Space System Engineer - Level 4

LV8D Solutions, LLC; Chantilly (VA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

LV8D Solutions, LLC is seeking a Space System Engineer to lead cross-functional teams in the development, integration, and lifecycle management of space systems. The role focuses on ensuring mission readiness from initialization through on-orbit operations, with emphasis on system design maturity, requirements verification, and risk mitigation.

The candidate will support reviews, calibration activities, and technical meetings, delivering informed recommendations to advance program objectives in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in STEM (science, technical, engineering, math) with 5-9 years of relevant experience.
• Understanding of DoW/IC satellite systems and architecture.
• Experience in design, integration, testing, and operation of space payload systems.
• Familiarity with payload architectures (EO/IR, imaging, or scientific instrumentation).
• Experience conducting payload performance analysis, link budgets, or mission data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate requirements changes across organizations to ensure review completeness.
• Attend design reviews and program management reviews, provide informed technical recommendations.
• Support initialization and on-orbit calibration and validation activities.
• Review milestone documentation for adequacy, accuracy and completeness; identify risks and mitigation strategies.
• Prepare technical documentation, ICDs, verification plans and test procedures.

Skills

Systems engineering

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

MATLAB

Python

STK

LabVIEW

DOORS

Cameo

Job description

LV8D Solutions supports national security space and intelligence customers delivering next-generation sensing and exploitation capabilities. The Space System Engineer 4* provides technical engineering and acquisition support for the development, integration, and lifecycle management of space systems, ensuring mission success from system initialization through on-orbit operations.

LV8D Solutions is seeking a Space System Engineer.This role coordinates cross-functional teams, development contractors, mission analysis, and acquisition organizations to evaluate requirements, support calibration and validation activities, and ensure comprehensive technical reviews. The Space System Engineer assesses system design maturity, verifies requirements compliance, reviews acquisition milestone documentation for accuracy and completeness, and identifies cost, schedule, and technical risks while recommending effective mitigation strategies. Supports design reviews, program management reviews, and technical meetings by delivering informed engineering recommendations that advance program objectives and mission readiness.

Interested candidates need to thrive in an innovative, fast-paced environment; are highly motivated and not afraid to take on uncharted territory; possess strong communication, collaboration, leadership, and organizational skills; and be able to prioritize their time to be effective in a dynamic environment while being strategically proactive.

Key Responsibilities

• Support initialization and characterization activities across the enterprise and with the development contractors
• Coordinate proposed requirements changes across all applicable organizations and with mission analysis and acquisition teams to ensure completeness of review across the acquisition.
• Support initialization and on-orbit calibration and validation activities
• Attend Segment level design reviews and program management reviews to assess design maturity, requirements compliance and to provide informed technical recommendations to the customer
• Review acquisition milestone design documentation for adequacy, accuracy and completeness, and identify cost, schedule and technical risks/opportunities, and provide mitigation strategies through formal and informal comments
• Support technical and programmatic reviews and meetings, as required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in STEM (science, technical, engineering, math) or related discipline with 5-9 years of relevant experience
• Understanding of Department of War/Intelligence Community (DOW/IC) satellite systems and architecture
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, team building, and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to be independent and effective in a government/contractor team environment
• Experience in DOW/IC acquisition and program management processes
• Experience supporting the design, integration, testing, and operation of space payload systems for government, commercial, or defense space programs.
• Familiarity with spacecraft payload architectures including Electro Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensors, imaging payloads, or scientific instrumentation.
• Knowledge of systems engineering processes throughout the payload lifecycle including requirements development, verification, validation, and mission integration.
• Experience conducting payload performance analysis, link budgets, or mission data analysis.
• Experience working within multi-disciplinary engineering teams supporting spacecraft bus, mission operations, and ground segment integration.
• Proficiency with engineering and analysis tools such as MATLAB, Python, STK, LabVIEW, DOORS, Cameo, or equivalent modeling and simulation environments.
• Familiarity with developing and implementing automated strategies to include collection strategies and orchestration.
• Understanding of space environment impacts including radiation effects, thermal constraints, orbital dynamics, and reliability considerations.
• Ability to support technical reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and mission readiness reviews.
• Experience developing technical documentation, interface control documents (ICDs), verification plans, and test procedures.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills with the ability to work in fast-paced mission environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience presenting technical information to customers and program leadership.
• Demonstrated sustained superior performance

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in STEM (science, technical, engineering, math) or related discipline with emphasis on MBSE
• Prior Program Office experience
• Previous experience developing optical telescopes, or remote imaging systems

SecurityRequirements

• U.S.Citizenship
• ActiveTopSecret/SensitiveCompartmentedInformation(TS/SCI)clearance
• ActiveCounterintelligence(CI)orFullScope(FS)Polygraph

WorkEnvironment

• On-siteworkinagovernmentorcontractorfacility
• Travelupto25%

*This position is contingent upon a contract seat being awarded.

AboutLV8DSolutions

LV8D Solutions is an elite Systems Engineering and Technical Advisory (SETA) companythatdeliversadvancedsystemsengineering,integration,acquisition,missionoperations,networkcommunications,andcybersecuritysupporttoourdefenseandintelligencecustomers.Foundedin2019,weapplyourdeeptechnicalexpertise,understanding,andmission-firstmindsettodesign,acquire,andimplementcomplex, high-impactsolutionsforourIntelligenceCommunity(IC)andDepartmentofWar(DoW)customers.Wespecializeineveryaspectofourcustomers’spaceandgroundmissionsystemswhileofferingexceptionalwork-lifebalanceandanexemplarycompensationandtotalrewardspackagedesignedtorecruit,train,andretaintoptalentandcommittedtonationaldefenseandcareergrowth.

EqualEmploymentOpportunitiesStatement

LV8DSolutionsLLCisanEqualOpportunityEmployercommittedtodiversityandinclusion.Allqualifiedapplicantswillreceiveconsiderationwithoutregardtorace,religion, gender, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other protected categories.

Performance & Recognition

Period of Performance (PoP) Bonus Opportunities
Performance-based bonus opportunities tied to contract or organizational performance.

Retention Incentive Benefit Bounty
Receive a payout for unused annual company contributions designated for health insurance premiums and professional training.

Referral Bonus
Earn up to $5,000 for each successful employee referral.

Customer Recognition Letter of Appreciation (LoA) Bonus Opportunities
Bonus opportunities based on customer recognition received through Letters of Appreciation.

Milestone Rewards
Celebrate your career achievements with anniversary awards on your 1st, 5th, 10th, and 20thyears of service.

Financial & Retirement Benefits

Profit Sharing
Receive an annual contribution equal to 4% of your W-2 gross earnings into your 401 (k), with immediate vesting.

401(k) Company Match
The company matches your 401 (k) contributions dollar-for-dollar up to 6% of your monthly contribution, with immediate vesting.

Career Development

• Annual financial support for professional training and industry certifications.
• Enhanced financial support for employees actively pursuing a degree at an accredited institution.

Work-Life Balance

• Flexible work hours
• Competitive paid time off (PTO)
• Company holidays

Health & Wellness Benefits

The company offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you and your family.

Medical Coverage

Three comprehensive Medical/Rx insurance plan options to meet the unique and individualized benefit needs of our employees

Dental & Vision

• Comprehensive dental insurance for employees and eligible dependents.
• Comprehensive vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents.

Income Protection

• 100% Company-Paid Short-Term Disability Insurance
• 100% Company-Paid Long-Term Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

• 100% Company-Paid Basic Term Life Insurancewith Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
• Optional employee-paid Supplemental Voluntary Life Insurance.