Space Force - SDA Operations Center Technical Lead

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, or a related Science, Engineering or Mathematics field, plus a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience; or Master's degree, plus a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience.

CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS: [Department of Defense Secret security clearance is preferred at time of hire.] Applicants selected will be subject to a U.S. Government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship is required.

Responsibilities for this Position

The SDA Operations Center Technical Lead is responsible for driving the resolution of daily onsite challenges associated with flying the SDA satellite constellation, integrating new satellites and system capabilities, coordinating subcontractors and mission partners such as Iridium and Raytheon, and providing day-to-day technical direction to the GDMS engineering team supporting onsite operations. The Technical Lead ensures that engineering activities, operational priorities, and partner contributions remain aligned to mission needs.

As part of the US Space Force Space Development Agency Ground Management and Integration program, the Technical Lead supports the evolution, expansion, integration, testing, operation, and sustainment of ground operational systems for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.

Key Responsibilities

• Provides onsite technical leadership for daily constellation operations and associated ground-system activities.
• Coordinates GDMS engineering support across mission operations, systems engineering, software, ground systems, networks, cybersecurity, integration, test, and sustainment.
• Drives resolution of operational issues, anomalies, engineering dependencies, and mission-impacting risks.
• Leads the integration and operational acceptance of new satellites, payloads, ground-system releases, and mission capabilities.
• Plans and coordinates operational readiness activities, rehearsals, testing, commissioning, and transition to sustained operations.
• Provides technical direction to cross-functional engineers supporting the operations center without displacing established functional-management responsibilities.
• Coordinates technical interfaces, priorities, and deliverables with subcontractors and mission partners, including Iridium and Raytheon.
• Translates operator and mission needs into requirements, system behaviors, interfaces, operational workflows, and engineering priorities.
• Evaluates end-to-end mission threads involving spacecraft, payloads, ground entry points, antenna systems, networks, processing environments, operations centers, and external users.
• Supports preplanned and ad hoc satellite and payload scheduling, situational awareness, and mission-response activities.
• Leads anomaly response, technical investigation, root-cause analysis, corrective-action planning, and closure.
• Develops or reviews CONOPS, mission procedures, contingency procedures, interface documentation, readiness criteria, and verification evidence.
• Communicates operational status, technical risks, priorities, and recommendations to program leadership, customers, subcontractors, and engineering teams.
• Uses Jira and other program mechanisms to maintain technical priorities, actions, dependencies, and closure evidence.
• Identifies opportunities to improve operational effectiveness through automation, analytics, and responsible application of AI.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, aeronautics, systems engineering, or a related science, mathematics, or technical field, plus at least 12 years of relevant experience; or a master’s degree plus at least 10 years of relevant experience.
• At least four years of relevant experience supporting or leading satellite or SATCOM operations involving on-orbit vehicles from a ground-based operations center.
• At least six years of relevant experience in satellite, SATCOM, ground-system, mission-system, or systems engineering.
• Specialized operations and engineering experience may overlap in time.
• Experience leading mission operations, constellation operations, LEOP, spacecraft commissioning, or transition to sustained operations.
• Experience integrating new spacecraft, ground-system capabilities, operational software, or mission services into an operational environment.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineering teams and external partners during time-sensitive mission activities.
• Strong understanding of requirements, CONOPS, interface definitions, operational procedures, integration, verification, and readiness reviews.
• Working knowledge of satellite command and control, telemetry, mission planning, ground networks, and SATCOM concepts.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity principles applicable to operational mission systems.
• Strong written, verbal, organizational, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Proficiency with Jira and Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• United States citizenship.
• Active Department of Defense Secret clearance or higher.
• Ability to provide onsite support and travel within the continental United States up to 20 percent.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience operating or integrating a proliferated LEO satellite constellation.
• Experience with US Space Force, SDA, PWSA, missile warning, or missile-tracking missions.
• Experience directing launch campaigns, mission rehearsals, in-orbit testing, commissioning, and constellation expansion.
• Experience managing technical performance and interfaces involving subcontractors, satellite manufacturers, launch providers, and network operators.
• Experience with 24/7 operational support, on-call issue triage, anomaly response, and service restoration.
• Experience developing operational training, qualification, or simulation programs.
• Familiarity with missile-tracking data flows, sensor fusion, mission-data processing, and rapid dissemination.
• Knowledge of cloud infrastructure, operational automation, Python, or data-analysis techniques.
• Experience supporting government customers and geographically distributed mission partners.

Workplace Options: This position is at one of our operation centers or in Scottsdale, AZ.While on-site, you will be a part of the SDA team located in Alabama, North Dakota or Arizona.

Salary Note

This estimate represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors (geographic location, etc.). Actual pay may vary. This job posting will remain open until the position is filled.

Combined Salary Range

USD $183,371.00 - USD $203,428.00 /Yr.

Company Overview

General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of 12,000+ top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defense and scientific arenas. Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency. We offer highly competitive benefits and pride ourselves in being a great place to work with a shared sense of purpose. You will also enjoy a flexible work environment where contributions are recognized and rewarded. If who we are and what we do resonates with you, we invite you to join our high-performance team!

Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans