Systems Engineer, Senior

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 155,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability

401(k) Savings Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Paid Time-Off (PTO)

Holidays

Education Reimbursement

Job summary

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. seeks a Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership for spacecraft-to-ground-system integration, focusing on the SV2N interface development and verification.

You will work with USG Satellite Ground System Team and vendor counterparts to ensure robust interface definitions. The role requires experience in interface control, requirements decomposition, and multi-discipline collaboration across software, systems engineering, and test teams.

Qualifications

• BS in SE, CS, EE, ME, or equivalent engineering field.
• Experience in systems engineering and spacecraft integration.
• Knowledge of spacecraft-to-ground interfaces and ground-system architecture.
• Experience developing and managing Interface Control Documents.
• Ability to translate interface information into system and software requirements.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams and vendors.

Responsibilities

• Provide systems engineering leadership for spacecraft integration projects.
• Develop, review, and manage the SV2N ICD.
• Coordinate with spacecraft vendors and internal teams.
• Translate interface requirements into designs and plans.
• Assess mission data processing and CONOPS for compatibility.

Skills

Systems engineering

Spacecraft integration

Ground systems

Interface control documents

Requirements development

Stakeholder coordination

Technical leadership

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Secret clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Job description

• Salary : $155,000 USD Annually - $195,000 USD Annually
• Years Of Experience : 007

Job Description

Ready for What’s Next? At Kratos, we encourage an entrepreneurial spirit balanced with discipline. We work hard, and take care of our customers, employees, and families. Recognized as thought leaders in our industry, we are motivated by creating and delivering innovative solutions to our nation and global customers. Kratos provides leading-edge capabilities for communication with satellites, spacecraft, missiles, and airborne platforms. From factory test to flight, from ground data networking to RF Links – commercial, intelligence, and defense users trust Kratos to solve their most difficult RF problems. KRATOS is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership for spacecraft-to-ground-system integration, with a primary focus on the support of the development and implementation of the Space Vehicle-to-NOVA (SV2N) Interface Control Document (ICD). This individual will serve as the spacecraft Subject Matter Expert (SME) supporting the U.S. Government (USG) Satellite Ground System Team, providing technical guidance to software development, Systems Engineering, Systems Integration, Test, and Support teams regarding spacecraft capabilities, interfaces, operational concepts, and integration requirements. The successful candidate will serve as KRATOS's primary technical point of contact with the spacecraft vendor, facilitating communication, resolving technical questions, coordinating data exchanges, and establishing the relationships necessary to ensure successful integration between the spacecraft and the NOVA ground system. This role requires a strong combination of technical expertise, requirements development, interface management, stakeholder coordination, and leadership across multiple engineering disciplines.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Systems Engineering Leadership and Spacecraft Expertise

• Serve as the spacecraft SME for SV2N, providing technical leadership and guidance to the broader USG Satellite Ground System Team.
• Advise SE, software, integration, and test teams on spacecraft behavior, interface requirements, and implementation considerations.

Interface Control Document (ICD) Development and Management

• Lead the development, review, coordination, and maturation of the SV2N ICD.
• Ensure the ICD clearly defines spacecraft-to-ground-system interfaces, data exchanges, and implementation requirements.

Vendor Technical Coordination and Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary technical point of contact with the spacecraft vendor.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with vendor counterparts across ground systems, spacecraft operations, flight software, test, and other relevant engineering disciplines.
• Represent KRATOS professionally and ensure interface requirements are clearly understood.

Requirements Development and Technical Implementation

• Support the translation of interface requirements into system designs, software implementations, and integration plans.
• Ensure requirements are clear, measurable, verifiable, traceable, and consistent with system architecture and operational needs.

Mission Operations and Data Processing

• Maintain awareness of mission data processing, operational workflows, and associated ground-system interfaces.
• Evaluate proposed designs and CONOPS for compatibility with spacecraft capabilities and mission requirements.

Experience and Skills

• BS in SE, CS, EE, ME, or other engineering equivalent
• Demonstrated experience in Systems Engineering, spacecraft integration, satellite ground systems, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Strong understanding of spacecraft operations, spacecraft-to-ground interfaces, and satellite ground-system architecture.
• Experience developing, reviewing, and managing Interface Control Documents and technical interface specifications.
• Experience with requirements development, decomposition, traceability, verification, and validation.
• Ability to interpret technical documentation and translate spacecraft interface information into actionable system and software requirements.
• Experience working across multidisciplinary engineering teams, including software development, Systems Engineering, integration, test, and operations.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and technical decision-making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to engineering teams, leadership, vendors, and government stakeholders.
• Ability to establish productive working relationships with external vendors and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to travel to vendor facilities as required.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
• Must either currently possess or have the ability to obtain a Secret clearance

Preferred Skills/Experience

• Experience developing system architecture models, interface models, and analytical models.
• Develop and maintain system design models, using established Systems Engineering methodologies and tools.
• Experience supporting system integration, test planning, verification, and operational readiness.
• Experience working with spacecraft vendors and government program stakeholders in a technically complex environment.

#LI-Onsite

The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, and skills.

Competitive salary based on experience and education
Salary Range: $155,000-$195,000

Kratos is valued for our ability to design and deliver leading edge, resilient solutions for aerospace communication, control, awareness and mission success across a continuum of offerings-from commercial to tailored custom solutions and integrated programs. Customers trust us to stay relevant and know we are in it for the long-haul. We bring both the capability and confidence that our customers value and depend on. And we always deliver.

This posting will close within 90 days from the Posting Date.

• Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Savings Plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Paid Time-Off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Education Reimbursement

Kratos Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race,color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as aprotected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Disability Accessibility Accommodation
If you require an accommodation to navigate or apply toour careers site, please send your request to [e-mail] or call 858-964-2916. Any inquiresnot related to requesting an accommodation will be discarded.

Pay Transparency
The company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate againstemployees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay ofanother employee or applicant.

Job Applicant Privacy Notice
For applicants in the EU and California residents, please review our privacy notice .