables support the Chief Engineer’s architectural decisions and clearly communicate how existing ground assets are leveraged or augmented.

Integration & Test Strategy and Execution

• Own the overall Integration & Test strategy for the Ground Entry Point solution, including lab, field, and operational test phases.
• Develop I/T artifacts:
  • System and segment test plans, procedures, and configurations.
  • Integration sequencing and readiness criteria.
  • Test data requirements, expected results, and success criteria.
• Plan and lead integration of subsystems (RF, modem/baseband, network, mission processing, cyber services) and ensure interfaces are verified as implemented.
• Coordinate test events, including:
  • Lab integration and functional tests.
  • System‑level performance, stress, and reliability testing.
  • Customer demonstrations and operational scenario testing.
• Document, analyze, and prioritize test discrepancies; drive root‑cause analysis, corrective actions, and retest to closure.

Verification & Validation (V&V)

• Establish and maintain verification and validation plans that ensure all requirements are adequately covered by analysis, inspection, test, and/or demonstration.
• Maintain requirement‑to‑verification traceability and ensure evidence is captured and curated for customer reviews and certification/accreditation activities.
• Support formal readiness reviews (e.g., TRR, ORR) by providing V/V status, risk posture, and mitigation plans.

Customer Engagement

• Engage with customer technical counterparts through TIMs, demos, and test‑related reviews, presenting SE and I/T approaches, progress, and results.
• Capture customer needs, wants, and concerns during these interactions and translate them into updates to requirements, test scenarios, and integration priorities.
• Present complex SE/I/T topics in clear, mission‑focused language suitable for both technical and non‑technical customer stakeholders.

Team Leadership, Mentoring, and Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Lead and coordinate SE and I/T engineers and specialists to execute against the SE/I/T plan and schedule.
• Facilitate technical discussions and decision‑making around integration sequences, test configurations, and defect resolution, ensuring decisions are data‑driven and documented.
• Mentor newer team members in systems engineering discipline, verification rigor, and integration/test best practices.
• Collaborate across functions (systems engineering, RF, software, networking, cyber, test operations, program management, business, subcontracts) to ensure SE/I/T work aligns with program baselines and contractual commitments.

Capture & Proposal Support