Ground Systems IPT Lead

sesengin•Reston, VA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

In this role, you will serve as the Ground Segment IPT Lead and technical authority responsible for the design, integration, and delivery of ground segment capabilities supporting hosted payload and satellite missions within the PTS-G program. You will work directly with customers, mission stakeholders, spacecraft providers, and engineering teams to translate mission requirements into operational ground architectures spanning command and control, TT&C, mission operations, networking, cybersecurity, payload operations, and user-facing systems. Acting as both the lead systems architect and IPT lead for the ground segment, you will drive technical trade studies, requirements development, interface definition, integration planning, and operational readiness activities throughout the full mission lifecycle. This role requires deep technical expertise, systems-level thinking, and the ability to lead a matrixed team of engineers, subcontractors, and mission partners to deliver mission-ready ground solutions aligned to customer objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline with 12+ years of experience, or Master's degree with 10+ years of experience supporting government, aerospace, defense, or space programs
Experience designing, developing, integrating, or operating satellite ground systems supporting mission-critical space programs
Demonstrated experience serving as a Ground Segment Lead, Ground Systems Architect, Mission Systems Engineer, IPT Lead, Chief Engineer, or equivalent technical leadership role
Strong understanding of satellite command and control systems, TT&C architectures, mission operations centers, networking, cybersecurity, and payload operations
Experience developing system architectures, requirements, interface definitions, verification strategies, and operational concepts for complex mission systems
Familiarity with Systems Engineering and MBSE methodologies, including requirements management and interface control
Experience leading technical trade studies, integration planning, verification and validation activities, and operational readiness efforts
Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams and coordinate execution across customers, subcontractors, mission partners, and internal stakeholders
U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance; active TS/SCI preferred

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting spacecraft integration, launch preparation, commissioning, and mission operations preferred

Responsibilities

Lead ground segment architecture development and subsystem design activities supporting customer mission requirements
Define mission operations concepts, command and control architectures, TT&C strategies, networking architectures, cybersecurity approaches, and payload operations concepts
Translate customer requirements into system requirements, interface definitions, architectures, verification plans, and executable engineering roadmaps
Lead technical trade studies and design decisions across hardware, software, networking, cloud, automation, and operational infrastructure
Serve as the primary integration authority across spacecraft, payload, mission operations, networking, cybersecurity, and user systems
Accountable for technical, cost, schedule, and risk execution of the Ground Segment IPT
Lead development of systems engineering artifacts including CONOPS, architectures, ICDs, mission analyses, verification strategies, and readiness plans
Oversee integration, verification, validation, mission rehearsals, operational testing, and readiness activities through launch and on-orbit operations
Coordinate execution across engineering teams, subcontractors, mission partners, and government stakeholders to resolve technical and programmatic challenges
Serve as the primary customer interface for Ground Segment execution activities, supporting reviews, technical interchange meetings, and major program milestones