Systems Engineer III; Clearance Required

Position: Systems Engineer III (Clearance Required)
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 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 - 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.

Ground Systems:

* Design and maintain ground system architectures including mission operations centers, ground data systems, ground communication networks, and interfaces with launch site infrastructure and tracking stations

* Develop ground software and tools for vehicle monitoring, telemetry processing, command & control, and support pre-launch checkout, mission simulations, and ground rehearsals

* Coordinate ground segment integration with flight systems and ensure end-to-end operational readiness

* Varying scope by level:

* SE II focuses on subsystem-level tasks and test support;

* SE III owns segment integration and anomaly resolution;

* Sr SE defines architecture and leads cross-functional ground system initiatives

Requirements & Verifications:

* Derive, decompose, and manage technical requirements from stakeholder needs through system, subsystem, and component levels; manage requirements baseline changes and impact assessments across the product lifecycle

* Develop verification and validation strategies including analysis, inspection, demonstration, and test methods; author verification procedures, test plans, and acceptance criteria aligned to requirements traceability

* Lead requirements reviews, trade studies, and technical audits to ensure completeness, consistency, and compliance

* Varying scope by level:

* SE II executes verification activities and documents results;

* SE III leads V&V planning and closure;

* Sr SE owns requirements architecture and approval authority for complex changes

Space Vehicle Integration:

* Plan and execute hardware and software integration activities for spacecraft buses, payloads, and subsystems; coordinate interface control documents (ICDs) and manage technical interfaces…