Ground & Payload Engineer, 53 SOPS

United States Space Force Forces • Colorado Springs, CO

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The United States Space Force (USSF) at Schriever SFB, Colorado Springs, CO is searching for a Ground & Payload Engineer to support 53 SOPS (NH-0855-03, GS 12/13 equivalent). This role involves advancing next-generation military space communications and applying RF expertise to mission-critical systems. The engineer will serve as a lead technical specialist guiding on-orbit and ground-segment test campaigns for satellite constellations and contributing to military standards evolution. Responsibilities include evaluating user terminals and modems, designing custom instrumentation, resolving RF anomalies, mentoring team members, and presenting findings to senior leaders. The ideal candidate has a multidisciplinary background in satellite RF link engineering, space and ground segment systems, and defense program leadership.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S Citizen.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret / SCI security clearance.
• Required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise.
• Professional engineering degree at the bachelor's level from an ABET accredited institution is required.
• Expert knowledge of the principles and practices involved in the variety of professional, technical, and specialty fields based on professional training in electronics engineering and extensive experience in research and development.
• Expert technical knowledge of advanced concepts, principles, and practices of electronics engineering that enables the incumbent to serve as an expert in satellite Radio Frequency (RF) and in the test and evaluation and research and development of evaluation programs for emerging constellations.
• Experience in testing and evaluation in electronics engineering to make recommendations which result in significant changes to important areas of the test and evaluation programs.
• Skill in applying advanced electronic engineering concepts, so as to be able to serve as an expert to resolve difficult/novel engineering problems and issues, and plan, design, monitor and evaluate complex engineering programs and projects.
• Ability to ensure the latest and most desirable developments in RF electronics and related engineering fields, technology, and threats are applied to support testing and training.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships and to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, and determine resource requirements; determine goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinate with other organizations; monitor progress, and evaluate outcomes.
• Ability to identify problems and use sound judgment and decisions to generate and evaluate alternatives and make recommendations.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in RF/Microwave Systems or Satellite Communications strongly preferred.
• Formalized technical training in satellite link budget analysis, RF instrumentation, and military standards compliance.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate advanced user terminals and modems for compliance and high-fidelity link modeling.
• Design custom instrumentation to evaluate spacecraft performance under operational loading.
• Resolve complex RF anomalies.
• Mentor team members.
• Present substantiated findings to senior defense acquisition leaders to clear new space capabilities for the field.
• Lead on-orbit and ground-segment test and evaluation campaigns.
• Conceive novel instrumentation solutions.
• Author rigorous, evidence-based technical reports supporting major defense acquisition programs.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior