Cybersecurity Space Systems Engineer

Amentum•Houston, TX

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Amentum is hiring a Cybersecurity Space Systems Engineer for the JETSII Contract, supporting NASA’s deep-space exploration work. This role combines space systems engineering and cybersecurity, protecting mission systems that include spacecraft, onboard computers, communications links, and supporting ground systems. The engineer will help make NASA missions safe, reliable, and resilient against deliberate cyber threats, including by developing systems that can detect unusual behavior, isolate issues, and recover while operating in space. The position translates cybersecurity goals into space systems engineering deliverables and balances security measures with the power, computing, and communications limitations of spacecraft. The role may be considered at multiple levels depending on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and business needs. A U.S. government background investigation is required, and the candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance. Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency may be required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or STEM field, such as Aerospace, Space Systems, Computer, Software, or Electrical Engineering.
Typically requires 2–5 years of experience in the field or a related area.
Experience participating in or reviewing major design milestones, such as SRR, PDR, or CDR.
Understanding of the systems engineering lifecycle, including writing verifiable requirements, managing verification matrices using test, analysis, inspection, and demonstration, and configuration management.
Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance.
Experience balancing cybersecurity needs against spacecraft constraints, such as CPU limitations, thermal footprints, limited power budgets, and low telemetry bandwidth.
Experience working across disciplines and communicating cyber risks to engineers and mission leaders who may not specialize in cybersecurity.
Ability to work outside the normal schedule and adjust schedules to meet peak periods and surge requirements.
Regular attendance in accordance with the established work schedule.

Nice To Haves

5–8 years of progressively responsible experience in space systems engineering.
Master’s degree in Space Systems Engineering, with work focused on cybersecurity, embedded systems security, or autonomous system resiliency.
Strong understanding of real-time operating systems such as VxWorks, RTEMS, or NASA Core Flight System, and lower-level spacecraft software programming in C/C++.
Experience applying defensive cybersecurity concepts directly to aerospace systems.
Experience with intrusion detection systems (IDS), SIEM, packet-capture analytics, and telemetry log analysis adapted for resource-constrained environments.
Knowledge of protecting onboard artificial intelligence.

Responsibilities

Conduct threat modeling across spacecraft, communication links, and ground systems using space-focused security tools and methods, such as SPARTA.
Design secure communications among spacecraft internal systems, including a cryptographic key management framework that does not impede critical operations.
Review third-party software and code before compilation into flight software to help ensure harmful content is not introduced.
Develop lightweight monitoring tools to identify unexpected behavior in telemetry, commands, or onboard systems.
Build automated safety responses that allow spacecraft to isolate threats and protect essential systems without real-time support from Earth.
Lead cross-functional teams during cybersecurity exercises or incidents, coordinating actions among ground stations, network engineering teams, and flight operations to patch or override flight software securely.
Evaluate engineering designs, interface control documents, and flight software architectures for compliance with cyber-resiliency baselines.
Translate cybersecurity goals into traditional space systems engineering deliverables.
Perform engineering trade studies that balance cybersecurity measures, such as cryptographic overhead and zero-trust auditing, against limited spacecraft power, computing, and communications resources.
Perform other duties as assigned.