Senior Technical Advisor, SSC Spaceflight Worthiness Certification Program, SYD 80.

About the role

Serves as the principal advisor to the Commander, Space Systems Command (SSC) for Spaceflight Worthiness independent assessment and reports directly to the Ops Integration Director under the Space Access PAE. The role requires skills in planning, organizing, and implementing systems engineering processes to assess the spaceflight worthiness of USSF missions, providing independent technical assessments of mission readiness that are not influenced by cost or schedule. It requires the ability to lead projects, plan and execute assignments independently, anticipate problems, develop technical direction, and create innovative solutions to complex technical issues.

Responsibilities

• Provide independent technical assessments of mission readiness to ensure spaceflight worthiness of the integrated stack (Space Vehicle and Launch Vehicle).
• Lead projects and execute assignments independently, anticipating problems and developing technical direction.
• Analyze, interpret, and solve highly complex problems, often developing new techniques and establishing precedents.
• Collaborate with various staff offices, System Deltas, Portfolio Acquisition Executives, external mission partners, and other USG agencies (NASA, NRO, etc.).
• Prepare formal reports, briefings, and negotiate complex matters with management and external partners.

Ideal Candidate Background

• Knowledge of a wide range of advanced multidisciplinary professional engineering concepts, principles, practices, standards, methods, and techniques to apply experimental theories and new developments.
• Expert knowledge of spacecraft capabilities and subsystems to determine independent technical readiness for missions.
• Ability to research, design, and conduct comprehensive spacecraft flight readiness assessments.
• Experience in acquiring and developing complex systems, ideally with a deep background in launching vehicles and/or space vehicles.
• Space Force space launch or other operations and/or Air Force or Space Force missile operations, requirements, and mission assurance experience is highly desirable.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in engineering with Professional Engineering Certification (Required).
• Master's degree in aerospace engineering or related field (Desired).

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of advanced multidisciplinary professional engineering concepts, principles, practices, standards, methods, and techniques to address problems not susceptible to accepted methods.
• Knowledge of the mission, roles, functions, organizational structure, and operation of the Department of Defense, Department of the Air Force, United States Space Force and related organizations that govern systems acquisition, development, and sustainment.
• Knowledge of planning, programming, and budgeting cycles, financial systems, and restrictions on expenditure of funds.
• Skill in evaluating state-of-the-art advancements in theory, application, technology, and policy affecting systems being developed.
• Ability to plan, organize, and direct the functions of a major command-wide program, mentor and motivate engineering and technical personnel, and analyze and adjust work operations to meet program requirements.
• Expert and authoritative knowledge of engineering/scientific principles, practices, and procedures related to national defense space and missile programs.
• Ability to perform scientific/engineering research and analyses to address unresolved matters or system changes in national defense space programs.
• Knowledge of government contracting operations to represent the government's technical interest in negotiations, plans, budgets, and scope of work.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret clearance with SCI.
• May need to obtain and maintain approval to access Special Access Programs; willing to submit to a Counterintelligence Polygraph if required.
• Professional engineering degree at the bachelor’s level from an ABET-accredited institution (or OPM-approved equivalent) is required.
• This is a Critical Acquisition Position (CAP).
• Must meet Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements, attaining Advanced Certification in Engineering/Technical Management (ETM) within the designated grace period.
• This is a designated drug testing position; subject to random testing.
• Employee must execute a written agreement to remain in federal service in this position for at least 3 years.
• Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM-prescribed “Unscheduled Telework.”
• May be required to work nights, weekends, and/or holidays; overtime may be required.
• Employee may be required to travel approximately 25 days per year by military or commercial aircraft for temporary duty assignments.
• Professional Engineering Certification required.