Chief Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Infinity’s niche in the aerospace and defense industry is specialized solutions that help bridge the gap between space and ground. This is no small task, and we owe our success to our team who help us fulfill our mission; to match people with their legacies for betterment of the world. There is always a place at Infinity for a motivated, capable individual seeking a career to better the world. We prioritize supporting our team through exceptional benefits, work-life balance, and structured career development. At Infinity, WE ARE MORE – now, come be more with us!

The Chief Engineer (CE) serves as the senior technical authority and strategic leader for the Hybrid Architecture and Development for Experimental Systems (HADES) IDIQ program, functioning as the contractor's primary technical counterpart to the Government Program Chief Engineer. This role provides unified technical leadership across multiple Task Orders supporting mission-critical satellite Command & Control (C2) ground systems at the Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Support Complex (RSC) at Kirtland AFB.

The CE owns the complete systems engineering lifecycle across Ground Control (hybrid-cloud C2 infrastructure), Ground Support (facility and infrastructure sustainment), JAGUAR (satellite operations), and emerging mission requirements. This position requires both deep technical expertise and strategic vision to advance multi-mission, multi-classification ground systems operating 24/7/365 with stringent availability requirements (99%+ system uptime).

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership & Strategy

• Serve as the senior technical authority across all HADES Task Orders, ensuring technical coherence, integration, and alignment with Government program objectives
• Drive innovation across systems architecture, hybrid-cloud integration (GovCloud/DISA HaCC), cybersecurity, containerized environments (Kubernetes), and communications infrastructure
• Own enterprise-level technical risk management, identifying single points of failure, End of Life/End of Support equipment, and architecting resilient solutions
• Provide technical leadership for multi-mission ground systems supporting simultaneous operations across multiple classification levels (NIPR, SIPR, JWICS, SGN, Mission-specific)

Systems Engineering & Architecture

• Establish and enforce systems engineering processes across requirements development, design, integration, V&V, sustainment, and decommissioning per HADES IDIQ PWS requirements
• Develop and maintain Systems Engineering Management Plans (SEMP) incorporating configuration management, risk management, and change control processes
• Lead system architecture reviews for on-premises infrastructure, cloud environments, antenna networks (commercial and government including SCN), and hybrid integration
• Ensure Mission Unique Software (MUS), integration code, and GOTS/COTS solutions meet functional and performance requirements across all missions

Cross-Functional Integration

• Interface with Government Chief Engineers, Program Managers, mission partners, FFRDCs, and associate contractors
• Coordinate technical direction across contractor teams including System Administrators, Network Engineers, ISSEs, Software Developers, and Operations personnel
• Support Engineering Review Boards (ERB), Configuration Control Boards (CCB), Pre-Execution Reviews (PER), and Configuration Audit Boards (CAB)
• Provide technical oversight for external interfaces including POPS-I, Space Vehicle contractors, and external mission partners

Technical Domain Oversight

• Ground Control Systems : Hybrid-cloud architectures, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), container orchestration, 24/7/365 monitoring, RAM metrics
• Cybersecurity & Compliance : RMF/ATO processes, defensive cyber operations, COMSEC, DoDD 8140 compliance, multi-level security accreditation
• Facility Infrastructure : Power distribution/UPS/generators, HVAC, network infrastructure, RVDS systems, space optimization
• Satellite Operations : POC/SOC systems, GCC/GEMMA architectures, TT&C operations, OCONUS ground terminal support
• Communications : Antenna networks, Compunetix systems, cross-domain solutions, secure communications

Program Support

• Collaborate with HADES Program Manager on technical proposals, cost estimates (ROM), staffing plans, and schedule development
• Conduct technical studies, Analyses of Alternatives (AoA), and provide Courses of Action (COAs) with milestone schedules and cost impacts
• Support transition planning, technology refresh planning, and lifecycle sustainment
• Mentor and develop technical staff, ensuring certifications, training, and position qualifications are maintained

Qualifications:

• Clearance: Active TS clearance with SCI eligibility required + Ability to obtain additional compartmented access (SAP/SCI) within 120 days of contract start
• Education: Bachelor of Science degree in STEM or related technical discipline required , Master’s degree preferred
• Required Skills:
  • Minimum 15 years of progressive systems engineering experience in aerospace, satellite ground systems, or large-scale DoD programs
  • Minimum 5 years in senior technical leadership roles such as Chief Engineer, Lead Systems Architect, Technical Director, or Engineering Director
  • Demonstrated expertise in at least 4 of the following domains:
    • Satellite ground control systems, Mission Control Centers (MCC), or Space Operations Centers (SOC)
    • Hybrid cloud architectures (AWS GovCloud, Azure Government) and cloud-native application deployment
    • Multi-mission, multi-classification operational environments with simultaneous operations
    • Container orchestration platforms (Kubernetes, Docker, OpenShift) in production environments
    • Enterprise cybersecurity frameworks (RMF, NIST 800-53, DoD SRGs) and Authority to Operate (ATO) processes
    • Command & Control (C2) software systems, telemetry processing, and spacecraft operations
    • DevSecOps, CI/CD pipelines, and Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible, CloudFormation)
    • 24x7 mission-critical operations with high-availability requirements (99.9%+) and fault-tolerant architectures
    • Configuration management of complex ground infrastructure and multi-domain systems
    • Antenna networks, RF systems, or satellite communications (SATCOM) ground segments
    • COMSEC, cryptographic systems, and secure communications infrastructure
• Preferred Skills:
  • Experience with Space Systems Command (SSC) programs, Research & Development, or Innovation & Prototyping organizations
  • Familiarity with satellite ground systems at Kirtland AFB or similar DoD RDT&E facilities
  • Knowledge of specific technologies: GEMMA, GCC, Compunetix, RVDS, or SCN interfaces
  • Experience with FFRDC coordination and Associate Contractor Agreements
  • Publications, patents, or presentations in systems engineering or satellite ground systems domains
  • Active participation in professional organizations (INCOSE, IEEE, AFCEA)
• Technical Certifications

  Required - Must hold at least 3 of the following 4 categories:

  Category 1 - Cloud Architecture (one required):
  - AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
  - Azure Solutions Architect Expert
  - Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect
  Category 2 - Systems Engineering (one required):
  - INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP)
  - INCOSE Expert Systems Engineering Professional (ESEP)
  - DoD Acquisition Workforce certification (Level III Systems Engineering)
  Category 3 - Cybersecurity (one required per DoDD 8140):
  - CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)
  - CASP+ (CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner)
  - GIAC Security Leadership (GSLC)
  Note: Security+ meets minimum requirement but CISSP/CASP+ strongly preferred
  Category 4 - Technical Leadership (one preferred):
  - Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
  - SAFe® System Architect or Program Consultant
  - TOGAF 9 Certified
  - DoDAF/MODAF Practitioner

Work Environment:

• Primary Location : Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico (RSC facility)
• Work Schedule : Core business hours (M-F, 8:00-17:00 MST) with flexibility for mission-critical activities and off-hours support as required
• On-Site Requirement : Must maintain regular on-site presence at RSC; remote work arrangements subject to Government approval and mission needs
• Travel : Estimated <10% CONUS travel; occasional OCONUS travel may be required for technical coordination and integration activities
• Facility Access : Work performed in secure facilities including SCIFs; requires compliance with physical security, TEMPEST, and COMSEC requirements

Infinity Benefits

Great Company Culture. Infinity firmly believes that our success is due to the happiness and personal satisfaction of our employees. 

Health Benefits.  100% Company Paid monthly Medical and Dental premiums for you AND your family. 

Prepare for the Future. 401(k) company contribution, with free professional financial planning advisors 

Rest and Relaxation. Three weeks' Vacation – and  we offer an annual company reward trip after one year of employment.

Health and Wellness. We offer 48 hours of sick leave, in addition to your Vacation, as well as Flex-Spending options (Medical and Dependent Care) 

Work that Stays at Work. Genuine work/life balance and flexibility. We know our employees have lives outside of work and we support you in living them! 

Education and Professional Training Reimbursement. We support our employees career aspirations and growth through our Education Reimbursement Program! 

Profit Sharing Plan. Infinity’s success is due to our employees which is why all eligible employees receive an annual payout based on our Profit-Sharing Plan. 

U.S. Citizenship is required

EOE including disability/vet

To learn more about our company and benefits, please visit: Infinity Careers