Space Segment Lead (Clearance Required)

Sierra Space•Centennial, CO

1d•$173,748 - $238,904

About The Position

As a Space Segment Lead, your key tasks in this role will be: Program Execution: Own the end-to-end delivery of the spacecraft from kick-off to final handover, ensuring compliance with mission specifications, technical baselines, and cost constraints. Develop and maintain space segment schedule, budget, and resource plans. Space Segment Requirements/Verifications: Define, flow down, and trace the space segment technical requirements from mission-level objectives with support of Systems engineering; author the comprehensive Verification and Validation (V&V) matrix to systematically prove spacecraft compliance through analysis, inspection, demonstration, and environmental qualification testing Subsystem and Payload Integration: Manage critical interfaces between the satellite bus and the payload, driving resolution of technical conflicts across hardware and software teams. AI&T Oversight: Supporting Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AI&T) flows, guiding environmental ground testing (vibration, thermal vacuum) and launch campaign preparations. Supplier Management: Direct the acquisition and management of major bus contractors, payload providers, and subsystem suppliers, including statements of work (SOWs) and acceptance reviews. Risk Management: Track technical performance metrics, define risk mitigation strategies, and manage the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) to prevent schedule slips. Customer Interface: Serve as the primary technical point of contact for stakeholders, communicating design status and handling programmatic deliverables.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree or Masters +13 yrs experience).
Typically 15+ years of related experience (or Masters + 13 years of experience).
Ability to drive multidisciplinary system development initiatives, architect comprehensive systems integrating multiple sub-systems.
Advanced expertise in Systems Engineering principles and practices, including a comprehensive understanding of the systems development lifecycle.
Robust experience across multiple system development life cycles, including requirements management, functional requirements parsing, derivation, and allocation.
Expertise in developing systems architecture and performing systems integration, verification, and validation (V&V) activities.
Ability to contribute to corporate Systems Engineering policy and process definition and implementation.
Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with technical and specialty subject matter expert engineers to drive systems engineering products.
An active Secret or above U.S. Security Clearance is required.
U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment.

Nice To Haves

Solid understanding of spacecraft subsystems (CDH, Comm, EPS,GNC, Prop, SMS, TCS)
Demonstrated experience establishing and managing Space Segment TPMs, aggressively tracking subsystem margins, and implementing corrective action plans when technical budgets approach critical thresholds.
Knowledge of orbital mechanics, space environment, and mission design.
Familiarity with space industry standards and regulatory requirements.
Understanding of systems engineering processes and lifecycle management.
Experience with spacecraft test and integration processes.
Strong technical leadership and decision-making abilities
Excellent project management and organizational skills
Effective communication with technical teams, customers, and executives
Problem-solving and critical thinking in complex system environments
Budget management and resource allocation expertise

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end delivery of the spacecraft from kick-off to final handover, ensuring compliance with mission specifications, technical baselines, and cost constraints.
Develop and maintain space segment schedule, budget, and resource plans.
Define, flow down, and trace the space segment technical requirements from mission-level objectives with support of Systems engineering.
Author the comprehensive Verification and Validation (V&V) matrix to systematically prove spacecraft compliance through analysis, inspection, demonstration, and environmental qualification testing.
Manage critical interfaces between the satellite bus and the payload, driving resolution of technical conflicts across hardware and software teams.
Support Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AI&T) flows, guiding environmental ground testing (vibration, thermal vacuum) and launch campaign preparations.
Direct the acquisition and management of major bus contractors, payload providers, and subsystem suppliers, including statements of work (SOWs) and acceptance reviews.
Track technical performance metrics, define risk mitigation strategies, and manage the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) to prevent schedule slips.
Serve as the primary technical point of contact for stakeholders, communicating design status and handling programmatic deliverables.