Sr. Systems Engineer (8-12 yrs)

Advanced Space•Westminster, CO

6d•$134,000 - $174,000•Hybrid

About The Position

At Advanced Space, we're enabling humanity's return to the Moon and building the technologies that will take us to Mars and beyond. We're looking for a Senior Systems Engineer with 8–12 years of experience to lead mission-critical systems engineering efforts across the full lifecycle of space systems—from concept to orbit and beyond. In this role, you'll lead the development of mission concepts, ConOps, system architectures, technical baselines, requirements, interfaces, and verification strategies. You'll provide system-level technical leadership across spacecraft, ground systems, flight software, mission operations, and relevant subsystem disciplines while working directly with customers and mission partners throughout the mission lifecycle. You'll have the opportunity to support complex aerospace and spaceflight programs across multiple lifecycle phases, including system development, integration and test, launch, commissioning, and operations. You'll also help shape future missions through early-phase studies, proposals, technical trade studies, and the development of junior engineers. We're looking for someone who brings strong technical judgment, enjoys solving complex system-level problems, and is comfortable taking ownership of mission-critical technical decisions. If you're passionate about space exploration and want to see your work contribute directly to missions that fly, this is the role for you. This position is open to U.S. Persons (U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or other protected individuals) only. Visa sponsorship is not available. Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for current or future sponsorship. An active U.S. Government Top Secret security clearance is preferred.

Requirements

8–12 years of progressively responsible systems engineering experience supporting spaceflight or other complex aerospace systems.
A B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
Demonstrated experience with system architecture, ConOps, requirements development and traceability, interface management, and verification and validation.
Experience leading technical reviews, trade studies, integration and test activities, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Supported complex aerospace or other safety-critical systems across multiple lifecycle phases, including system development, integration and test, operations, or related system-level activities.
Strong technical judgment and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Comfortable engaging directly with customers, mission partners, and technical stakeholders.
Ability to provide technical leadership while collaborating effectively across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Adaptable, proactive, and mission-focused in dynamic technical environments.
Takes ownership. When you see a challenge, you work with the team to solve it.
Ability to obtain an active U.S. Government Top Secret security clearance.
Able to work in the Westminster, Colorado office five days per week during core business hours.

Nice To Haves

Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), particularly Cameo
Python or another programming/scripting language
Requirements or configuration-management tools such as Jama
Spacecraft communications
Mission design or spacecraft navigation
Spacecraft or ground systems
Flight software or mission operations
Launch and commissioning activities
Earth-orbit, cislunar, or deep-space missions
NASA systems-engineering practices
DoD space programs or comparable government-customer environments
Proposals and early-phase mission studies

Responsibilities

Lead mission and system architecture development.
Lead the development of mission concepts, ConOps, system architectures, and technical baselines. Translate mission objectives and stakeholder needs into practical system-level solutions that balance performance, cost, schedule, risk, operability, and mission assurance.
Develop and manage system requirements. Translate customer and stakeholder needs into measurable system requirements. Lead requirements allocation, traceability, verification, and validation while ensuring requirements remain aligned with mission objectives and overall system performance.
Lead system-level trade studies and technical decisions. Evaluate system-level design options and lead technical trade studies across spacecraft, ground systems, flight software, mission operations, and relevant subsystem disciplines. Use sound technical judgment to drive decisions and manage impacts to performance, cost, schedule, risk, and mission success.
Manage system interfaces and integration. Define and manage internal and external system interfaces, including Interface Control Documents (ICDs). Provide technical oversight of system integration and ensure interfaces are effectively coordinated across multidisciplinary engineering teams and mission partners.
Lead verification, validation, and test activities. Plan and guide integration, verification, validation, test, and operational-readiness activities. Lead or support major technical reviews, including System Requirements Review (SRR), Preliminary Design Review (PDR), Critical Design Review (CDR), Test Readiness Review (TRR), and operational-readiness reviews.
Provide technical leadership across the mission lifecycle. Provide system-level technical oversight from early mission design through development, integration and test, launch, commissioning, and operations. Work across spacecraft, ground systems, flight software, mission operations, and subsystem teams to ensure the overall system remains aligned and mission-ready.
Partner directly with customers and mission teams. Work directly with customers and mission partners throughout the mission lifecycle. Communicate complex technical concepts clearly, support technical decision-making, and help ensure customer needs are translated into successful system solutions.
Manage technical risks and system performance. Identify and manage technical risks, system margins, technical performance measures, and engineering-change impacts. Support risk management and technical assessments to ensure mission objectives remain achievable throughout development and operations.
Support mission operations and future missions. Contribute to mission operations activities, including contingency planning, anomaly resolution, and system evolution. Support early-phase mission studies, proposals, and the development of future mission concepts and architectures.
Mentor and develop engineers. Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers. Share systems engineering knowledge, encourage strong technical practices, and help develop the next generation of engineers at Advanced Space.