Senior Space Systems Engineer Jobs

Senior Space Systems Engineer

Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI) is seeking a highly qualified Senior Space Systems Engineer to fulfill a critical Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) position supporting the Space Development Agency (SDA). The SDA is redefining traditional Department of Defense acquisition timelines by pioneering a rapid, spiral-development methodology to field hundreds of advanced satellites every two years. At the core of this mission is the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), a resilient, low-Earth orbit constellation that fundamentally enhances national defense capabilities.

This pivotal role is directly aligned with Tranche 3, the architecture's most complex phase to date, which incorporates cutting-edge global hypersonic missile tracking and robust tactical data networks. Based at SDA Headquarters in Chantilly, VA, you will join an empowered, high-performing team of professionals. Serving as a trusted technical advisor to SDA program leadership, you will provide vital engineering oversight across the development, deployment, integration, and testing of next-generation space segment hardware and payloads.

This position offers a sophisticated engineering professional the unique opportunity to directly influence multiple programs including the architecture of the nation's Golden Dome missile defense shield and drive the execution of a critical national security priority.

Role and Responsibilities

• Overseeing the design and integration of multiple space vehicles (SVs) and specialized payloads across Tranche 3, featuring high-sensitivity Wide/Medium Field-of-View (WFOV/MFOV) Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) detection sensors optimized for hypersonic and ballistic missile tracking.
• Providing technical expertise across dynamic routing network implementations, processing architectures, and payload capabilities, ensuring the seamless technical integration of Tranche 3's real-time, fire-control quality data directly into the larger DoD Joint All-Domain Command and Control enterprise.
• Providing systems engineering guidance in the development of rigorous test and evaluation plans, system verification matrices, and cross-constellation interoperability profiles, mapping system capabilities directly to Tranche 3 program milestones (e.g., PDR, CDR).
• Providing recommendations on systems integration and engineering baseline changes, while evaluating the technical maturity, manufacturing readiness levels, and supply chain risks of primary T3 space vehicle performers.
• Managing technical risk across the entire Tranche 3 architecture; spanning the Tracking Layer missile warning/defense payloads and the integrated Ground Segment Development elements and proactively recommending mitigation techniques.
• Assisting the Government team on potential solutions across a wide variety of multi-domain, tactical, and mission area applications, focusing on advanced warfighter data delivery, resilient Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing distribution, and the Golden Dome missile defense shield initiative.
• Developing Concept of Operations and operational plans at both the system and enterprise mission levels, specifically outlining autonomous on-orbit tasking, resilient network management, and cross-layer data routing.
• Recommending and coordinating development with related space acquisition and missile defense activities across other DoD and non-DoD agencies, including the U.S. Space Force, Missile Defense Agency, and the National Reconnaissance Office.
• Assisting with the analysis of hardware design, assembly, integration and testing, and the processing/data reduction of simulated and live EO/IR sensor streams, formulating strict technical evaluation criteria to prove compliance with SDA's stringent target tracking timelines.
• Providing lessons learned from past experience across previous programs to optimize the rapid-fielding and "spiral development" cadence unique to SDA procurement timelines.
• Driving project meetings and reviews to closure, to include Technical Interchange Meetings, design reviews, and Program Management Reviews, by coordinating Government and prime contractor objectives, establishing explicit entry/exit criteria, and resolving architectural dependencies.
• Assisting the Government in analyzing contractor concept designs at the system and subsystem levels, verifying payload compatibility with common spacecraft bus designs and open-architecture standards.
• Monitoring linkages and dependencies between space vehicle assembly, automated system test, ground system integration, and launch vehicle processing to coordinate rapid-turnaround technical and programmatic interactions between SDA, the Tranche 3 Program Integration contractor, hardware vendors, and operational military end-users.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in satellite systems engineering
• Experience in EO/IR sensor processing algorithms and sensor hardware
• Experienced in missile warning and…