_{05th June, 2025}

Role: Tranche Systems Engineer.
Location: Washington, DC / Hybrid (2-3 days onsite).
 
Job Description:
We have an immediate opening for a mid to senior-level systems engineer who has knowledge of both satellites and their interface to ground systems.
 
The ideal candidate will have an understanding of the entire satellite acquisition process through development, source selection, design, test, launch, LEOPs, and operations, and shepherd the acquisition of these new Tranche satellites.
 
The ideal candidate will have the following experience:

• Experience with Space Vehicles and a good technical background.
• Knowledge of RF/Link-16/S band.
• Understand SV payloads.
• Knowledge of SATCOM, not ground, but optical cross-links.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
 
Individuals will support various engineering, scientific, analysis, planning, and program management of Defense space activities.
 
Specific tasks may include:

• Provide technical advice/input to the customer’s System Program Director and Chief Engineer that lays the strategic foundation for critical, national capability and the customer’s future initiatives.
• Understand and contribute to system designs and technical approaches to guide next-generation systems to provide resilient space systems for space-based optical communications systems and space-based missile tracking systems.
• Develop enterprise, system, functional, performance, and interface requirements.
• Consider the impact of the satellites’ requirements on the ground system.
• Oversee and guide integrated space vehicle systems, including integration of mission payloads (Link 16, Ka Band communications, DVB-S2, optical communications, onboard data processors, Missile Warning/Missile Tracking sensors, and Missile Defense/Fire Control sensors) with satellite busses.
• Consider cybersecurity implications of the system design and relationships, including satellite-to-satellite networking.
• Oversee the integration and test of the satellite into the SDA’s ground system network design, and work with the other satellite vendors to create the mesh network.
• Assess necessary changes and updates to ground systems to enable overall architecture capabilities.
• Coordinate the development of operational procedures for tactical data link payloads, including joining networks, maintaining connections, and mission planning.
• Characterize the impact of space vehicle payload design and ground system decisions on mission effectiveness.
• Coordinate with modeling and simulation teams to assess impacts on the architecture.
• Review engineering documents and provide SME support, Participate in design reviews, satellite assembly integration and test, and launch preparation activities.
• Identify capability gaps and devise actions to help address those gaps.
• Support the SDA’s Tranche Program Management and Systems Engineering team.
• Resolve highly complex and multi-dimensional problems that require balancing risk, schedule, and performance considerations to ensure delivery of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.
• Incorporate Joint Warfighter, Mission Partners, and the internal SDA team’s feedback and input on product strategy and identify the best path to improve efficiencies.
• Support application product managers and coordinate cross-functional teams (i.e., Government, Military, SETA, FFRDC).

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in science, technology, engineering, and math.
• Minimum of 8 years’ experience with satellite and ground systems.
• Strong experience in engineering processes and requirements analysis, and tracking.
• Strong experience in satellite or ground system development, integration, and testing.
• Technical and analytical understanding of satellite and ground system interaction.
• Understanding or experience in satellite and ground system acquisition processes.
• Experience in systems engineering.
• Experience in project management.
• Ability to work in fast fast-paced environment with excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.
• +10% travel may be required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in science, technology, engineering, and math.
• 12 years’ experience with satellite systems.
• Agile framework experience, including use of Jira/Confluence.
• Experience with DoD and or IC customers.
• Current experience with space systems.

CLEARANCE:

• TS SCI required.

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