Senior Systems Architect

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability

401(k) Savings Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Paid Time-Off (PTO)

Holidays

Education Reimbursement

Job summary

Kratos Space Federal seeks a Senior Systems Architect to lead satellite ground systems engineering on a critical government program. You will guide key aspects under the Chief Engineer, showing ownership, urgency, and drive to deliver results.

Collaborate with system developers, integration, test, and operations; strong communication and leadership are essential. Familiarity with Epoch-like ground tools is desirable; ability to obtain SECRET clearance is required.

Qualifications

• 7+ years total experience in Defense/Aerospace with space systems.
• Satellite operations experience on-shift crew operations or SOC functions.
• Experience with satellite payloads across multiple payload types (protected comms, sensors, imagery).
• Systems engineering for large-scale enterprise space systems across C2 Ground, SV Bus, Payload, or Mission Data Processing.
• Requirements analysis, decomposition, traceability; MBSE familiarity.
• Full engineering lifecycle experience: design through verification and validation.
• Ability to architect system-of-systems across space/ground/user segments; cross-functional.

Responsibilities

• Lead critical aspects of satellite ground systems engineering on a government program.
• Coordinate with Chief Engineer and program stakeholders across disciplines.
• Architect system-of-systems solutions linking space, ground, and user perspectives.
• Translate user needs into software requirements and CONOPS; work with C2 platforms.
• Support program management: cost/schedule/risk tracking and stakeholder coordination.
• Deliver design reviews, technical reports, and customer briefings.

Skills

Space/Defense exp

Satellite ops

Payload knowledge

Sys engineering

Requirements analysis

Lifecycle engineering

System-of-systems

Leadership

Program mgmt

Clearance eligible

Excellent comms

Job description

• Years of Experience : More Than 15 Years
• Starting Date : 09/28/2026
• Travel Requirement : Domestic
• Compensation : $140,000 - $180,000
• Capabilities : Space Training & Cyber
• Salary : $ 140,000.00 USD Annually - $180,000.00 USD Annually
• Years Of Experience : 015

Job Description

At Kratos, we encourage an entrepreneurial spirit balanced with fiscal and operational discipline. We work hard, we solve hard problems, and we look out for and take care of our customers, each other and our families. Protecting and enabling our nation and global customers through innovative aerospace solutions is what motivates us. We continually build trusted relationships with our peers, our partners and customers, and we take ownership for our actions—always striving to do the right thing. Kratos Space Federal is seeking an experienced, motivated Senior Systems Architect who will help lead Satellite Ground Systems Engineering activities on a critical government program.Specifically, the candidate will be leading critical aspects of the program under the guidance of the program’s Chief Engineer. As a leader on the program, the desired candidate should display a sense of ownership, urgency, and drive to accomplish results. Excellent communications and interpersonal relationship skills are required as the candidate will be working closely with system developers, integration, test, ops, and support personnel.

Experience and Skills

• 7+ years total experience in Defense/Aerospace industry with strong knowledge of space systems
• Satellite operations experience including on-shift crew operations, engineering support to operations, or Satellite Operations Center (SOC) functions performing or supporting satellite command and control
• Experience with satellite mission payloads and mission user needs, with familiarity across multiple payload types such as protected communications, sensor systems, and/or imagery systems
• Experience in systems engineering for large-scale, enterprise space systems, touching on at least two of the following areas: C2 Ground System, SV Bus Development, Payload Development, Mission Data Processing and User Ground Systems
• Experience with requirements analysis, decomposition, and traceability including the ability to guide model-based approaches and work effectively with systems modeling engineers
• Experience supporting the full engineering lifecycle including conceptual design, preliminary design, detailed design, verification, and validation activities
• Ability to architect and design system-of-systems solutions, connecting space segment, ground segment, and user segment perspectives while working across multiple disciplines (developers, test, operations, support personnel)
• Experience translating operational user needs into software application requirements and specifications, including user interface design, operator workflows, and CONOPS definition for ground system applications. Familiarity with satellite C2 software platforms (e.g., Epoch, similar ground system tools) is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated leadership skills including sense of ownership, urgency, and drive to accomplish results in cross-functional team environments. Ability to actively engage and contribute to real-time technical and architecture discussions, demonstrating syntonical reasoning across complex space, ground, and user systems. Proven ability to mentor and develop junior engineers.
• Experience supporting program management activities including cost/schedule tracking, risk management, and stakeholder coordination
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to develop and deliver effective customer presentations (design reviews, technical reports, status briefings) at multiple levels of technical detail
• Ability to obtain/maintain SECRET or higher clearance

Preferred Skills/Experience

• Experience working closely with government customers with understanding of their organizational cultures, operational constraints, and mission priorities. Ability to build trusted relationships and effectively communicate with stakeholders at multiple levels.
• Experience participating in government systems acquisition and procurement processes, with understanding of how requirements, budgets, schedules, and stakeholder needs are balanced to deliver operational systems
• Familiarity with modern distributed compute architectures including cloud platforms (commercial and government), on-premises infrastructure, and containerized application environments. Understanding of containerization technologies, microservices architectures, and API-driven system integration. Knowledge of government cloud security requirements and accreditation processes for handling sensitive and classified data at various impact levels.
• Experience with collaborative engineering tools and workflows including issue tracking systems (e.g., JIRA), documentation platforms (e.g., Confluence), and version control systems (e.g., Git, BitBucket) for requirements management, technical documentation, and cross-team coordination. Familiarity with Agile development methodologies, DevSecOps processes, and toolchains to effectively interface with software development teams.
• Understanding of satellite RF communications principles including link budgets, ground station performance, and communication system trades affecting mission operations

#LI-Hybrid

Competitive salary based on experience and education
Salary Range: $140,000-$180,000

This posting will close within 90 days from the Posting Date.

• Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Savings Plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Paid Time-Off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Education Reimbursement

Kratos Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race,color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as aprotected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

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