Systems Engineer II (Secret Clearance Required) at Sierra Space — Centennial, CO

Sierra Space Careers:

About the Role

The Systems Engineer II contributes to the development and implementation of advanced system solutions by providing alignment, connection and direction to the technical team throughout the product development lifecycle. The Systems Engineer II represents the viewpoint of the integrated whole during system development and works to glue segments and subsystems together via top-down decomposition of stakeholder requirements, traceability through development artifacts, and bottom-up validation and verification of the system. They help to shepherd the team through technical development milestones, track performance measures and identify technical risks to arrive at a compliant and cohesive system solution. The Systems Engineer II should have a firm grasp on Systems Engineering principles as they build expertise on specific systems engineering skills such as requirements management, system architecture development, concept of operation definition, system integration and system verification.

About You

Ground Systems:

• Design and maintain ground system architectures including mission operations centers, ground data systems, ground communication networks, and interfaces with launch site infrastructure and tracking stations
• Develop ground software and tools for vehicle monitoring, telemetry processing, command & control, and support pre-launch checkout, mission simulations, and ground rehearsals
• Coordinate ground segment integration with flight systems and ensure end-to-end operational readiness
• Varying scope by level:
• SE II focuses on subsystem-level tasks and test support;
• SE III owns segment integration and anomaly resolution;
• Sr SE defines architecture and leads cross-functional ground system initiatives

Requirements & Verifications:

• Derive, decompose, and manage technical requirements from stakeholder needs through system, subsystem, and component levels; manage requirements baseline changes and impact assessments across the product lifecycle
• Develop verification and validation strategies including analysis, inspection, demonstration, and test methods; author verification procedures, test plans, and acceptance criteria aligned to requirements traceability
• Lead requirements reviews, trade studies, and technical audits to ensure completeness, consistency, and compliance
• Varying scope by level:
• SE II executes verification activities and documents results;
• SE III leads V&V planning and closure;
• Sr SE owns requirements architecture and approval authority for complex changes

Space Vehicle Integration:

• Plan and execute hardware and software integration activities for spacecraft buses, payloads, and subsystems; coordinate interface control documents (ICDs) and manage technical interfaces across vehicle elements
• Support integration and test campaigns including functional checkout, environmental testing, and system-level qualification; resolve integration anomalies and troubleshooting across mechanical, electrical, thermal, and software domains
• Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, and mission assurance teams to ensure flight readiness
• Varying scope by level:
• SE II supports hands-on integration tasks and test readiness;
• SE III leads integration planning and anomaly resolution;
• Sr SE defines integration strategy and owns vehicle-level technical risk

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires Bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree).
• Typically 2+ years of related experience.
• Practical understanding of Systems Engineering principles and practices, including a basic understanding of the systems development lifecycle.
• Conceptual knowledge of requirements management, functional requirements parsing, derivation, and allocation.
• Conceptual knowledge of systems architecture, systems integration, and Verification and Validation (V&V) principles.
• Clear verbal and written communication of technical concepts and information.
• An active Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• Experience with Requirements Management and Model Based Systems Engineering tools and frameworks, such as DOORS, CAMEO EA, Rhapsody, Matlab, and SysML.
• Basic understanding of spacecraft systems, including hardware and software subsystems and components.
• Familiarity with project management methodologies including risk management and technical performance tracking.
• Familiarity with technical baseline and configuration management.
• Experience or certification in INCOSE standards.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced and dynamic work environment.

Compensation

Pay Range:

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This position requires current/active Secret U.S. Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. Citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance. The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination include, but are not limited to, allegiance to the U.S., foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations and illegal drug use.

Elevate Your Career