Space Systems Engineer – TS/SCI Clearance w/CI Poly

Leffler Consulting; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Disability coverage

Paid leave and holidays

Employee assistance program

Employee referral program

Job summary

Leffler Consulting is seeking a Space Systems Engineer to join our on-site team in Chantilly, VA. The role requires an active TS/SCI clearance with CI poly and involves lifecycle systems engineering for space systems including ground command and control elements.

You will develop requirements, coordinate verifications, support design reviews, and mentor customer personnel in architecture and verification methodologies. A STEM degree and 10+ years in related work are expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field.
• 10+ years of experience in systems engineering or space system acquisition.
• Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph.
• Experience with DoD/IC satellite systems and lifecycle from acquisition through operations.
• MBSE experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage system and segment-level requirements.
• Coordinate specification development, verification, and validation across contractors and enterprise organizations.
• Support technical reviews, design evaluations, integration, and commissioning of new capabilities.
• Lead interface definition and change coordination with internal and external partners.
• Contribute to system CONOPs development, ground site integration, and on-orbit validation activities.
• Provide subject matter expertise for systems engineering process oversight and risk identification.
• Mentor customer personnel in system architecture and verification methodologies.

Skills

MATLAB

Python scripting

Communication

Leadership

Problem solving

Collaboration

DoD/IC satellite systems knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

MBSE tools

Job description

Space Systems Engineer – TS/SCI Clearance w/CI Poly Required

Location

Chantilly, VA

Job Description

Leffler Consulting is seeking a Space Systems Engineer to join our team in Chantilly, VA. Work will be performed on-site with the customer and requires an active TS/SCI clearance with an adjudicated polygraph. The engineering professional will perform system or enterprise level systems engineering across the life cycle on complex space systems acquisition processes. The candidate will provide expert advice and manage systems engineering processes and implementation for program office developed collection system, including space vehicle, payloads, and associated ground command and control elements. The position includes requirements management, interface definition, customer engagement, and proposal technical evaluation support.

Duties

• Develop and manage system and segment-level requirements.
• Coordinate specification development, verification, and validation across contractors and enterprise organizations.
• Support technical reviews, design evaluations, integration, and commissioning of new capabilities into existing baselines.
• Lead interface definition and change coordination with internal and external partners.
• Contribute to system CONOPs development, ground site integration, and on-orbit validation activities.
• Provide subject matter expertise for systems engineering process oversight and risk identification.
• Mentor customer personnel in system architecture and verification methodologies.
• Other duties as specified by the customer

Skill Set:

• Proficiency in MATLAB; familiarity with Python scripting.
• Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively in multi-organizational teams
• Demonstrated record of superior performance in technical and programmatic roles

Required Education

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM-related field

Required Experience

• 10+ years of relevant experience in systems engineering or space system acquisition
• Working knowledge of DoD/IC satellite systems, particularly SIGINT architectures
• Familiarity with the full systems engineering lifecycle, from acquisition through verification and operations
• Understanding of DoD/IC acquisition and program management processes
• Experience or familiarity with MBSE tools and processes a plus

Desired Education

• Refer to “Required Education”

Founded in 2001, Leffler Consulting is a women-owned small business (WOSB) headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia. We provide financial management and life-cycle budget and cost support to our nation’s most critical programs in the Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD). Leffler Consulting specializes in all areas of financial management, audit readiness, and process improvement and controls while also providing a broad array of support functions critical to supporting the mission requirements of our customers.

Benefits

• We offer competitive salaries
• including medical, dental, vision, and disability coverage, paid leave, paid holidays, an employee assistance program, and an employee referral program.

Copyright 2026 Leffler Consulting, LLC; Chantilly, VA