DARPA Space Mission & Propulsion SME

Amentum•Arlington, VA

6d•$175,000 - $195,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Amentum is seeking a highly experienced Space Mission and Propulsion Subject Matter Expert to support DARPA in the formulation, technical assessment, execution, and transition of advanced space technology programs. The ideal candidate will bring broad technical experience across spacecraft systems engineering, mission design, orbital mechanics, and spacecraft propulsion, with the ability to evaluate technologies and architectures at both the subsystem and mission-system level. This role is not limited to propulsion hardware development. The successful candidate should understand how propulsion system design, spacecraft architecture, orbital dynamics, mission objectives, operational concepts, and system constraints interact to determine overall mission capability. Experience with CubeSat and SmallSat systems is highly desirable, particularly where it demonstrates hands-on understanding of tightly constrained spacecraft architectures, propulsion integration, rapid development, or mission execution.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or related technical discipline with 7+ years of relevant spacecraft, propulsion, mission engineering, or related technical experience.
Demonstrated expertise in one or more areas of spacecraft propulsion, including chemical, electric, nuclear, electrothermal, or other advanced propulsion technologies, combined with substantial experience in broader spacecraft or space-mission engineering.
Strong understanding of spacecraft systems engineering and the interactions among propulsion, structures, thermal management, power, avionics, communications, guidance/navigation/control, and mission operations.
Experience performing or evaluating multidisciplinary spacecraft and mission-level trade studies involving propulsion performance, spacecraft mass and volume, power availability, propellant loading, maneuver requirements, mission lifetime, and operational constraints.
Working knowledge of orbital mechanics, astrodynamics, and space mission design, including the ability to assess how trajectory, orbit selection, maneuver requirements, and mission timelines influence spacecraft and propulsion-system requirements.
Ability to translate mission objectives and operational concepts into spacecraft-level and subsystem-level technical requirements.
Experience independently evaluating spacecraft concepts, architectures, technologies, and development approaches for technical feasibility, performance, risk, maturity, and mission utility.
Experience working across technical disciplines and integrating inputs from propulsion engineers, spacecraft systems engineers, mission designers, operators, experimentalists, and other technical stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to operate at multiple levels of technical abstraction, from detailed subsystem considerations through spacecraft architecture and overall mission design.
Active U.S. Government TS/SCI clearance required. U.S. citizenship required to maintain clearance.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering, Physics, or related technical discipline.
Experience with CubeSat, SmallSat, or other highly constrained spacecraft architectures, including design, integration, test, production, launch integration, or flight operations.
Experience integrating propulsion systems into spacecraft where mass, volume, power, thermal, and operational constraints drive significant system-level design trades.
Experience with mission design, trajectory analysis, orbit transfer, station keeping, rendezvous and proximity operations, constellation deployment, or other maneuver-intensive space missions.
Experience supporting spacecraft or space technology programs across multiple lifecycle phases, including concept formulation, preliminary and critical design, development, integration, test, launch, and on-orbit operations.
Experience with advanced or emerging space technologies where traditional spacecraft design approaches may not be sufficient and new architectures, mission concepts, or technology combinations must be developed.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary technical advisor supporting DARPA Program Managers, leadership, performers, IPTs, and external R&D stakeholders across Government, industry, and academia.
Provide technical leadership and subject matter expertise in advanced spacecraft propulsion systems.
Conduct independent assessments of emerging technologies, architectures, and system designs, including trade studies and technical risk evaluations.
Support the formulation, maturation, and execution of advanced research and development program concepts.
Support test and experiment planning, execution, and analysis in coordination with technical teams and stakeholders.
Translate operational needs and mission objectives into actionable research and technology development efforts.
Lead and support technical interchange meetings, design reviews, program briefings, and technical documentation.
Provide programmatic and acquisition support across complex, high-tempo R&D efforts.
Contribute to a culture of technical rigor, innovation, and mission execution excellence.