Senior Space Ground Systems Engineer

Spacesystemsintegration; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Space Systems Integration (SSI) in Colorado Springs seeks a Senior Space Ground Systems Engineer to lead development and integration of space system software, ground antennas, and satellite operations. The role requires hands-on design, testing, and delivery of mission-critical ground segments for government and commercial customers.

You will guide a small, empowered team, review requirements, manage schedules, and communicate complex results to management and executive leadership.

Qualifications

• Minimum ten years DoD/IC or relevant industry experience.
• Engineering degree ABET-accredited or PE license.
• MA/MS/ME degree.
• Experience developing and fielding software for space systems.
• Understanding of space operational environment and mission user needs.
• Knowledge of space system engineering, development, and manufacturing.
• DoD program management experience.
• Integrated Master Schedules and risk management experience.
• Experience with SOW and PWS.
• Satellite ground system operations and testing experience.
• Travel up to 30% within the continental US.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical guidance to the development team and program manager; ensure all technical and programmatic requirements for mission ground system deliveries.
• Track and oversee deficiency reporting and risk resolution plans.
• Manage ground antenna scheduling system design documentation and requirements.
• Evaluate trending data to validate nominal performance or identify degradation.
• Review and approve ground antenna scheduling system baseline changes.
• Provide project management and technical readership for engineering activities.
• Lead high-visibility or mission-critical tasks independently.
• Oversee the efforts of less senior staff and drive team performance.
• Translate complex ideas into actionable recommendations.
• Communicate clearly with management and executive leadership.

Skills

Technical leadership

Ground systems

Program management

Requirements analysis

Space systems

System engineering

Education

ABET-accredited engineering degree

MA/MS/ME degree

Professional Engineering license

Tools

Jira

Job description

Space Systems Integration (SSI) is a fast-growing engineering company that provides aerospace solutions to a variety of government and commercial customers. Our employees are forward-thinking, self-directed individuals who are committed to solving our customers’ technical challenges.

Senior Space Ground Systems Engineer

SSI is seeking a Senior Space Ground Systems Engineer for a role in Colorado Springs, CO.

This handpicked candidate must possess technical expertise and experience with developing, designing, building, and integrating space system software, including space vehicle and ground systems to meet overall mission requirements.

The mission is to develop and deliver operationally dominant space capabilities at the speed of warfighting relevance in response to Commander, U.S. Space Command requirements. The position is outward-facing, with customer service being paramount to success. A successful candidate should be a leader and problem solver with a proven ability to deliver superior results as part of a high-performing team in a high-profile, fast-paced environment.

You will work in a small, highly empowered team where every team member is directly responsible for the success of the program. Engineering responsibilities span technology domains including ground antenna networks (Government and commercial), satellite scheduling applications, antenna network capability testing, satellite launch and on-orbit operations, and RF Spectrum in an extremely fast-paced, responsive development environment.

This SETA candidate will provide in-depth background on software and architecture development, integration, and testing for antenna scheduling, ground antenna network systems and/or subsystems to improve program office insight into state-of-the art IC, DoD, commercial, and legacy space vehicle systems, and C2 requirements and capabilities. Facilitate Process Improvements within implementation, external connections, and automation of scheduling and operations of ground antenna networks. Evaluate current processes, identify inefficiencies, and recommend improvements to optimize workflows and outcomes dealing with planning, scheduling, control, status, and telemetry/command data flows. Responsible for review of requirements, ground threads, user stories, Jira projects, test strategies, test plans, and mission partner onboarding for antenna scheduling systems regarding satellite operations of ground antenna systems. Supports and manages antenna scheduling teams to report to the Government on the progress and provide recommendations. Works with System Engineering and Mission Adoption branches for mission onboarding, configuration management, engineering reviews, test, and risk management. You must apply advanced principles, theories, and concepts for highly classified systems, while also effectively communicating complex results with management and executive leadership.

Role and Responsibilities includes:

• Provides technical guidance to the development team and program manager and is responsible for ensuring all technical and programmatic requirements for mission ground system deliveries.
• Responsible for tracking and overseeing deficiency reporting and analysis as well as analyzing plans for deficiency and risk resolution.
• Primary contact responsible for ground antenna scheduling system design documentation to include software development requirements, system requirements, critical methods high-level design, and recommends changes or modifications to the aforementioned.
• Provides evaluation of trending data to validate nominal system performance or identify system degradation.
• Reviews and approves ground antenna scheduling system baseline changes.
• Provides project management and technical readership for engineering activities.
• Work on high-visibility or mission-critical aspects of a given program and perform all functional duties independently.
• Oversee the efforts of less senior staff and/or be responsible for the efforts of all staff assigned to a specific job.
• Translate complex ideas and data into simple, actionable recommendations or easily differentiated courses of action.
• Communicate clearly, concisely, and with technical accuracy—oral and written.

Requirements

• Minimum ten (10) years DoD/IC, or relevant industry work experience.
• An applicable engineering degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) or possess a Professional Engineering license.
• Relevant MA/MS/ME degree.
• Experience in the development and fielding of software for space systems to include software architectures and requirements development for satellites and ground systems.
• Understanding of space operational environment and corresponding mission user needs.
• Knowledge of space system engineering, development, and manufacturing
• Experience in DoD program management including program development and transition.
• Experience with Integrated Master Schedules and risk management.
• Experience with Statements of Work (SOW) and Performance Work Statements (PWS).
• Skilled in satellite ground system operations, project management, requirements analysis, test planning, and stakeholder onboarding.
• Experience with driving process improvements in implementation, automation, and integration of ground antenna network operations.
• Ability to assess mission partner antenna network requirements and usage to ensure satellite operations systems are aligned with capability needs.
• Active TS clearance with in-scope T5/SSBI is required, along with SCI eligibility and participation in Continuous Evaluation.
• Must meet all requirements for SCI and SAP access and be willing to undergo a polygraph examination.
• Travel up to 30% of the time within the continental United States.

Additional Qualifications

• Five (5) years of relevant DoD and/or Industry work experience with SAP and/or SCI.
• System Engineering Technical Assistance (SETA) to Government program office
• Experience with rapid prototyping.
• Experience with integrated air, space, and cyberspace capabilities.
• Experience developing, deploying, and maintaining ground mission planning architecture and software.
• Experience with ACAT I/II level acquisition programs.
• Experience in planning and executing test campaigns for space systems.
• Fluency with IC organizations.
• Experience supporting mission onboarding and cross-functional collaboration.

Space Systems Integration provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.