Sr. Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Missile Warning, Tracking & Defense (MWTD) Ground Segment Project Engineer

The Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, developmental planning, system of systems engineering, and threat reduction to help shape future space missions across the national security space enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including Air Force Space Command, U.S. Strategic Command, Air Force Material Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of services and support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers and horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation.  

As the Sr. Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Missile Warning, Tracking & Defense (MWTD) Ground Segment Project Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in the transition to a new Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) MEO architecture. You'll work directly with Epoch 1 and Epoch 2 space vehicle development contractors to ensure their ground segments meet requirements, achieve operational readiness, and integrate seamlessly into the enterprise OPIR ground architecture. You will provide both technical and programmatic support for the MEO MWTD program, including contractor oversight, requirements verification, enterprise integration activities, and planning for follow-on Epoch increments. 

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time on-site at our facility in El Segundo, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; or Chantilly, VA. 

What You’ll Be Doing 

• Assist the Aerospace ground segment leader in engaging Government leaders, SETA contractors, development contractors, and Missile Warning/Tracking community partners to align MEO ground development and CONOPS with operational needs 

• Work directly with Epoch 1 and Epoch 2 space vehicle contractors to ensure their ground segment deliverables meet technical requirements, interface control documents (ICDs), and operational performance standards 

• Provide ground segment systems engineering support for requirements and ICD development and verification 

• Support ground segment communications architecture development, including data links, network design, and interface definitions between space vehicles, ground stations, and enterprise systems  

• Identify, initiate, and develop multidisciplinary support from appropriate technical resources 

• Evaluate contractor performance against cost, schedule, and technical metrics, and assess risk and trade-space analyses to enable timely delivery of capabilities while meeting mission objectives 

• Support execution of the program’s Digital Engineering strategy and integrate MBSE models with mission level modeling and simulation 

• Exemplify Aerospace corporate values of objectivity and integrity while serving as a trusted agent to our government customers 

What You Need to be Successful 
Minimum Requirements for Sr. Project Engineer – Communication Systems & Systems Engineering – Acquisition:  

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, science, mathematics, or related technical field 

• 12 or more years of engineering/scientific experience in acquisition planning, analysis, and development of national security space systems 

• Experience with ground system architectures, including development, integration, test, operations, and contractor oversight 

• Experience with requirements verification, interface control documents, and system integration across multiple contractors or organizational boundaries 

• Familiarity with Digital Engineering concepts and Model-Based System Engineering (MBSE) tools 

• Ability to establish and maintain trusted relationships with government customers, SETA contractors, development contractors, and key stakeholders under minimal supervision 

• Demonstrated ability to work adaptively on multiple tasks to consistently deliver high-quality products under tight deadlines 

• Current TS/SCI security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

• Up to 10% travel 

How You Can Stand Out 

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

• Advanced STEM degree 

• Strong understanding of Missile Warning (MW), Missile Tracking (MT), Missile Defense (MD), and Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) mission areas 

• Experience with operational NSS ground segments (antennas, networks, datacenters, communications, software) 

• Knowledge of prototype and Class C mission acquisition/assurance 

• MBSE model development experience 

• Direct experience working with space vehicle contractors on ground segment development, integration, and enterprise OPIR architecture implementation