Dream Chaser Flight Controller; Systems Engineer II

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.

Sierra Space is seeking a candidate with a background in systems thinking and spaceflight operations to join the Flight Operations – Spacecraft Systems team. As a member of this team you will be working towards being a certified flight controller. You'll be responsible for mission planning, training, and execution of Dream Chaser mission operations from our Louisville, CO mission control center.

In this role, you will be responsible for integrating operational concepts and plans with design inputs, developing operations processes and products (including procedures, flight rules, timelines, telemetry displays, and more), developing training products (including lessons, reference materials, simulation scripts, and more), and real-time mission support in our Louisville, CO mission control center. Your work will ensure the success of the Dream Chaser mission.

The ideal candidate will have experience with various phases of mission planning, training, and operations, as well as the ability to work closely with spacecraft designers to translate the design into operations products. The candidate must also be able to maintain a positive attitude in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, be energized by difficult challenges, and take initiative to organize work and get things done.

Preferred areas of operational specialization could include: communication systems and mechanical systems. Candidates with prior experience in any of these topic areas are encouraged to apply.

Occasional support of other Sierra Space programs may be required at times, given the skill set of the candidate.

Occasional travel may be required.

• Requires Bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree).
• Typically 2+ years of related experience.
• Ability to drive multidisciplinary system development initiatives, architect comprehensive systems integrating multiple sub-systems.
• Advanced expertise in Systems Engineering principles and practices, including a comprehensive understanding of the systems development lifecycle.
• Robust experience across multiple system development life cycles, including requirements management, 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 expert engineers to drive systems engineering products.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a Security Clearance may be required in the future.

• Prior experience with real-time spaceflight operations
• Prior experience with mission planning (Con Ops, procedures, flight rules, etc.)
• Prior experience working 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, such as DOORS, CAMEO EA, Rhapsody, Matlab, and SysML.
• Robust understanding of spacecraft systems, including hardware and software subsystems and components.
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies including 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 a fast-paced and dynamic work environment.
• 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
• Experience with mission planning, including Concept of Operations (Con Ops), procedures development, and flight rules
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Security Clearance (may be required in future)

Pay Range:

$94,090.00 - $

Your actual base compensation will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge and skills,…