Systems Engineer III (Remote Sensing Systems Architecture)

About the role

The Systems Engineer III (Remote Sensing Systems Architecture) role is part of the Blue National Security business unit, focusing on advanced space-based capabilities for national security missions. This team operates at the forefront of mission engineering and architecture, developing next-generation space systems that address critical challenges in the defense domain.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain system-level requirements for advanced space-based sensing systems, ensuring traceability from mission objectives through subsystem specifications.
• Conduct architecture trade studies to evaluate design alternatives, performance margins, and technical feasibility across competing system concepts.
• Author and review key systems engineering artifacts including Concepts of Operations (CONOPs), System Requirements Documents (SRDs), Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and Systems Engineering Management Plans (SEMPs).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including payload, spacecraft bus, ground systems, and mission operations to ensure end-to-end system coherence and performance closure.
• Support design review cycles and provide technical inputs to program milestones and decision gates.
• Perform RF system performance assessments, link budget analyses, and system-level sensitivity studies relevant to space-based sensing architectures.
• Engage with government customers and mission partners to understand operational needs and translate them into actionable system requirements and performance specifications.
• Support risk identification, mitigation planning, and technical performance measurement (TPM) tracking throughout the program lifecycle.
• Contribute to the development of program-level technical documentation, white papers, and briefings for internal and external stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in systems engineering within the aerospace, defense, or national security domain.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing system-level requirements using requirements management tools (e.g., DOORS, Jama, or equivalent).
• Familiarity with space-based RF sensing or surveillance system architectures.
• Experience with space environment effects on RF systems, including ionospheric propagation and thermal environment impacts on system performance.
• Experience with RF or sensing system performance analysis, including link budgets, system noise figure, and coverage/revisit analysis.
• Familiarity with systems engineering processes and standards (e.g., NASA/DoD SE frameworks, MIL-STD-499, or equivalent).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear technical documentation and present to varying audiences.
• Active TS//SCI security clearance.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with radar system performance modeling tools (e.g., MATLAB, STK, or custom simulation environments).
• Prior experience working within a Special Programs or classified program environment.
• Experience interfacing with DoD or Intelligence Community (IC) customers.

Skills

• Experience with space-based RF sensing or surveillance system architectures.
• Familiarity with Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) or Airborne Moving Target Indicator (AMTI) signal processing concepts and their implications on system design.
• Experience with RF or sensing system performance analysis, including link budgets, system noise figure, and coverage/revisit analysis.
• Familiarity with systems engineering processes and standards (e.g., NASA/DoD SE frameworks, MIL-STD-499, or equivalent).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear technical documentation and present to varying audiences.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance.
• Paid parental leave.
• Short and long-term disability.
• 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%.
• Education Support Program.
• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week).
• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.

Pay

• Base Pay Range For CA applicants is $121,023.00 - $169,432.20
• CO applicants is $110,938.00 - $155,312.85
• WA applicants is $121,023.00 - $169,432.20

Schedule

• This is an individual contributor role.
• Travel expectation: up to 10%.