Software Systems Engineer Senior Staff (Level 5)

Lockheed Martin; Littleton (AL); On-site; USD 145,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

Flexible work arrangements

401(k) match

Paid time off

Parental Leave

Education Assistance

Job summary

Lockheed Martin Space seeks a System Performance, SW, and Simulation Lead to head the S3 group on a development program. You will direct six teams across software, test beds, mission-performance/analysis, and modeling & simulation to ensure delivery of qualified software that meets mission requirements on schedule.

This role requires hands-on guidance in flight software, GNC, and high‑fidelity modelling, plus strong IPT leadership and customer collaboration; security clearance and US

Qualifications

• Significant software and systems engineering experience in Flight software development.
• Experience with Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) or sensor processing algorithms.
• Significant experience with high-fidelity 6DOF modelling & simulation.
• Current Top Secret clearance; US Citizenship is required.
• Experience with software qualification campaigns and testing (unit/integration/system).
• Prior technical team leadership experience.
• Ability to interface with customers and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Define and enforce an integration plan across the S3 domain to ensure release-ready increments.
• Develop and maintain the technical architecture and capability roadmap for S3.
• Provide hands-on guidance on flight software development, GNC algorithms, and high-fidelity modelling and simulation.
• Drive end-to-end verification & validation lifecycle for software and simulation artifacts.
• Prioritize trades and risk mitigation to sustain delivery cadence across teams.
• Serve as IPT technical lead and liaison among software, algorithm, and simulation teams.
• Present technical status and release plans to customers and stakeholders.

Skills

IPT leadership

Software architecture

GNC expertise

FSW development

V&V experience

Customer liaison

Agile development

Real-time embedded

Job description

System Performance, SW, and Simulation Lead

Space is a critical domain, connecting our technologies, our security and our humanity. While others view space as a destination, we see it as a realm of possibilities, where we can do more — we can innovate, invest, inspire and integrate our capabilities to transform the future.

At Lockheed Martin Space, we aim to harness the full potential of space to cultivate innovation, reduce costs, and push the boundaries of what technology can achieve. We’re creating future-ready solutions, focusing on resiliency and urgency through our 21st Century Security® vision. We’re erasing boundaries and forming partnerships across industries and around the world. We’re advancing spacecraft and the workforce to fuel the next generation.

Space Protection Programs seeks a seasoned technical leader to head the System Performance, Software, and Simulation (S3) group on a development program. The S3 lead will direct six inter‑related teams—software, test beds, mission‑performance/analysis, and modeling & simulation—serving as the Integrated Product Team (IPT) lead to ensure delivery of qualified software that meets mission requirements on schedule and budget. The role spans multiple program lifecycles, aligning priorities with enterprise timelines, and providing strategic technical assessments, capability roadmaps, and close partnership with the customer to define solution approaches.

Key Technical Responsibilities

• Integration & Release Leadership – Define and enforce an integration plan that ensures each increment is “release‑ready” (ready for integration, test, and deployment) across the S3 domain. Drive alignment of FSW, GNC, and M&S deliverables within each sprint and ISP cycle
• Technical Architecture & Road‑Mapping – Develop and maintain the technical architecture and capability roadmap for S3, aligning mission‑level requirements with the software, algorithm, and simulation capabilities
• FSW, GNC & M&S Expertise – Provide hands‑on guidance on flight‑software development, guidance‑navigation‑control algorithm implementation, and high‑fidelity modelling‑and‑simulation. Review code, simulation models, and verification plans to ensure technical integrity as needed
• End‑to‑End Verification & Validation (V&V) – Drive the teams from design through V&V lifecycle for software and simulation artifacts, coordinating unit, integration, and system‑level testing. Ensure each release meets defined performance, capabilities, and reliability criteria before ISP completion
• Technical Trade Studies & Risk Mitigation – Prioritize and conduct trades and feasibility studies for new capabilities, assess schedule/technical risk, and propose mitigation strategies that preserve functional delivery cadence across all teams
• Cross‑Discipline Communication – Serve as the primary technical liaison among software, algorithm, simulation, and mission‑performance teams; translate technical constraints and dependencies into actionable ISP goals with the teams
• Customer & Stakeholder Interface – Present technical status, trade results, and release plans to internal and external customers, tailoring communication for both high‑level program forums and detailed technical reviews

Leadership & Business Interaction

• Act as Integrated Product Team (IPT) technical lead, focusing on technical deliverables
• Participate in contract execution, proposal support, and new‑business shaping where technical insight is required.

Basic Qualifications

• Significant software and systems engineering experience in at least one of the following domains: Flight‑software (FSW) development
• Significant software and systems engineering experience in at least one of the following domains: Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) or Sensor processing algorithm design & implementation
• Significant software and systems engineering experience in at least one of the following domains: High‑fidelity 6DOF modelling & simulation
• Significant software and systems engineering experience in at least one of the following domains: Terran Orbital Architecture
• Knowledge or experience participating with software qualification campaigns (including unit, integration, and system‑level testing)
• Prior technical team leadership experience
• Current Top Secret clearance, thus US Citizenship is required

Desired Skills

• Demonstrated ability to drive functional integration across multidisciplinary teams
• Experience with Agile development
• Experience with real‑time embedded systems
• Experience overseeing the full Verification & Validation lifecycle from concept through certification
• Prior responsibility for cost, schedule, and technical authority (e.g. CAM or IPT lead)
• Prior SAP access
• History of customer‑facing technical roles
• Proficient in AI prompting as it applies to this position and practice

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $145100.00 - $269500.00

At Lockheed Martin, we know mission success starts with taking care of our people. Our Total Rewards program is designed to attract top talent, support your well-being, and help you grow—both professionally and personally.

The salary range for this position is as listed on the requisition. Please note that the salary information listed is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market(work location) and business considerations when extending an offer.

Benefits offered

Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible work arrangements and schedules (e.g., 4x10), 401(k) match, Paid time off, Holidays, Parental Leave, EAP, Flexible Spending Accounts, Education Assistance, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability.

• Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs may be offered depending on the position. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and can vary from year to year and are tied to a range of performance metrics.
• For (Washington state applicants only) Non‑represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.