Senior Space Systems Engineer & Technical Lead

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

Job summary

The MITRE Corporation seeks a Principal Space Systems Engineer to act as a senior technical authority across national security space programs. You will guide mission architecture, acquisition strategies, and enterprise design, coordinating with sponsors and cross-functional teams to produce executable plans and transition paths.

You will apply systems-of-systems thinking, manage risk, and influence stakeholders while shaping priorities and investments to advance national security space

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 8 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 5 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience
• Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or a related technical discipline
• Recognized technical depth and leadership in applying systems engineering, mission engineering, and/or systems of systems engineering to complex space or national security mission systems with a demonstrated ability to think strategically about and implement solutions for technical, operational, acquisition, and organizational challenges
• Deep technical expertise in space-focused areas: space surveillance sensors, Space Domain Awareness, C2, BCM, space protection and resiliency, space threats and effects chains, ISR, satellite communications, data architectures, astrodynamics, or space mission analysis
• Strategic space systems of systems thought leader, enterprise architect, chief engineer, or senior technical advisor across lifecycle areas
• Experience with systems engineering analyses: architecture trades, mission thread analyses, operational assessments, scenario-driven evaluations, and digital engineering
• Strong technical writing, executive communication, collaboration, negotiation, and consensus-building skills for senior audiences
• Ability to establish trusted relationships and lead collaborative activities involving sponsors, mission users, acquisition stakeholders, contractors, industry partners, and distributed MITRE teams
• Must have an active Top Secret/SCI U.S. Government clearance. US citizenship required
• On-site four days a week at minimum

Responsibilities

• Serve as principal technical advisor and interface for senior sponsors and MITRE leaders; shape mission priorities and investment strategies
• Lead multidisciplinary efforts integrating systems engineering, enterprise architecture, mission engineering, and assessment activities
• Provide technical authority across lifecycle stages: concept development, architecture, requirements, design, integration, deployment, and transition
• Lead integration of sensing, C2, battle management, comms, data, cyber, software, and mission applications into resilient capabilities
• Identify strategic gaps and guide prototypes, simulations, and data strategies addressing mission needs
• Build consensus across sponsors, operators, acquisition teams, contractors, industry partners, and distributed MITRE teams
• Mentor senior technical staff, develop reusable methods, and align work programs with sponsor outcomes
• Lead cross-organizational technical initiatives spanning multiple systems and mission areas
• Establish direction, define approaches, integrate results, resolve conflicting priorities, and deliver guidance to senior decision makers

Skills

Systems engineering

Mission engineering

Systems of systems

Executive communication

Technical leadership

Modeling & simulation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or related technical discipline

Master’s degree in Engineering or related field

PhD in a related field

Tools

MBSE

Digital engineering

Job description

The MITRE Corporation seeks a Principal Space Systems Engineer to act as a senior technical authority across national security space programs. You will guide mission architecture, acquisition strategies, and enterprise design, coordinating with sponsors and cross-functional teams to produce executable plans and transition paths.

You will apply systems-of-systems thinking, manage risk, and influence stakeholders while shaping priorities and investments to advance national security space