Deputy Chief Engineer.

About the Role

As the Deputy Chief Engineer for Mission Delta 8/8th Sustainment Squadron at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, you will serve as a Supervisory Electronics Engineer playing a pivotal role in delivering and sustaining joint warfighting satellite communication (SATCOM) capabilities. This critical leadership position involves guiding a diverse, multi-disciplined team of military, civilian, and contractor personnel to support SATCOM operations, oversee the transition of newly fielded MILSATCOM systems, and drive the modernization of vital ground and space assets.

You will function as the senior technical authority for assigned systems, evaluating design alternatives, managing technical baselines, and ensuring the Operational Safety, Suitability, and Effectiveness (OSS&E) program complies with all legal and regulatory requirements. Your duties will include converting strategic goals into actionable programs, formulating budgets, optimizing resource allocation, and representing the squadron in high-level technical forums with Program Executive Officer, Field Command, Department of War (DoW), and international partners to resolve complex requirements and priority conflicts.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior technical authority for assigned SATCOM systems, evaluating design alternatives and managing technical baselines.
• Ensure compliance with Operational Safety, Suitability, and Effectiveness (OSS&E) programs and all legal/regulatory requirements.
• Lead a multi-disciplined team of military, civilian, and contractor personnel in support of SATCOM operations.
• Oversee the transition of newly fielded MILSATCOM systems and modernization of ground/space assets.
• Convert strategic goals into actionable programs, formulate budgets, and optimize resource allocation.
• Represent the squadron in high-level technical forums to resolve complex requirements and priority conflicts.
• Evaluate new technology insertions for efficiency, cost reasonableness, and developmental risks.
• Manage extensive technical work performed by subordinates, ensuring adherence to engineering sciences and practices.
• Apply procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise (e.g., engineering, logistics).
• Inspire, motivate, and guide teams toward goal accomplishment, adapting leadership styles to diverse situations.
• Communicate effectively with technical accuracy, both orally and in writing, to higher management and contractors.
• Handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret clearance with SCI access.
• Position is designated for drug testing; incumbent subject to random urinalysis.
• Required to file an OGE-450, “Confidential Financial Disclosure Report,” within 30 days of assuming the position and annually thereafter.
• This is a CRITICAL APDP position; may require extended or irregular duty hours, recall, or participation in base exercises/contingencies/emergencies.
• Subject to Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY) approximately 20 days per year.
• Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM-prescribed "Unscheduled Telework."
• An engineering degree at the bachelor’s level from an ABET-accredited program in electronics engineering or a closely related field is highly desired.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in DoW Acquisition and Engineering.
• At least 8 years of direct domain expertise with space systems and/or communications electronics.
• Experience building, leading, and providing technical direction to teams at the program or multi-program level.
• Prior experience supervising subordinates and holding an APDP Engineering Practitioner-level certification.
• Thorough understanding of the DoW acquisition lifecycle and working knowledge of the PPBE process.
• Familiarity with safety, security, personnel management, and EEO regulations.
• Strong technical aptitude for evaluating new technology insertions for efficiency and risk.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with strict technical accuracy, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to inspire, mentor, and adapt leadership style to diverse situations while modeling integrity and trust.

Skills

• Knowledge of system engineering principles and electronics engineering sciences.
• Ability to apply procedures, requirements, and regulations related to specialized expertise (e.g., engineering, logistics).
• Proficiency in resource management, planning, programming, budgeting, and accounting processes.
• Leadership skills, including coaching, mentoring, and adapting to various situations.
• Knowledge of safety, security, personnel management, and EEO regulations.
• Ability to use computers and software programs to gather, analyze, and communicate program information.
• Ability to evaluate new technology for design efficiency, cost reasonableness, and developmental risks.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits designed to make your federal career rewarding. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.