Chief Engineer

About the role

Sphinx builds software to solve complex national security problems in Space. Founded by engineers and technologists with deep experience across commercial and defense technology, we are dedicated to improving the technology America's service members rely on.

Responsibilities

• Serving as the technical authority for a space-ground program, providing guidance on architecture, engineering decisions, technical baselines, and risk posture.
• Leading the development and evolution of system and ground segment architectures that support mission performance, scalability, resiliency, and long-term sustainment.
• Partnering with customers, program leadership, engineering team, and embedded subcontractor personnel to translate mission needs into practical technical solutions and drive cohesive technical execution across the program.
• Defining and maintaining technical roadmaps, system architectures, interface strategies, and engineering standards across the program and networks.
• Leading the design and implementation of mission planning, resource optimization, and system architecture solutions that maximize space payload effectiveness, mission performance, and operational efficiency.
• Driving cross-functional collaboration between software, systems engineering, cybersecurity, integration & test, and operations teams.
• Authoring, managing, and maintaining Space-to-Ground Interface Control Documents (ICDs), ensuring compatibility between space vehicle payloads, telemetry formats, command and control interfaces and ground segment systems.
• Supporting interface definition and integration activities across external partners and mission stakeholders.
• Managing technical risks, dependencies, and constraints throughout execution.
• Collaborating with cybersecurity teams to support RMF activities and ATO objectives.
• Supporting proposal efforts, customer engagements, and technical growth initiatives.
• Mentoring and technical leadership to engineers across the organization.

Requirements

• 12+ years of experience designing, developing, integrating, testing, or operating complex space, ground, SATCOM, or mission-critical systems.
• 8+ years of experience with SATCOM systems, including command and control (C2), mission planning, mission management, or related mission operations capabilities.
• Significant engineering experience in software engineering, software-intensive space-ground systems engineering, or related mission-critical space and defense programs.
• Experience applying Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) concepts, methodologies, and tools to system design, architecture development, and requirements management.
• Experience with modern software architectures, containerized applications, and software-intensive systems that support scalable, resilient, and mission-critical operations.
• 8+ years of experience supporting commercial, government, or national security space and ground systems.
• 5+ years of experience with cloud-based architectures, Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) environments, or open architecture standards.
• 5+ years of experience leading technical teams, engineering organizations, or multidisciplinary project teams.
• Experience supporting and executing major program milestone reviews such as SRR, PDR, CDR, FCA, or equivalent systems engineering reviews.
• Experience establishing and leading Engineering Review Boards (ERBs), Technical Review Boards (TRBs), and other engineering governance processes, including defining entry and exit criteria for major program milestones such as SRR, PDR, and related technical reviews.
• A strong understanding of systems engineering principles, lifecycle processes, requirements management, and digital engineering practices.
• Experience working directly with customers and stakeholders to define, clarify, and manage technical requirements.
• Strong communication and leadership skills with the ability to influence teams across organizational boundaries.
• Comfortable balancing technical leadership, team development, and program execution responsibilities.
• Experience presenting technical information to senior leadership, customers, and program stakeholders.
• Active Secret clearance and eligibility to obtain and maintain TS/SCI access.

Qualifications

• Must be a US Citizen.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. TS/SCI security clearance.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Meaningful equity ownership
• Profit sharing
• Employer 401(k) contribution
• 100% employer covered medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents.

Location

This role can be based out of Colorado Springs, CO, El Segundo, CA, Chantilly, VA or Seal Beach, CA. This position requires approximately 30% travel, depending on program needs and where the selected candidate resides.

Compensation

This role is between $225,000 and $290,000 base salary.

EEO Statement

Sphinx Defense is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Clearance Eligibility

This position requires eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. For more information about U.S. Security Clearances: click here.