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Engineer Senior Principal III - Space Vehicle Command and Control Modernization Architect - $20K Sign-on Bonus

BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems logoBAE Systems Space & Mission Systems$153,377–$260,743/yrBoulder, Colorado, United StatesFull-timePosted 1w ago
  • $20,000 sign-on bonus
  • TS/SCI clearance

About the job

</br><b>Job Description </b></br><p><strong>Minimum $20,000 Sign On Bonus being offered for external hires.</strong><br><br>Join the Space Vehicle Engineering team – a group of motivated problem solvers. We like to have fun and enjoy life - both at work, and in our free time. We're excited about the challenging projects we're involved in and have a commitment to the missions we enable.

Offering growth opportunities at all levels of skill and experience, we're looking for leaders and innovators who can continue our reputation for creativity and technical excellence, while helping to define the future.<br><br>In this position, you will work within a mission portfolio to support the Space Vehicle Engineering team with an opportunity to define the next generation of spacecraft command and control - modernizing a proven product while preserving the reliability and mission heritage customers depend on.

This work is led by both the Strategic Capability Unit (SCU) and the Strategic Business Unit’s (SBUs) with engineering support to define and deliver a system that meets our customers’ technical performance specifications and their mission needs across all Mission Areas.<br><br>This is a challenging, fast-paced job which will be exciting and highly gratifying for the successful candidate.<br><br>Make a difference.

Love what you do.

Realize your full potential.<br><br>This is an opportunity to define the next generation of spacecraft command and control - modernizing a proven product while preserving the reliability and mission heritage customers depend on.<br>We are seeking a Space Vehicle Command & Control Modernization Architect to lead the transformation of mission proven spacecraft command and control into a modern, scalable architecture for next-generation space systems.<br><br>This role combines spacecraft command and data handling (C&DH) avionics expertise with modern networking and transport protocols and distributed systems architectures.

You will define the modernization strategy while ensuring new capabilities integrate seamlessly with existing spacecraft, flight software, and ground systems.<br><br>The Engineering, Science and Analysis (ESA) Strategic Capabilities Unit comprises the technical talent and organizational leadership that enables the successful delivery of high-impact discriminating technologies for our customers’ missions.

Our collaborative, cross-functional teams are committed to innovation, integrity, continual learning and strong execution. </p><br><strong>What You’ll Do:</strong><br> <ul><li>Define the target spacecraft command and control architecture modernization roadmap for an established product line.</li><li>Architect end-to-end interfaces across spacecraft C&DH, flight software, communications, ground networks, and mission control applications.</li><li>Introduce modern networking, transport and data serialization technologies such as QUIC, UDP/TCP, protobuf, and publish/subscribe architectures where appropriate.</li><li>Develop strategies for integrating modern services with existing CCSDS and legacy interfaces.</li><li>Evaluate architectural tradeoffs involving latency, bandwidth, reliability, determinism, processor/memory constraints, cybersecurity, and fault tolerance.</li><li>Lead technical discussions across flight software, networking, C&DH, systems, and mission operations teams.</li><li>Coordinate technology roadmaps with spacecraft product line leadership and strategic business unit stakeholders.</li><li>Develop architecture documentation, interface definitions, prototypes, trade studies, and implementation roadmaps.</li><li>Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams executing the modernization.</li><li>Maintain a regular and predictable work schedule.</li><li>Establish and maintain effective working relationships within the department, the Strategic Business Units, Strategic Capabilities Units and the Company.

Interact appropriately with others in order to maintain a positive and productive work environment.</li><li>Perform other duties as necessary.</li></ul><p> <br><strong>On-Site Work Environment:</strong> This position requires regular in-person engagement by working<strong> on-site five days</strong> each normally scheduled week in the primary work location.

Travel and local commute between company campuses and other possible non-company locations may be required.</p><br><strong>Working Conditions:</strong><br> <ul><li>Work is performed in an office, laboratory, production floor, or cleanroom, outdoors or remote research environment.</li><li>May occasionally work in production work centers where use of protective equipment and gear is required.</li><li>May access other facilities in various weather conditions.</li></ul><p><br><strong>Short Term Incentive: </strong>Subject to business performance and recommendations of management, this role may be eligible to participate in an incentive compensation plan. </p></br></br><b>Required Education, Experience, & Skills </b></br><ul><li>BS degree or higher in Engineering or a related technical field is required plus 12 or more years related experience. </li><li>Each higher-level degree, i.e., Master’s Degree or Ph.D., may substitute for two years of experience.

Related technical experience may be considered in lieu of education.

Degree must be from a university, college, or school which is accredited by an agency recognized by the US Secretary of Education, US Department of Education. </li><li>A current, active Top Secret/SCI security clearance is required. </li><li>Significant experience architecting spacecraft C&DH, mission operations, ground systems, or related mission-critical systems.</li><li>An understanding of spacecraft C&DH architectures, including flight computers, onboard networks/buses, I/O, mass memory, timing, and communications interfaces.</li><li>Experience working across the hardware/software boundary and understanding how avionics constraints influence system architecture.</li><li>Solid knowledge of CCSDS standards for spacecraft command and telemetry.</li><li>Deep understanding of networking and transport protocols, with experience using or evaluating technologies such as QUIC and TCP/UDP and data serialization formats such as protobuf.</li><li>Experience modernizing heritage or legacy systems while maintaining operational and backward-compatibility requirements.</li><li>Solid systems-thinking and technical communication skills.</li></ul><span style="color:#ffffff;">#LI-MA2</span></br></br><b>Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills </b></br><ul><li>Experience with Ethernet, MIL-STD-1553, SpaceWire, CAN, PCIe, or similar spacecraft avionics technologies.</li><li>Experience with CCSDS CFDP, XTCE, or related standards.</li><li>Experience with distributed systems, service-oriented architectures, cloud-native technologies, or containerization.</li><li>Experience developing prototypes or technology demonstrations to validate architectural decisions.</li><li>Experience defining software, electrical, and/or networking interfaces and controls.</li><li>Experience with cyber security implementation, including encryption and authentication.</li></ul><br><br><b>Pay Information</b><br>Full-Time Salary Range: $153377 - $260743<br><br>Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures.

However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience. <br><br>Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being.

Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a lega

From BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.

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About BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems

Spacecraft, instruments and mission systems from the former Ball Aerospace, now inside BAE Systems.

Pay on its listings: 100% of its open jobs state an hourly rate

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