Space Segment Lead (Clearance Required)

Sierra Space; Centennial (CO); On-site; USD 173,748 - 238,903; Full time

Job summary

Sierra Space in Centennial, Colorado is seeking a Space Segment Lead to oversee the delivery of spacecraft from inception to handover. The role requires managing technical requirements, system integration, and serving as a key contact for stakeholders.

The ideal candidate should possess significant experience in systems engineering, with a strong background in multidisciplinary system development. A current Secret U.S. Security Clearance is essential for this position.

Qualifications

• Requires Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent work experience.
• 15+ years of experience in related fields.
• Advanced expertise in Systems Engineering principles.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end delivery of spacecraft.
• Define and trace space segment requirements.
• Manage critical interfaces between satellite bus and payload.

Skills

Multidisciplinary system development initiatives

Systems Engineering principles

Systems integration and verification

Technical leadership

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent work experience

15+ years of related experience

Job description

About the Role

As a Space Segment Lead, your key tasks in this role will be:

• Program Execution: Own the end-to-end delivery of the spacecraft from kick-off to final handover, ensuring compliance with mission specifications, technical baselines, and cost constraints. Develop and maintain space segment schedule, budget, and resource plans.
• Space Segment Requirements/Verifications: Define, flow down, and trace the space segment technical requirements from mission-level objectives with support of Systems engineering; author the comprehensive Verification and Validation matrix to systematically prove spacecraft compliance through analysis, inspection, demonstration, and environmental qualification testing.
• Subsystem and Payload Integration: Manage critical interfaces between the satellite bus and the payload, driving resolution of technical conflicts across hardware and software teams.
• AI&T Oversight: Supporting Assembly, Integration, and Testing flows, guiding environmental ground testing (vibration, thermal vacuum) and launch campaign preparations.
• Supplier Management: Direct the acquisition and management of major bus contractors, payload providers, and subsystem suppliers, including statements of work and acceptance reviews.
• Risk Management: Track technical performance metrics, define risk mitigation strategies, and manage the Integrated Master Schedule to prevent schedule slips.
• Customer Interface: Serve as the primary technical point of contact for stakeholders, communicating design status and handling programmatic deliverables.

About You

We’re looking for team members who align with our values, mission and goals – while also meeting the minimum qualifications below. The preferred qualifications are a bonus, not a requirement.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires Bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree or Masters +13 yrs experience).
• Typically 15+ years of related experience (or Masters + 13 years of experience).
• Ability to drive multidisciplinary system development initiatives, architect comprehensive systems integrating multiple sub-systems.
• Advanced expertise in Systems Engineering principles and practices, including a comprehensive understanding of the systems development lifecycle.
• Robust experience across multiple system development life cycles, including requirements management, functional requirements parsing, derivation, and allocation.
• Expertise in developing systems architecture and performing systems integration, verification, and validation (V&V) activities.
• Ability to contribute to corporate Systems Engineering policy and process definition and implementation.
• Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with technical and specialty subject matter expert engineers to drive systems engineering products.
• An active Secret or above U.S. Security Clearance is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Solid understanding of spacecraft subsystems (CDH, Comm, EPS, GNC, Prop, SMS, TCS).
• Demonstrated experience establishing and managing Space Segment TPMs, aggressively tracking subsystem margins, and implementing corrective action plans when technical budgets approach critical thresholds.
• Knowledge of orbital mechanics, space environment, and mission design.
• Familiarity with space industry standards and regulatory requirements.
• Understanding of systems engineering processes and lifecycle management.
• Experience with spacecraft test and integration processes.
• Strong technical leadership and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills.
• Effective communication with technical teams, customers, and executives.
• Problem-solving and critical thinking in complex system environments.
• Budget management and resource allocation expertise.

Compensation

Pay Range: $173,748.00 - $238,903.50. Your actual base compensation will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, experience, internal equity and market competitiveness.

Important Notice

This position requires current/active Secret U.S. Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. Citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance. The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination include, but are not limited to, allegiance to the U.S., foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations and illegal drug use.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Sierra Space Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need special assistance or a reasonable accommodation related to applying for employment with Sierra Space or at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us.