Lead GPS Ground Control Systems Engineer

The MITRE Corporation•Colorado Springs, CO

4d•$146,400 - $219,600•Onsite

About The Position

Why choose between doing meaningful work and having a fulfilling life? At MITRE, you can have both. That's because MITRE people are committed to tackling our nation's toughest challenges—and we're committed to the long-term well-being of our employees. MITRE is different from most technology companies. We are a not-for-profit corporation chartered to work for the public interest, with no commercial conflicts to influence what we do. The R&D centers we operate for the government create lasting impact in fields as diverse as cybersecurity, healthcare, aviation, defense, and enterprise transformation. We're making a difference every day—working for a safer, healthier, and more secure nation and world. Our workplace reflects our values. We offer competitive benefits, exceptional professional development opportunities for career growth, and a culture of innovation that embraces adaptability, collaboration, technical excellence, and people in partnership. If this sounds like the choice you want to make, then choose MITRE - and make a difference with us. MITRE’s N114 Resilient Warfighter Space Services Department is committed to ensuring resilient space capabilities that enable joint warfighting across all domains. By combining operational understanding, technical excellence, and cross-enterprise collaboration, our team conducts research, systems engineering, analysis, and prototyping to provide senior government leaders with data-driven insights that strengthen national security space capabilities. Our portfolio focuses on resilient Satellite Communications (SATCOM) and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT), advancing innovative solutions that enhance the effectiveness and resilience of joint warfighters across all domains. Roles & Responsibilities: N114 Department is seeking an experienced Lead GPS Ground Control Systems Engineer with a background in cloud and software engineering to serve as the primary sponsor engagement and technical lead to the Space Systems Command PNT program office as part of our Space Capabilities Division team. This role involves supporting the incremental modernization of mission-critical ground control capabilities through architecture review, prototyping, software development oversight, integration support, and direct technical engagement with engineering teams. The ideal candidate possesses a strong understanding of GPS operations and the broader enterprise, including GPS ground control station (Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP)), spacecraft command and control, telemetry, tracking and commanding (TT&C), cybersecurity, and operational readiness. As the primary interface and trusted advisor to the government, the selected candidate will evaluate the technical and operational implications of software and hardware upgrades to AEP and enterprise modernization initiatives. Additionally, you will also collaborate with multiple sponsors, project leaders, and a team of multidisciplinary engineers and SMEs. This position is located at the Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The candidate will collaborate closely with sponsors to evaluate modernization options and deliver technical products that will gradually improve GPS ground control capabilities. Responsibilities may include some or all of the following: Engage directly with government sponsors and mission stakeholders to understand operational needs, technical priorities, constraints, and modernization objectives. Provide systems and software engineering support for AEP modernization activities, such as requirements analysis, architecture assessment, prototype development, integration planning, and implementation support. Work directly on-site with government and contractor engineering teams to identify capability gaps, technical risks, integration challenges, and opportunities for incremental delivery. Review and assess current and proposed system architectures, with emphasis on software design, system decomposition, interfaces, integration, cloud architecture, cybersecurity, networking, and operational maintainability. Assess integration impacts across GPS control segment functions, external interfaces, test environments, cybersecurity constraints, operational workflows, and sustainment needs. Apply modern software engineering practices to solution development, including modular design, automated testing, configuration management, and secure development practices. Support containerization, orchestration, and deployment automation using technologies such as Docker, Kubernetes, and related platform tools where appropriate. Assess and improve CI/CD workflows, version control practices, infrastructure automation, and repeatable deployment patterns using tools such as Git, Azure DevOps, Jenkins, Terraform, and, where Azure is used, Bicep. Collaborate across MITRE, sponsor, and contractor teams to produce requirements artifacts, design products, integration notes, implementation guidance, and technical recommendations. Communicate engineering tradeoffs, risks, and recommendations clearly to both technical teams and mission stakeholders.

Requirements

Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 6 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD with 3 years’ experience or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
Demonstrated experience in systems engineering, software engineering, or integrated system/software development in mission, operational, enterprise, or other complex technical environments.
Software development experience in one or more modern programming languages, preferably Python, Java, C#, or JavaScript.
Experience in developing system architectures, software designs, interface definitions, or technical baselines.
Experience with cloud architecture or cloud engineering in one or more of Azure, AWS, GCP, or hybrid-cloud environments.
Experience using Git and modern software delivery practices, including code review, automated testing, CI/CD, and configuration management.
Ability to work on-site at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, CO and collaborate directly with government sponsor and contractor technical teams.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to facilitate technical discussions, produce clear engineering artifacts, and explain tradeoffs to technical and mission stakeholders.
Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
This position requires a minimum of 4 days a week on-site.

Nice To Haves

Active Secret clearance with the ability to obtain a TS/SCI.
Experience engaging with government sponsors to shape technical direction, define requirements, prioritize work, and develop actionable solution paths.
Experience supporting the GPS control segment, space command-and-control systems, positioning, navigation, and timing, satellite ground systems, military operations, or other mission-critical national security systems.
Experience assessing contractor technical approaches, reviewing architecture artifacts, supporting design reviews, or developing independent technical recommendations for government sponsors.
Experience modernizing legacy systems through incremental architecture improvements, software refactoring, integration strategies, cloud or hybrid-cloud assessment/adoption, DevSecOps, or platform engineering.
Experience with systems engineering activities such as requirements development, interface definition, trade studies, architecture evaluation, verification planning, or technical baseline management.
Experience with industry services such as Azure and related automation patterns and AWS or GCP services relevant to secure application hosting, data services, networking, observability, or platform operations.
Experience designing, integrating, or operating secure containerized or service-oriented architectures using Kubernetes or comparable orchestration/platform environments.
Familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks, security engineering practices, zero trust concepts, compliance-aligned engineering, or risk management for operational systems.

Responsibilities

Engage directly with government sponsors and mission stakeholders to understand operational needs, technical priorities, constraints, and modernization objectives.
Provide systems and software engineering support for AEP modernization activities, such as requirements analysis, architecture assessment, prototype development, integration planning, and implementation support.
Work directly on-site with government and contractor engineering teams to identify capability gaps, technical risks, integration challenges, and opportunities for incremental delivery.
Review and assess current and proposed system architectures, with emphasis on software design, system decomposition, interfaces, integration, cloud architecture, cybersecurity, networking, and operational maintainability.
Assess integration impacts across GPS control segment functions, external interfaces, test environments, cybersecurity constraints, operational workflows, and sustainment needs.
Apply modern software engineering practices to solution development, including modular design, automated testing, configuration management, and secure development practices.
Support containerization, orchestration, and deployment automation using technologies such as Docker, Kubernetes, and related platform tools where appropriate.
Assess and improve CI/CD workflows, version control practices, infrastructure automation, and repeatable deployment patterns using tools such as Git, Azure DevOps, Jenkins, Terraform, and, where Azure is used, Bicep.
Collaborate across MITRE, sponsor, and contractor teams to produce requirements artifacts, design products, integration notes, implementation guidance, and technical recommendations.
Communicate engineering tradeoffs, risks, and recommendations clearly to both technical teams and mission stakeholders.