Senior Space Red Team Operator

SixGen, Inc.; United States; Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

SIXGEN is seeking a hands-on Senior Space Red Team Operator to lead authorized adversarial assessments of space systems and the infrastructure that supports them.

You will evaluate attack paths across spacecraft, payload, ground, cloud, mission-network, and operator environments; develop safe and repeatable test methods; and translate technical findings into clear mission risk and practical engineering improvements.

Qualifications

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance; active Secret or higher preferred.
• Experience leading authorized space and mission-system assessments.
• Experience with Linux-based systems, embedded devices, and cloud environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end red team assessments, penetration tests, and threat-informed adversary emulation against authorized space and mission systems.
• Develop assessment plans, attack paths, test cases, and Rules of Engagement that define objectives, authorization boundaries, safety controls, prohibited actions, and stop-work criteria.
• Assess Linux-based systems, embedded devices, flight and payload software, ground-station services, mission networks, cloud environments, and supporting applications for exploitable weaknesses.
• Research and validate vulnerabilities in firmware, operating systems, communications interfaces, authentication flows, APIs, containers, identity services, and other mission-relevant components.
• Create or adapt operator tooling, exploits, proof-of-concept code, automation, and test harnesses to support repeatable assessment objectives.
• Coordinate closely with system owners, engineers, operators, range personnel, and defensive teams to execute testing without unacceptable impact to safety, availability, or mission operations.
• Correlate technical access with realistic mission effects and help customers

Skills

Red team operations

Space systems

Linux

Cloud environments

Threat emulation

Test automation

Tools

Penetration testing tools

Job description

SIXGEN's mission is to deliver agile, mission-ready cybersecurity solutions that empower government and critical infrastructure organizations to stay ahead of advanced cyber threats. We combine innovation, deep expertise, and leading technical capabilities to uncover vulnerabilities, protect vital systems, and strengthen operational resilience.

POSITION OVERVIEW

• Position: Senior Space Red Team Operator
• Job Type: Full Time
• Location: Remote or Hybrid with travel to customer and test locations as required
• Clearance Requirement: Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance; active Secret or higher preferred

WHAT YOU'LL DO

SIXGEN is seeking a hands-on Senior Space Red Team Operator to lead authorized adversarial assessments of space systems and the infrastructure that supports them. You will evaluate attack paths across spacecraft, payload, ground, cloud, mission-network, and operator environments; develop safe and repeatable test methods; and translate technical findings into clear mission risk and practical engineering improvements. This role is suited to an operator who can move comfortably between Linux hosts, cloud services, embedded targets, and customer briefings while maintaining disciplined authorization and mission-safety boundaries.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead end-to-end red team assessments, penetration tests, and threat-informed adversary emulation against authorized space and mission systems.
• Develop assessment plans, attack paths, test cases, and Rules of Engagement that define objectives, authorization boundaries, safety controls, prohibited actions, and stop-work criteria.
• Assess Linux-based systems, embedded devices, flight and payload software, ground-station services, mission networks, cloud environments, and supporting applications for exploitable weaknesses.
• Research and validate vulnerabilities in firmware, operating systems, communications interfaces, authentication flows, APIs, containers, identity services, and other mission-relevant components.
• Create or adapt operator tooling, exploits, proof-of-concept code, automation, and test harnesses to support repeatable assessment objectives.
• Coordinate closely with system owners, engineers, operators, range personnel, and defensive teams to execute testing without unacceptable impact to safety, availability, or mission operations.
• Correlate technical access with realistic mission effects and help customers