Sr Principal Systems Engineer (Clearance Required)

sierraspace; Centennial (CO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Sierra Space seeks a Senior Principal Systems Engineer to lead the development and integration of complex systems across the product lifecycle. You will align cross-functional teams, manage requirements, and ensure traceability from concept to verification.

The role requires an active Top Secret U.S. security clearance, 18+ years in systems engineering, and a related Bachelor's degree. Leadership across multi-disciplinary programs is essential.

Qualifications

• Requires advanced expertise in Systems Engineering principles and practices, including lifecycle management.
• Experience overseeing multidisciplinary system development and integrating multiple subsystems.
• Demonstrated leadership and project management capabilities.
• Active Top Secret U.S. Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and drive the development and implementation of advanced system solutions across the product lifecycle.
• Provide alignment and direction to the technical team throughout development milestones.
• Gluе segments and subsystems via top-down decomposition and bottom-up validation and verification.
• Mentor and develop systems engineering skills in others; influence processes at an organizational level.

Skills

Systems Engineering

Requirements management

System architecture

V&V

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Master's degree +16 years experience

Job description

Sierra Space Careers: At Sierra Space, we build the missions and systems that keep our world secure in the domain above Earth.

Sierra Space team members share a spirit of innovation and collaboration and a belief that we can deliver on the boldest missions in space today. Together with our customers, we aim to safeguard our nation, sustain human presence in space, and secure the freedom of operations in low Earth orbit and beyond.

Our success is measured by the trust of those who rely on what we build and deliver, and our technologies keep the United States and its allies mission-ready throughout space.

We are mission-driven, and together, we are an extraordinary team.

About the Role

The Sr Principal Systems Engineer leads and drives the development and implementation of advanced system solutions by providing alignment, connection and direction to the technical team throughout the product development lifecycle. The Sr Principal Systems Engineer champions the viewpoint of the integrated whole during system development and works to glue segments and subsystems together via top-down decomposition of stakeholder requirements, traceability through development artifacts, and bottom-up validation and verification of the system. They shepherd the team through technical development milestones, track performance measures and identify technical risks to arrive at a compliant and cohesive system solution. The Sr Principal Systems Engineer is Subject Matter Expert of Systems Engineering principles and has demonstrated expertise across the major systems engineering skills including requirements management, system architecture development, concept of operation definition, system integration and system verification. The Sr Principal Systems Engineer leads complex systems engineering projects and mentors and develops systems engineering skills in others. The Sr Principal Systems Engineer is a thought leader in the systems engineering field and makes groundbreaking contributions to engineering initiatives and corporate strategy, and influences systems engineering processes and methodologies at an organizational level.

About You

Our mission is driven by an unyielding commitment to advancing space-based technology in service of our customers and safeguarding national security. We seek individuals who are passionate about innovating beyond boundaries and relentlessly pursuing solutions that protect, preserve and empower - to join us in this critical mission.

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 master's +16 yrs experience).
• Typically 18+ years of related experience (or Masters + 16 years of experience).
• Recognized Systems Engineering Subject Matter Expert.
• Experience overseeing multidisciplinary system development initiatives, architecting comprehensive systems integrating multiple sub-systems, and resolving conflicting system requirements.
• 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.
• Advanced leadership and project management capabilities.
• An active Top Secret U.S. Security Clearance