Enterprise Communication Architect Technical Lead

The Communication Technologies and Engineering Division (CTED) represents the disciplines of communications, networking, and PNT (Position, Navigation, and Timing) in support of space missions, along with their enabling technologies. In our domain, CTED projects comprise all aspects, from architectures to prototypes to implementation, theoretical to hands-on.  Our engineers work directly with corporate and U.S. Government customers to ensure robust and resilient communications.

The Communications Payload, Command and Telemetry Dept (CPCTD) provides satellite communication hardware and systems engineering expertise to a wide range of space communication payload programs for military, national, civil and commercial customers.  The department contributes to all phases of a space program:  concept and architecture studies, system requirement development, system design review, unit and factory test, anomaly resolution and on-orbit test.  We have extensive and well-established relationships with customer programs and is currently growing our department to meet customer demands.  This position is embedded with the USSF’s Space Warfighter Analysis Center (SWAC) located in Colorado Springs to provide high-quality analytical support on the design of space and ground enterprise communications architectures.  The ideal candidate will work collaboratively in a multi-level classification environment with interagency, military and civilian communities to shape the force design of the future space data network architecture. 

What You’ll Be Doing  

• Advise the SWAC’s government leadership on analytical approaches, force design, systems engineering leveraging leverages the wealth of modeling and simulation tools within Aerospace  

• Develop analytic plans, define analytic tasks, and execute analysis needed to understand space data network mission needs and refine force designs 

• Translate SWAC Government leadership needs for engineering and analytical support to members of Aerospace’s Communication Technology and Engineering Division as well as Aerospace Engineering Technology Group  

• Plan, assign, and manage the workload of interdisciplinary teams to meet customer requirements 

• Identify Aerospace resources and expertise that can be brought to bear on tough customer problems 

• Provide periodic execution reviews to Aerospace and customer senior management. 

• Lead or participate in teams conducting analysis of technology and capabilities and providing analytically backed recommendations 

• Provide frequent communication to government counterparts about Aerospace ETG support 

• Collaborate with other Aerospace personnel across all corporate locations and organizations 

• Direct interaction with various government partner organizations including US Space Force (USSF), Space Warfare Analysis Center (SWAC), Space Systems Center (SSC), US Space Command (USSC), and the subordinate Space Operations Squadrons (SOPS), the Intelligence Community and other Combatant Commands 

• Engage in technical discussions and represent ETG team with SWAC government team “in the room” 

• Responsive to dynamic environment and provide agile response 

• Tailor existing or develop new tools to support trades as needed to support a wide range of communication architecture solutions 

• Perform link budgets and communication payload sizing to provide input to quick-turn communications and antenna design trades 

Work Model: 100% onsite work in classified facilities in Colorado Springs, CO. 

What You Need to be Successful – Engineering Specialist 

Minimum Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) discipline 

• Minimum 8 years of related technical experience in space communication and network system engineering, architecting, modeling and simulation 

• Technical knowledge and experience in  

• RF and optical space communication system and network architecture, analysis, modeling and trades 

• Broad space system constellation and vehicle design in a variety of orbits and small and large satellites 

• Knowledge of military and commercial SATCOM missions, system designs, and operations. 

• Experience with modeling, simulation, and analysis of communications architectures. 

• Proven ability to interact effectively with program office, government customers, contractors, other subject matter experts and levels of management 

• MATLAB, Python, and Visual C++ experience 

• Work with integrated Government, FFRDC, and SETA teams. 

• Periodic travel to El Segundo, CA and other locations, as needed 

• This position requires an active TS/SCI clearance and eligibility for SAP/SAR clearances, which are issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance 

In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for the Senior Engineering Specialist include:

• A minimum of 12 years of related experience in space communication and network system engineering, architecting, modeling and simulation 

• Experience managing technical deliverables including tasking and coordinating matrixed technical resources. 

How You Can Stand Out 

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these: 

• Master’s, or Doctorate of Science degree from an accredited university in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) discipline 

• Space network architecting experience 

• Experience working with the Space Security and Defense Program or SWAC in a technical role 

• Development or application of CTED architecture modeling or analysis tools 

• Extensive work with one or more space system development program offices 

• Space mission architecture development experience 

• High level of knowledge and experience with creating, supporting and/or leading technical studies teams examining topics of national significance including tasking and managing matrixed technical resources. 

• Agile approaches to analysis and development activities 

• Digital engineering and/or agile approaches to analysis and development activities 

• Proven capability in proliferated LEO constellations and cislunar orbit