Lead Systems Engineer (SME) - Missile Warning/Missile Tracking

Job Description

Job Description

Mainsail is seeking a Lead Systems Engineer (SME) to provide senior-level technical advisory support to the United States Space Force (USSF), Space Systems Command (SSC), Space Sensing (SN), System Delta 84 (SYD 84), Missile Warning/Missile Tracking Program .

SYD 84 acquires and sustains Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) and Weather capabilities supporting U.S. military and intelligence community missions. This position serves as a senior technical advisor to Government leadership, providing enterprise-level systems engineering expertise supporting Missile Warning and Missile Tracking architectures, acquisitions, integrations, testing, and operational readiness.

The successful candidate will independently lead complex engineering efforts, assess contractor execution, identify technical risks and opportunities, influence program strategy, and provide decision-quality recommendations to Government engineering, acquisition, and senior leadership.

Job Description

• Serve as a senior technical advisor to Government leadership on Missile Warning and Missile Tracking architectures, systems, and acquisition efforts.
• Lead evaluation of technical baselines, requirements, interfaces, operational concepts, and mission performance across space, ground, communications, and mission-processing segments.
• Assess contractor engineering products, design solutions, and technical performance for compliance with Government requirements and mission objectives.
• Provide independent assessments of program technical maturity, risk posture, mission readiness, affordability, and schedule execution.
• Evaluate system requirements, architectures, trades, verification strategies, and design changes affecting enterprise mission performance.
• Support technical planning and execution of major acquisition milestones, design reviews, readiness reviews, and program decision events.
• Identify technical risks, integration challenges, and cross-program dependencies and provide mitigation recommendations.
• Conduct engineering analyses, trade studies, and technical assessments supporting Government acquisition and engineering decisions.
• Support integration activities spanning spacecraft, payloads, ground systems, mission processing, communications, and external mission partners.
• Review System Engineering Plans, Interface Control Documents, test documentation, architectural products, and contractor deliverables.
• Develop executive-level technical briefings, reports, white papers, and recommendations.
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers and provide technical leadership across integrated Government and contractor teams.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. Citizen.
• Active Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance.  
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• 13-15+ years of professional engineering experience with significant systems engineering responsibilities.
• Extensive experience supporting National Security Space, Missile Warning, Missile Tracking, Missile Defense, or OPIR programs.
• Demonstrated expertise in systems engineering, integration, test, requirements development, and technical risk management.
• Experience providing technical recommendations to senior Government leadership.
• Experience leading complex engineering assessments across multiple organizations and stakeholders.
• Strong technical writing, presentation, analytical, and communication skills.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience supporting SSC Space Sensing, Space Systems Command, Space Force, Air Force, or other DoD acquisition organizations.
• Experience supporting MEO, GEO, Polar, FORGE, Future OPIR, or related programs.
• Experience with digital engineering and MBSE approaches.
• Experience supporting ACAT acquisition programs.
• Experience supporting architecture development and enterprise integration efforts.
• Experience leading contractor technical evaluations and source-selection support activities.

Desired Technical Specialties

• Missile Warning Architectures
• Missile Tracking Architectures
• OPIR Systems
• Mission Integration
• Enterprise Systems Engineering
• System Architecture Development
• Technical Risk Management
• Ground Systems Integration
• Test and Evaluation
• Space Vehicle and Payload Engineering
• MBSE and Digital Engineering
• SETA Support to Government Acquisition Programs

Desired Certifications

• International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) Associate Systems Engineering Professional (ASEP) or Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) certification.
• Project Management Institute (PMI) Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Defense Acquisition University (DAU) certification in Systems Engineering, Program Management, or related acquisition disciplines.

Working Conditions

• Dynamic office environment supporting Government acquisition, mission integration, and engineering activities.
• Regular participation in technical reviews, cross-program working groups, and Government meetings.
• Frequent coordination with Government, FFRDC, SETA, and contractor organizations across multiple programs and mission areas.
• Occasional support outside normal business hours to accommodate program milestones, integration events, testing activities, operational exercises, or mission-critical activities.
• Travel up to approximately 10% in support of Government objectives.

Company Description

MAINSAIL Group provides systems engineering and technical assistance, advisory and assistance services, and program management support to Air Force, Space Force and Navy customers. MAINSAIL and its joint ventures manage Secret, Top Secret, SCI and Special Access Program requirements at customer sites across the United States.

MAINSAIL Group provides systems engineering and technical assistance, advisory and assistance services, and program management support to Air Force, Space Force and Navy customers. MAINSAIL and its joint ventures manage Secret, Top Secret, SCI and Special Access Program requirements at customer sites across the United States.

Company Description

MAINSAIL Group provides systems engineering and technical assistance, advisory and assistance services, and program management support to Air Force, Space Force and Navy customers. MAINSAIL and its joint ventures manage Secret, Top Secret, SCI and Special Access Program requirements at customer sites across the United States.