Principal Space Systems Engineer - Space-based Nuclear Detonation Detection (R&D Engineer 4)

About the role

We are seeking an experienced professional with broad technical and management expertise to join our diverse and collaborative team in the role of Senior/Principal Space Systems Engineer. The PSSE is a recognized technical expert in the development, testing, and operation of spaceflight payloads, providing technical and programmatic reporting to internal and external stakeholders, and collaborating with industry partners.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to understand project scope and develop project requirements, systems engineering controls, and risk management strategies.
• Guide strategic technical planning and technical decision-making for large, complex space projects supporting national security objectives.
• Carefully coordinate system integration activities across internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead technical peer reviews, engineering review boards, and root cause analysis teams for anomaly resolution.
• Support the SNDD Program Manager and be a member of the SNDD program leadership team that plans, tracks, manages, and reports on the SNDD portfolio to the NNSA sponsor, the LANL Nuclear Nonproliferation and Security (NNS) program office, and LANL's Intelligence & Space Research (ISR) division, which executes the majority of SNDD work at Los Alamos.
• Provide systems engineering leadership, process oversight, and mentorship for the group's systems engineers.
• Represent ISR while presenting results to peers, customers, and management in formal and informal settings.
• Interact with and provide feedback to ISR systems engineers regarding processes, technical approaches, and career trajectory, or other peer interactions typical of a senior-level position.

Requirements

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Space Systems Technical Expertise and Experience: Demonstrated systems engineering leadership roles in major space system development efforts from concept development, requirements solicitation and flowdown, through delivery and operations.
• Teaming & Communication: Proven ability to work and interact effectively in a dynamic team environment; to build and lead cross-organization collaborations and teams; and to motivate colleagues through common goals and objectives.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to develop and present briefings that are clear and compelling.
• Leadership: Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary engineering teams, establishing strategic technical direction, and managing risks and requirements for large, complex, and/or high-risk projects throughout their full lifecycle.
• Problem-Solving: Track record of solving complex technical problems, applying industry best practices, establishing engineering processes and standards, and collaborating with internal and external experts.
• Proficiency in performing risk assessments and developing engineering solutions through analysis of complex technical data.
• Security: Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Security Clearance and an SCI clearance, which may require a polygraph test.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• A master's degree in engineering or related discipline (e.g., electrical, mechanical, aerospace engineering; or computer science/software) from an accredited institution and 12 years of related space systems engineering experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.
• Candidates with a bachelor's degree require 18 years of related space systems engineering experience.
• Candidates with a PhD require 10 years of related space systems engineering experience.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience leading systems engineering activities for projects across the risk spectrum, from long duration, high-reliability national security to lower TRL, experimental flight payload projects.
• Demonstrated record of successful partnerships with commercial space industry providers and technical partners.
• Experience working with Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) laboratories and plants including Pantex, Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and Kansas City National Security Campus/New Mexico Operations (KCNSC/NMO).
• Proficiency in modeling, simulation, and data analysis tools relevant to spaceflight system design, development, and performance.
• Academic or professional work experiences in areas such as engineering design, qualification, production, or related modeling/simulation projects.
• Graduate degree in engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
• Knowledge of DoD acquisition frameworks and processes.