Systems Engineer III - Satellite Ground Systems (Clearance Required)

Sierra Space; Centennial (CO); On-site; USD 119,064 - 163,713; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

401(k) with 150% match up to 6%

3 weeks paid time off

Job summary

Sierra Space in Centennial, Colorado is seeking a Systems Engineer III to develop and implement advanced system solutions. The role requires collaboration with cross-functional teams, adherence to systems engineering principles, and management of technical risks.

Candidates should possess a Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience and 5+ years in related fields. An active Secret U.S. Security Clearance is mandatory. The position offers a competitive pay range of $119,064.00 – $163,713.00 and generous benefits including paid time off and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of related experience or Master's + 3 years.
• Emerging expertise in Systems Engineering principles.
• Knowledge of systems development lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Specify, architect, and integrate complex system solutions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand project requirements.
• Identify and manage technical risks.

Skills

Systems Engineering principles

Requirements management

Systems architecture

Communication with technical experts

Problem-solving skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent experience

Tools

DOORS

CAMEO EA

Rhapsody

Matlab

SysML

Job description

About the Role

The Systems Engineer III contributes to the development and implementation of advanced system solutions by providing alignment, connection, and direction to the technical team throughout the product development lifecycle. The Systems Engineer III represents 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 help to shepherd the team through technical development milestones, track performance measures, and identify technical risks to arrive at a compliant and cohesive system solution. The Systems Engineer III is an emerging leader in Systems Engineering principles and is proficient in the majority of systems engineering skills including requirements management, system architecture development, concept of operation definition, system integration and system verification. The Systems Engineer III may lead small teams to execute systems engineering scope.

In this role, you will specify, architect, and integrate complex system solutions while collaborating with cross‑functional teams and subject matter experts to understand project requirements and objectives. You will derive, decompose, allocate, trace, and manage system requirements and architectures, as well as define and document system concepts of operation. Supporting development milestone reviews by creating artifacts and deliverables will be a key responsibility, alongside overseeing system integration and verification activities to ensure system functionality and performance. You will identify and manage technical risks, develop mitigation strategies, and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by identifying areas for enhancement. Adhering to established engineering processes and standards will be essential, and you will communicate effectively with team members and stakeholders to ensure project alignment and successful execution.

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.

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 +3 yrs experience.

• Typically 5+ years of related experience (or Masters + 3 years of experience).

• Emerging expertise in Systems Engineering principles and practices, including a thorough understanding of the systems development lifecycle.

• Knowledge of requirements management, functional requirements parsing, derivation, and allocation.

• Knowledge of systems architecture, systems integration, and Verification and Validation (V&V) principles.

• Emerging ability to work and communicate with technical and specialty subject matter expert engineers to drive systems engineering products.

• An active Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related field.

• Robust experience with Requirements Management and Model-Based Systems Engineering tools and frameworks, such as DOORS, CAMEO EA, Rhapsody, Matlab, and SysML.

• Strong understanding of ground systems architecture, including command and control, telemetry processing, data management, and network infrastructure subsystems.

• Proven ability to architect and design ground system solutions, including interface definitions, data flows, and subsystem integration strategies.

• Experience creating, managing, and executing comprehensive test plans for ground systems, including integration testing, end‑to‑end testing, and operational readiness validation.

• Solid understanding of project management methodologies including risk management and technical performance tracking.

• Solid understanding of technical baseline and configuration management.

• Experience in leading projects and mentoring junior engineers.

• Experience or certification in INCOSE standards.

• Experience deploying ground systems into large‑scale, distributed operational environments.

• Excellent problem‑solving skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to adapt to a fast‑paced and dynamic work environment.

Compensation

Pay Range: $119,064.00 – $163,713.00

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.

Security Clearance

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.

Benefits

We also offer a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, and more.

Equal Opportunity Employer 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 at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us.