Payload Integration Engineer

Join a mission-driven satellite program at the forefront of national defense innovation. Our team is developing cutting-edge technologies that directly support critical Department of War priorities, combining both proven and first-of-their-kind capabilities that have never been applied in space. Operating within a fast-paced acquisition environment, we benefit from streamlined authorities and direct access to senior Government decision-makers, enabling us to move quickly and execute aggressive schedules using the most innovative contracting strategies available.

About the Role

This position is for a Payload Integration Engineer in Chantilly, VA, supporting cutting-edge and innovative space programs. The Payload Integration Engineer provides embedded support within the government program office to guide the development, verification, and deployment of a critical space system. The selected candidate will provide engineering expertise to oversee payload integration activities (both technical and programmatic), track integration efforts, assess risk, and lead and support impact studies and trades.

Responsibilities

• Support the System Program Office (SPO) in a technical capacity for acquisition planning, design, and integration of payloads associated with space systems.
• Provide programmatic and technical support on payload trades and integration activities to support the fielding of a space system.
• Support payload interface compatibility analyses.
• Perform system analysis and interface definition and management/execution.
• Participate in studies and system trades for enhanced capabilities.
• Participate in payload integration risk reduction planning and test execution.
• Develop plans to on-ramp new mission capabilities.
• Assist in the development of Interface Control Documents (ICDs); defining the technical, electrical, and mechanical boundaries between satellites and launch vehicles.
• Support verification, validation, and test planning.
• Provide technical and programmatic assessments of contractor designs at major milestone reviews to assess progress, risks and issues, and the ability to achieve mission requirements.
• Provide technical support to Government customer activities and programmatic processes.
• Develop documents and briefings to communicate work or study status and brief Government and industry as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and fourteen (14) years or more of experience; Master’s degree and twelve (12) years or more of experience.
• System integration and test experience with space systems.
• Knowledge and application of Systems Engineering processes and functions.
• Prior experience with satellite systems design, requirements, development, integration, and test.
• Experience with the Intelligence Community or the Department of Defense Satellite Program Office best practices.
• Proven experience with satellite system requirement development, design, manufacturing, and test.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, team-building, and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to be effective in a government/contractor team environment.
• 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.
• Active TS/SCI clearance required.
• Previous SAP experience desired.

Pay

Target salary range $160,001 - $200,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.

Candidates experienced as USAF/USSF acquisition officers (AFSC 63A) or developmental engineers (AFSC 62E) leading satellite programs in the USSF (SSC), NRO, or SDA, applying the full range of the systems engineering discipline (e.g., Requirements Development, Architecture, SE milestones SRR, PDR, CDR, etc.), and/or DAWIA/PMI Program Management will be especially well-prepared to excel.