Senior Systems Architect

Kratos provides leading-edge capabilities for communication with satellites, spacecraft, missiles and airborne platforms. From factory test to flight, from ground data networking to RF Links – commercial, intelligence, and defense users trust Kratos to solve their most difficult RF problems.

About the role

Kratos Space Federal is seeking an experienced, motivated candidate in Colorado Springs, CO, who will help lead Satellite Ground Systems Engineering activities on a critical government program. The candidate will lead critical aspects of the program under the guidance of the program’s Chief Engineer. As a leader, the candidate should display a sense of ownership, urgency, and drive to accomplish results. Excellent communications and interpersonal relationship skills are required, as the candidate will work closely with system developers, integration, test, ops, and support personnel.

Responsibilities

• Lead Satellite Ground Systems Engineering activities for a critical government program.
• Architect and design system-of-systems solutions, connecting space segment, ground segment, and user segment perspectives while working across multiple disciplines.
• Translate operational user needs into software application requirements and specifications, including user interface design, operator workflows, and CONOPS definition for ground system applications.
• Support the full engineering lifecycle, including conceptual design, preliminary design, detailed design, verification, and validation activities.
• Perform requirements analysis, decomposition, and traceability, guiding model-based approaches and working with systems modeling engineers.
• Support program management activities including cost/schedule tracking, risk management, and stakeholder coordination.
• Develop and deliver effective customer presentations (design reviews, technical reports, status briefings) at multiple levels of technical detail.
• Mentor and develop junior engineers.

Requirements

• 7+ years total experience in the Defense/Aerospace industry with strong knowledge of space systems.
• Satellite operations experience including on-shift crew operations, engineering support to operations, or Satellite Operations Center (SOC) functions performing or supporting satellite command and control.
• Experience with satellite mission payloads and mission user needs, with familiarity across multiple payload types such as protected communications, sensor systems, and/or imagery systems.
• Experience in systems engineering for large-scale, enterprise space systems, touching on at least two of the following areas: C2 Ground System, SV Bus Development, Payload Development, Mission Data Processing and User Ground Systems.
• Experience with requirements analysis, decomposition, and traceability, including guiding model-based approaches.
• Ability to obtain/maintain SECRET or higher clearance.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, including a sense of ownership, urgency, and drive to accomplish results in cross-functional team environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working closely with government customers, understanding their organizational cultures, operational constraints, and mission priorities.
• Experience participating in government systems acquisition and procurement processes.
• Familiarity with modern distributed compute architectures including cloud platforms (commercial and government), on-premises infrastructure, and containerized application environments.
• Experience with collaborative engineering tools and workflows including issue tracking systems (e.g., JIRA), documentation platforms (e.g., Confluence), and version control systems (e.g., Git, BitBucket).
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies, DevSecOps processes, and toolchains.
• Understanding of satellite RF communications principles including link budgets, ground station performance, and communication system trades affecting mission operations.
• Familiarity with satellite C2 software platforms (e.g., Epoch, similar ground system tools).

Pay

Competitive salary based on experience and education. Salary Range: $130,000-$165,000.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Coverage
• Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Savings Plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Paid Time-Off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Education Reimbursement