Senior Space Systems Architect & Strategic Advisor

Mitre Corporation; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 162,000 - 244,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE seeks a Principal Space Systems Engineer to serve as a senior technical authority on national security space challenges. This individual contributes to mission priorities, architectures, and investments across multiple systems and portfolios.

The role requires broad systems thinking, deep technical depth, and the ability to translate ambiguous enterprise challenges into actionable outcomes while partnering with sponsors and MITRE teams across the enterprise.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 8 years with a Master’s; or a PhD with 5 years’ experience.
• Degree in Aerospace, Systems, Electrical, Computer, Mechanical Engineering, CS, Math, Physics, or related field.
• Recognized depth and leadership in applying systems engineering to space or national security missions.
• Deep expertise in space-focused areas such as space surveillance, C2, space domain awareness, or satellite communications.
• Strategic space systems of systems thought leader, enterprise architect, or chief engineer.
• Strong technical writing and executive communication; collaboration and consensus-building.

Responsibilities

• Serve as principal technical advisor and interface for senior sponsors and MITRE leaders.
• Lead multidisciplinary efforts integrating systems of systems engineering and enterprise architecture.
• Provide technical authority across the end-to-end lifecycle from concept to deployment and transition.
• Lead integration of sensing, C2, battle management, comms, data, cyber, and software into resilient capabilities.
• Identify strategic gaps and guide prototypes, models, and AI/ML applications addressing mission needs.
• Build consensus across sponsors, mission operators, and distributed MITRE teams; represent MITRE in executive forums.
• Mentor senior technical staff and develop reusable methods and standards.
• Lead cross-organizational technical initiatives with multiple programs and partners.
• Establish technical direction and resolve conflicting priorities for senior decision-makers.

Skills

Systems engineering

Mission engineering

Leadership

Technical writing

Executive communication

Consensus building

Education

Aerospace Engineering

Systems Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Computer Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Job description

MITRE seeks a Principal Space Systems Engineer to serve as a senior technical authority on national security space challenges. This individual contributes to mission priorities, architectures, and investments across multiple systems and portfolios.

The role requires broad systems thinking, deep technical depth, and the ability to translate ambiguous enterprise challenges into actionable outcomes while partnering with sponsors and MITRE teams across the enterprise.