Ground Systems Architect

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Virginia.

📋 Description

• Provide technical and operational leadership to a cross-functional team in daily execution.

• Assist in guiding a multi-disciplinary engineering team throughout design, development, and testing phases.

• Oversee the development of gateway and user-level ground equipment throughout the ground segment mission lifecycle.

• Establish ground and mission operations requirements and translate mission needs to space systems engineering.

• Coordinate the development of hardware and software to ensure they meet mission requirements.

• Manage the technical aspects, costs, and schedules of ground programs effectively.

• Define IMS tasks and take on the role of control account manager for designated accounts.

• Provide technical guidance and oversight to the ground segment IPT.

• Collaborate with customers, subcontractors, program IPTs, and mission partners.

• Create systems engineering deliverables using traditional and MBSE methodologies, including CONOPS, system architecture, requirements and interface control documents, mission and system analyses, and trade studies.

• Plan for the verification of ground-segment requirements through assembly, integration, and testing.

• Participate in program design and readiness reviews.

• Address technical and scheduling challenges with cross-functional and multi-disciplinary teams.

• Assist in estimating costs and resources for proposals and Engineering Change Proposals.

• Develop methods for operational automation to alleviate operator responsibilities.

• Conduct essential ground-segment testing, including RF compatibility, remote ground facility interface, and acceptance testing.

• Validate mission event sequences for commissioning, payload checkout/calibration, and mission operations.

• Organize and lead formal mission rehearsals.

• Support spacecraft and subsystem engineers during launch and early orbit phases.

• Serve as the focal point for customers and internal leadership during critical mission events.

• Clarify program objectives, roles, responsibilities, and conflicts.

⛳️ Requirements

• Master’s degree in Aerospace, Electrical, Software, Computer, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.

• Proven experience in leading IPTs, technical programs, or product teams focused on satellite, aerospace, or defense-related systems.

• Solid understanding of satellite ground segment architectures, mission operations, networking, command and control, or mission management systems.

• Demonstrated experience managing technical execution across cost, schedule, risk, requirements, and operational delivery goals.

• Knowledge of systems engineering, integration and testing, operational readiness, and mission lifecycle execution.

• Capacity to lead cross-functional matrixed teams spanning software, systems engineering, operations, cybersecurity, and infrastructure domains.

• Experience supporting government, defense, intelligence, or national security space customers is preferred.

• Excellent communication, organizational, and stakeholder management abilities.

• Familiarity with Agile development environments, configuration management, and program controls is preferred.

• Active Secret clearance is preferred; TS/SCI clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one is strongly desired.

🏝️ Benefits

• Eligibility for annual bonuses where applicable.

• Paid vacation, sick leave, and personal time off.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.

• Life and disability insurance options.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan.

• Additional benefits programs available.