Systems Engineer VI (Principal)

Lockheed Martin Corporation; Littleton (CO); On-site; USD 179,000 - 332,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401(k) match

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Lockheed Martin Space in Denver, CO seeks a System Engineer VI (Principal) to serve as the SV Systems Design Lead on a ground‑floor program study and capture. You will shape end‑to‑end solutions, drive architecture, and lead verification across disciplines.

Applicants typically bring 12+ years in related engineering fields, with potential post-secondary engineering/physics training. This role emphasizes risk‑balanced progress and close collaboration with leadership.

Qualifications

• Significant satellite design, integration, test and/or operations experience.
• Proven leadership in driving technical issues to closure.
• Experience as CPE/RSE/CSE or equivalent engineering leadership.

Responsibilities

• Establish system architecture and CONOPS; derive requirements and interfaces.
• Drive development and verification of Space Vehicle requirements.
• Translate requirements into total hardware/software solutions.
• Oversee hardware/software/database elements to meet baselines.
• Drive space vehicle certification and related activities.
• Communicate with program and customer management; travel as needed.
• Support reviews (SRR, SDR, PDR, CDR) and executive briefings.
• Coordinate SV performance and integration, including satellite testing.

Skills

Satellite design experience

System architecture

Leadership in issue resolution

Communication skills

AI/ML prompting

Education

Engineering/Physics discipline

Tools

MBSE

MBE

Job description

Standard Job Description

About Lockheed Martin Space:
At Lockheed Martin Space, we aim to harness the full potential of space to cultivate innovation, reduce costs, and push the boundaries of what technology can achieve. We're creating future-ready solutions, focusing on resiliency and urgency through our 21st Century Security® vision. We're erasing boundaries and forming partnerships across industries and around the world. We're advancing spacecraft and the workforce to fuel the next generation. And we're reimagining how space can connect us, ensuring security and prosperity.

About The Role

Lockheed Martin has new opportunities that provide you with a chance to challenge the status quo and transform our mission. Due to the classified nature of this opportunity, we're not at liberty to share everything you'll do on this program but know that you will play a part in building end-to-end solutions and redefining the mission segment.
We are seeking a System Engineer VI (Principal) to serve as the SV Systems Design Lead on our team in Denver, Colorado.
This is a "ground floor" opportunity on a competitive new program study & capture with the opportunity to win, design, build, and fly a prototype vehicle. This is a business critical capture, requiring a risk balanced approach to accelerate capability to the customer, leveraging LM Space MBSE, MBE, and Digital Enterprise initiatives.

In This Role, You Will

• Establish system architecture and CONOPS, perform system trades and analysis, flow down the architecture and CONOPS into requirements and interfaces, and support verification planning
• Drive the development and verification of Space Vehicle requirements
• Ensure the logical and detailed conversion of customer or product requirements into total systems solutions
• Oversee Element Level and below CPEs/RSEs for hardware, software, and databases to assure compliance with the spacecraft level technical baseline
• Drive space vehicle certification
• Effectively communicate to program and customer management
• Travel occasionally as needed to achieve program goals
• Participate in developing and executing critical development program key reviews such as SRR, SDR, PDR and CDR, communicating to program and customer management and executive leadership and in formal reviews
• Drive all SV performance and integration activities (including support of all satellite testing) culminating in final certification of the satellite for Launch
  

Successful applicants generally have at least 12+ years of related experience and may have a post-secondary degree or training in Engineering, Physics or related discipline
The information below reflects the standard job description for this position:
Performs technical planning, system integration, verification and validation, cost and risk, and supportability and effectiveness analyses for total systems. Analyses are performed at all levels of total system product to include: concept, design, fabrication, test, installation, operation, maintenance and disposal. Ensures the logical and systematic conversion of customer or product requirements into total systems solutions that acknowledge technical, schedule, and cost constraints. Performs functional analysis, timeline analysis, detail trade studies, requirements allocation and interface definition studies to translate customer requirements into hardware and software specifications.

Basic Qualifications

Skill Requirements:

• Significant experience in satellite design, integration, test and/or operations
• Leadership in driving technical issues/challenges to closure
• Proven satellite systems engineering experience commensurate with roles such as Certified Principal Engineer (CPE), Responsible Systems Engineer (RSE), or Chief Systems Engineer (CSE)

Security Clearance / Work Authorization

• To meet requirements of the program/customer, this position requires the selected employee to be a U.S. Citizen.
• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI (adjudicated or eligibility) is required for consideration.
• Top Secret security clearance with adjudicated SCI (i.e. TS/SCI) is required prior to start.

Desired Skills

• Demonstrated success in early program development and transitioning into AI&T execution and delivery
• Strong technical initiative
• Ability to lead multi-functional teams and lead multiple teams to communicate and coordinate work as one team with common goals
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong social skills, and ability to build consensus among peers while building solid relationships with team members, leadership, and customers
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, synergetic team environment
• Experience with satellite system and/or box level test and analysis
• Experience working with mission CONOPS and how it evolves into the design reference mission (DRM), day in the life (DITL), or equivalent method of defining mission operations
• Experience shaping Customer expectations and perceptions in a competitive proposal environment
• Recognized as an authority in systems thinking techniques with the demonstrated ability to apply them to a wide range of sophisticated problems and train others in their application
• Proficient in AI prompting as it applies to this position and practice

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $178500.00 - $331500.00
At Lockheed Martin, we know mission success starts with taking care of our people. Our Total Rewards program is designed to attract top talent, support your well-being, and help you grow—both professionally and personally.
The salary range for this position is as listed on the requisition. Please note that the salary information listed is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market(work location) and business considerations when extending an offer.

Benefits offered:

Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible work arrangements and schedules (e.g., 4x10), 401(k) match, Paid time off, Holidays, Parental Leave, EAP, Flexible Spending Accounts, Education Assistance, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability.

• Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs may be offered depending on the position. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and can vary from year to year and are tied to a range of performance metrics.
• For (Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.