Cybersecurity Space Systems Engineer

Amentum•Houston, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Amentum is seeking a Cybersecurity Space Systems Engineer for the JETSII Contract supporting NASA. The role combines space systems engineering and cybersecurity to protect NASA mission systems, including spacecraft, onboard computers, communications links, and supporting ground systems. The engineer will help design and test cybersecurity features that enable missions to detect unusual behavior, isolate threats, and recover while operating in space, where real-time support from Earth may not be available. The position translates cybersecurity objectives into traditional space systems engineering deliverables and balances security measures against constrained spacecraft power, computing, and communications resources. The role may be considered at multiple levels, based on candidate experience, requirements, and business needs. Salary starts at $83,700, with final pay based on experience, skills, and qualifications.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a STEM field such as Aerospace, Space Systems, Computer, Software, or Electrical Engineering.
Typically, 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 (verification and validation through 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, including CPU limitations, thermal footprints, limited power budgets, and low-telemetry bandwidth.
Experience working across disciplines and explaining cyber risks to engineers and mission leaders who are not cybersecurity specialists.
Must be able to complete a U.S. government background investigation.
Proof of U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent residency may be required.

Nice To Haves

5–8 years of growing 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 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, communications links, and ground systems using space-focused 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 external software and code before it is compiled into flight software.
Develop lightweight tools to monitor telemetry, commands, and onboard systems for unexpected behavior.
Build automated safety responses that can isolate threats and protect essential spacecraft systems without real-time support from Earth.
Lead cross-functional teams during cybersecurity exercises or events, coordinating ground stations, network engineering teams, and flight operations to securely patch or override flight software.
Evaluate engineering designs, interface control documents, and flight software architectures for compliance with cyber-resiliency baselines.
Translate cybersecurity goals into space systems engineering deliverables.
Perform engineering trade studies balancing cybersecurity measures against limited spacecraft power, computing, and communications resources.
Perform other duties as assigned.