Deep Space Comms, Tracking & Cislunar SDA Analyst

About the role

SSI is seeking a Deep Space Comms, Tracking & Cislunar SDA Analyst to join our team in Chantilly, VA. This role will advise government leadership on Space Domain Awareness (SDA), deep space tracking, radio frequency (RF)/optical communication architectures, and ground network integration. The ideal candidate will provide critical technical oversight and advisory support for advanced national security space missions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain an in-depth understanding of system-level requirements for assigned systems and the design features that satisfy these requirements
• Support full lifecycle engineering reviews to demonstrate the design meets all specifications and customer requirements
• Review Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) deliverables to ensure content, technical accuracy, and sufficiency of design details to meet program requirements and objectives
• Participate in technical interchange meetings between developers and contractors
• Evaluate vendor proposals and review technical reports, design artifacts, and program plans
• Serve as a system engineering liaison to other divisions in the SPO
• Conduct trade studies to define and refine requirements for future satellite capabilities
• Support acquisition documentation development (CDRLs, SOWs, MPPs, etc) related to ground systems
• Support readiness reviews and major program reviews to evaluate ground system readiness
• Resolve highly complex and multi-dimensional problems requiring consideration of variables that impact multiple aspects of the project/program
• Develop documents and briefings to communicate work or study status and brief Government and industry as required
• Provide technical insight for EO/RF sensor designs
• Evaluate contractor system architectures
• Assess the utility and integration of commercial SDA data sources
• Support the transition of next-generation cislunar capabilities into operational enterprise frameworks

Required qualifications

• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with the ability to obtain a Polygraph
• Bachelor's and fourteen (14) years or more experience, or Master's and twelve (12) years or more experience

Technical & capability requirements

• Cislunar Space Domain Awareness (SDA): Technical knowledge of detecting, tracking, and maintaining custody of dim targets in non-traditional observation geometries, high luminance backgrounds, and lunar exclusion zones
• Orbit Determination (OD): Evaluation of vendor tracking capabilities using non-cued optical, RF, ranging, and Doppler measurements in deep space
• Communications & Link Budgets: Technical review of long-range X-band, Ka-band, and deep-space optical/laser communication systems and link budgets across 400,000+ km baseline distances
• Protocol & Ground Integration: Familiarity with Delay-Tolerant Networking (DTN), Unified Data Library (UDL) data ingest, and ground network scheduling (e.g., NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) or commercial lunar data networks)
• SETA Oversight Duties: Evaluates vendor RF/Optical payload performance specifications, sensor integration trades, and ground infrastructure readiness
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, team building, and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to be effective in a government/contractor team environment
• Experience providing systems engineering support and technical guidance in the acquisition, development, and deployment of satellite ground systems
• Ability to work in a very dynamic environment and effectively interact with numerous DOD, military/civilian personnel and industry partners
• Ability to facilitate technical discussions with SMEs
• Ability to communicate with a diverse audience of senior decision makers with varying levels of programmatic and technical expertise
• Effective communication, coordination, and customer engagement skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic, and team environment with no supervision
• Previous SAP experience

Pay

Target salary range: $180,000 - $240,000.

Benefits

• Medical/dental/vision benefits
• 401k contribution

Travel is 10%.