Lead Space System Engineer

STR • Melbourne, FL

22h • $174,000 - $225,000

About The Position

STR’s Sensors Division develops solutions in radar, space-based sensing, electronic warfare, and underwater acoustics. Within the Space Missions and Sensing Sector, the team advances space sensing, space control, and counter-sensing technologies for national security missions. The Lead Space System Engineer will apply systems engineering expertise in a research and development environment to help develop a space-based sensing system platform.

The role will architect the system and define constellation requirements, including command and control, intersatellite communications, ground processing, spectrum allocation, and satellite sensor modes. The engineer will lead decisions about partitioning functionality between space and ground segments while balancing mission performance with constraints such as size, weight, power, and cost (SWAP-C) and security. Working with program leadership and external partners, the engineer will establish and execute program objectives, requirements, and development plans; assess current and future system capabilities; and provide technical insights for business development initiatives. The position also includes opportunities to mentor junior staff and contribute to the technical growth of the team.

Requirements

• Active Top Secret (TS) security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required.
• Bachelor’s degree with 7+ years of experience, or master’s degree with 5+ years of experience, in Computer Science, Physics, Computer Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Proven track record in a systems engineering role.
• Deep technical expertise in at least one of: space-based RF/RADAR processing, including signal processing, spectrum allocation, or electronic warfare; or space-based optical sensing and processing, including focal plane arrays, optical trains, or image processing.
• Proven experience with satellite flight software architectures, including real-time software development and hardware-software interface definition.
• Multidisciplinary knowledge of mission modeling, systems design, hardware/firmware integration, and testing.
• Ability to direct development team activities and manage technical deliverables.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to translate complex technical requirements into actionable plans.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience working on SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information) or SAP (Special Access Programs).
• Experience designing, integrating, and testing optical communications hardware.
• Experience providing technical contributions to business development and proposal efforts.
• Experience with field test planning and execution.

Responsibilities

• Lead systems engineering and requirements development and management for a team building a space-based sensing platform.
• Architect the system and drive detailed analysis to derive command and control, data transport, and processing requirements.
• Collaborate with team leads and subcontractors on the technology roadmap for testing and integrating complex subsystems.
• Define mission partitioning between the system under development and other government systems, and author the Interface Control Documents (ICDs) governing those interactions.
• Guide, coach, and mentor junior staff.
• Collaborate with program leadership and external partners to establish and execute program objectives, requirements, and the development plan.
• Assess current and future system capabilities and provide technical development insights for business development initiatives.

What This Job Offers

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