Distinguished Space Systems Engineer

Draper•Cambridge, MA

7d•$100,000 - $275,000

About The Position

Draper is seeking a Space Systems Engineer for its Space and Mission Critical Systems group. The role works within multidisciplinary teams to design, develop, test, and support systems for crewed spaceflight and lunar activities. Work may span customer-needs identification, use-case development, requirements analysis and flow-down, system concepts and architectures, alternatives analysis, system and mission design, interface definition and control, integration and verification planning, systems-engineering documentation, model and simulation development, performance assessment, analysis documentation, and presentations to internal and external stakeholders. The successful candidate is expected to independently address complex multidisciplinary problems, understand customer strategic priorities, help customers shape needs and requirements, and lead large teams toward program goals. The role contributes systems-engineering expertise and state-of-the-art solutions, supports capability development and business growth, manages cross-program risks and mitigation, improves enterprise operations, and mentors others. The job requires a current active Top Secret clearance; SCI eligibility is highly desirable. The position is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The US base salary range is $100,000–$275,000.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, mathematics, or a related field.
10–15+ years of experience as a systems engineer or in a related role.
Current active Top Secret clearance.
At least two of the following: requirements management, including decomposition of mission requirements to subsystem level and lifecycle traceability; spacecraft-subsystem analysis, such as propellant budgeting, on-orbit fuel needs, RF link budgets, mission-life estimates, and day-in-the-life assessments; MBSE using MagicDraw/Cameo or CONOPs development; ICD drafting, review, management, and interface-baseline maintenance; analysis-tool and script development using Python, MATLAB, STK, STOL, or similar.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including development and delivery of technical presentations.
Demonstrated experience fostering a culture of inclusion in the workplace.
Highly organized, with the ability to approach problems from a system-level perspective.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Practical experience with simulation-based performance analysis and the systems-engineering process.
Depending on role needs, proficiency may be required in modeling and simulation, computer-language coding, descriptive modeling such as SysML, STPA, and/or other engineering analysis tools.
Knowledge of technologies such as GN&C, avionics architectures, fault tolerance, cybersecurity, communications/encryption, or threat modeling may be required as defined by the role summary.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or higher.
SCI eligibility.
Experience or skills in modeling and simulation, computer-language coding, descriptive modeling such as SysML, STPA, and/or other engineering analysis tools, depending on role needs.
Knowledge of GN&C, avionics architectures, fault tolerance, cybersecurity, communications/encryption, or threat modeling, depending on role needs.

Responsibilities

Independently drive solutions to complex multidisciplinary problems while understanding customers’ strategic priorities.
Help customers shape needs and develop requirements for programs addressing challenging technical problems.
Lead multidisciplinary teams of more than 10 people, align them with program goals, and build team trust.
Contribute systems-engineering subject-matter expertise and advance state-of-the-art solutions and techniques.
Analyze Draper strategy and work with management to build capabilities in key areas and sustain business growth.
Identify risks common across programs or technology areas and develop and execute mitigation strategies.
Identify opportunities to improve enterprise operations and collaborate to implement organizational change.
Mentor colleagues, build depth in areas of expertise, and provide thoughtful, constructive feedback.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Support systems engineering for crewed spaceflight and lunar systems, including requirements, architectures, mission design, interfaces, integration, verification, modeling, simulation, analysis, and technical presentations.
Author, contribute to, and review program data products, design reference missions, and mission-level models.
Develop and deliver technical presentations for program milestones, readiness reviews, and senior-level briefings.