Dream Chaser Flight Controller; Systems Engineer II

At Sierra Space, we build the missions and systems that keep the United States and its allies mission‑ready throughout space. We are mission‑driven and work together to safeguard our nation, sustain human presence in space, and secure freedom of operations in low Earth orbit and beyond.

We are seeking a candidate with systems thinking and spaceflight operations background to join the Flight Operations – Spacecraft Systems team. The role focuses on mission planning, training, and execution of Dream Chaser mission operations from our Louisville, CO mission control center, with the goal of becoming a certified flight controller.

Your passion for advancing space‑based technology and protecting national security will be the foundation of your contribution. You must be able to innovate beyond boundaries, pursue solutions relentlessly, and maintain a positive attitude in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment.

The ideal candidate will experience various phases of mission planning, training, and operations, and will work closely with spacecraft designers to translate design into operations products. Your work will support real‑time mission operations and ensure the success of the Dream Chaser mission.

• Integrate operational concepts and plans with design inputs
• Develop operations processes and products (procedures, flight rules, timelines, telemetry displays, etc.)
• Produce training materials (lessons, reference materials, simulation scripts, etc.)
• Provide real‑time mission support at our Louisville, CO mission control center
• Maintain a positive attitude in high‑pressure situations

• Requires Bachelor’s degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience)
• Typically 2+ years of related experience
• Ability to drive multidisciplinary system development initiatives and design comprehensive systems integrating multiple subsystems
• Advanced expertise in Systems Engineering principles and practices, including the systems development lifecycle
• Robust experience across multiple system development life cycles, including requirements management and functional requirements parsing, derivation, and allocation
• Expertise in developing systems architecture and performing systems integration, verification, and validation (V&V) activities
• Ability to contribute to corporate Systems Engineering policy and process definition and implementation
• Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with technical and specialty subject matter experts to drive systems engineering products
• Possibility to obtain and maintain a Security Clearance in the future

• Prior experience with real‑time spaceflight operations
• Prior experience in mission planning (Con Ops, procedures, flight rules, etc.)
• Prior experience in multi‑disciplinary teams
• Master’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related field
• Extensive experience with Requirements Management and Model Based Systems Engineering tools and frameworks (e.g., DOORS, CAMEO EA, Rhapsody, Matlab, SysML)
• Robust understanding of spacecraft systems, including hardware and software subsystems and components
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies, risk management, and technical performance tracking
• Robust understanding of technical baseline and configuration management
• Proven experience in leading major projects and mentoring junior and mid‑level engineers
• Experience or certification in INCOSE standards
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and attention to detail
• Ability to adapt to fast‑paced, dynamic work environments
• Experience with spacecraft avionics systems, telemetry systems, and MIL‑STD‑1553 data bus protocol
• Proficiency in Python or similar scripting languages and familiarity with software configuration management tools
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Security Clearance (potential future requirement)

Communication systems and mechanical systems. Candidates with prior experience in these topic areas are encouraged to apply.

Occasional support of other Sierra Space programs may be required based on your skill set. Occasional travel may be required.