Principal Engineer - Mission Operations Sustainment Systems Engineer
The posting names a Top Secret clearance.
About the role
</br><b>Job Description </b></br><p>Join the Mission Readiness & Commissioning team at BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems (SMS) – a diverse 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 of BAE Systems SMS.<br><br>We’re seeking a self-motivated systems engineer to join our Mission Sustainment team. Our sustainment engineers support test, factory reach-back, and operations/maintenance of spacecraft and their payloads for commercial, DoW, and NASA customers. Sustainment engineers also engage earlier in the lifecycle (requirements, design, analysis, and test) to support effective preparation for, and transition to, operations. Our team and products may support a variety of activities including:</p><ul><li><p>Spacecraft launch, initialization, checkout, and calibration</p></li><li><p>Command and control of the spacecraft</p></li><li><p>Monitoring the health and safety of the spacecraft subsystems, payloads, and ground system</p></li><li><p>Mission data collection, distribution, and analysis</p></li></ul><p>Don’t meet all the desired expertise? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.<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>Perform telemetry trending, mission performance analysis, calibration, and maintenance of the satellite and ground system.</li><li>Participate in on-orbit operations, assess satellite and ground system state of health, and assist with anomaly support.</li><li>Develop and/or update mission operations products and tools based on discrepancy reports, change requests, and/or lessons learned. This may include command execution scripts, alarm limits, mission system constraints, operator procedures, and/or operator training material. </li><li>Collaborate with subject matter experts to develop and maintain operational command products, training material, and tools for operations.</li><li>Support integration and testing of new capabilities and/or product releases for the satellite and/or ground system.</li><li><meta c="" charset="us-ascii" "="" http-equiv="Content-Type"><br><style type="text/css">a {<br/> text-decoration: none;<br/> color: #464feb;<br/>}<br/>tr th, tr td {<br/> border: 1px solid #e6e6e6;<br/>}<br/>tr th {<br/> background-color: #f5f5f5;<br/>}<br/></style><br>Formally and informally provide leadership to groups and teams and guidance to less experienced employees; may be assigned to a technical or project leadership role.</li><li>Prepare and present technical content to peers/management/customers.</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><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></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 6 or more years related experience.</li><li>Each higher-level related degree, i.e., Master’s Degree or Ph.D., may substitute for two years of related 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 security clearance is required with ability to obtain and maintain Top Secret/SCI.</li><li>Experience in one or more of the following areas:<ul><li>On-console satellite operations.</li><li>Spacecraft commissioning.</li><li>Spacecraft, payload, or subsystem design.</li><li>Mission management, command and control</li><li>Mission data processing.</li><li>Ground systems.</li><li>Ground terminals and infrastructure.</li><li>Mission integration including operations readiness activities, rehearsals, and launch support activities.</li><li>Training of satellite operators.</li></ul></li><li>Familiarity with operations processes such as discrepancy reporting, change management and anomaly response.</li><li>Effective communication skills.</li><li>Ability to interface with technicians, peers, senior-level engineers, business development, management.</li><li>Ability to contribute to the success of small teams through excellent teamwork.</li></ul><span style="color:#ffffff;">#LI-KV1</span></br></br><b>Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills </b></br><ul style="margin-bottom:11px"><li>Experience developing or maintaining mission operations products such as command execution scripts, alarm limits, mission system constraints, operator procedures, and operator training material.</li><li>Experience in related disciplines such as software engineering, hardware engineering, integration, test engineering, quality engineering, configuration/data management.</li><li>Experience using simulators, test benches, or FlatSats</li><li>Knowledge of cloud development environments.</li><li>Knowledge of requirements management tool such as DOORS.</li><li>Knowledge of Atlassian Tools such as Confluence and Jira.</li></ul><br><br><b>Pay Information</b><br>Full-Time Salary Range: $118095 - $200762<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 legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.<br></br></br><b>About BAE Systems, Inc.</b></br>BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it’s what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts – defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team - making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you’ll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference.<br><br>Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, Space & Mission Systems is a leading provider of national defense and civil space applications, advanced remote sensing, scientific and tactical systems for government and commercial customers. We continually pioneer ways to innovate spacecraft, mission payloads, optical systems, and other defense and civil capabilities. Powered by endlessly curious people with an unwavering mission focus, we continually discover ways to enable our customers to perform beyond expectation and protect what matters most.<br><br>This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.<br><br>Multiple positions may be available on this opening.
Copied from the listing BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems published, verified 31 Oct 2026.
About BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems
Spacecraft, instruments and mission systems from the former Ball Aerospace, now inside BAE Systems.
Broomfield is the headquarters of BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems, the former Ball Aerospace, which BAE bought in 2024. (Source: BizWest)
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