Space Systems Engineer and Acquisition SME (Intelligence Center)

About MITRE

MITRE is a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization that works in the public interest. It leads federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies, collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high‑impact solutions that advance national health, security, and prosperity. The Influence and Integration Department advances the Intelligence Community’s enterprise priorities by translating policy intent into integrated, executable approaches across the IC.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical and analytical support to space and ground‑related acquisitions—including risk, schedule, and cost assessments—across the Intelligence Community.
• Apply Intelligence Community acquisition policy (ICD 801 series) and knowledge of the General Defense Intelligence Program (GDIP) and National Intelligence Program (NIP) funding.
• Develop and assess acquisition strategies, technical plans, and programmatic blueprints for GEOINT or SIGINT space‑based capabilities.
• Support major system acquisition milestones and guide programs through key schedule events.
• Translate mission needs into acquisition recommendations, implementation plans, and senior‑leader decision‑support materials.
• Coordinate enterprise‑wide perspectives throughout the acquisition cycle, assessing interoperability, data sharing, and integration implications of new space and sensor capabilities.
• Work with technical and program teams to convert strategy, policy, and mission intent into executable acquisition approaches.
• Provide deep analytic or systems‑engineering expertise in at least one area:
  • Mission architecture analysis (space, ground, transport, user segments)
  • Sensor system performance assessment (coverage, sensitivity, revisit, latency, data‑quality tradeoffs)
  • Requirements analysis, traceability, and technical baseline management
  • Knowledge of satellite payloads, remote‑sensing systems, ground processing, and mission‑operations concepts
  • Cross‑domain integration of space, airborne, terrestrial, and analytic capabilities
  • Support to source selection, capability evaluations, and independent technical assessments
  • Understanding of resilience, survivability, cybersecurity, and supply‑chain considerations for space systems
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor and primary point of contact for senior government sponsors, delivering clear, concise, and actionable deliverables.

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 8 years with a Master’s; or a PhD with 5 years; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Recognized technical expert in GEOINT or SIGINT applications enabled by space‑based systems and associated ground segments.
• Expert‑level knowledge of GEOINT or SIGINT systems, practices, and procedures within acquisition, systems engineering, and analytic disciplines.
• Proven ability to deliver clear, concise deliverables to senior Government decision makers on space system, sensor, and/or ground‑segment topics.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including development and delivery of well‑structured presentations to senior staff.
• Active Top Secret/SCI with Polygraph U.S. Government‑issued security clearance.
• U.S. citizenship (required for security clearance eligibility).
• On‑site work requirement of five days per week.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience supporting U.S. government intelligence and/or Department of War organizations in acquisition, systems engineering, or technical advisory roles.
• Experience with space and sensor‑related acquisitions, milestone reviews, and enterprise coordination activities.
• Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field.
• Hands‑on experience with space payloads, remote sensing, ground systems, and mission‑processing architectures.
• Familiarity with DoD and IC acquisition processes and systems‑engineering reviews.
• Experience integrating technical, operational, and acquisition perspectives into executable recommendations for senior leaders.

Pay

Salary range: $162,400 – $203,000 – $243,600 annually.

Schedule

Full‑time onsite position (5 days per week) at the designated MITRE location.