Lead Engineer, SSC/Det 5

The United States Space Force (USSF) at Peterson SFB, CO is searching for a Lead Engineer, SSC/Det 5 (NH-0855-03, GS 12/13 equivalent).

Description:
Serve as a lead technical authority for the U.S. Space Force's most critical satellite communications networks. In this role, you will lead the engineering execution, operational architecture, and technical baseline management for multi-billion dollar systems, ensuring secure, global, and uninterrupted communications for the joint warfighter. The Lead Engineer position within the MILSATCOM 8th Sustainment Squadron is a critical role that focuses on directing and leading the technical activities for various SATCOM Systems. You will serve as the principal engineering expert and technical decision authority for critical constellations and ground systems, such as AEHF, Milstar, EPS, WGS, GBS, DSCS, and CCS-C. Operating with significant autonomy, you will manage complex system baselines and drive the integration of software, hardware, and cybersecurity solutions. You will collaborate daily with multidisciplinary teams-including software developers, test engineers, cybersecurity specialists, and operations personnel-to deliver resilient, next-generation capabilities that defend our nation's high-frontier operations. Key Responsibilities: Principal Technical Authority: Serve as the authoritative engineering baseline expert, directing technical modifications, system upgrades, and architectural changes for global MILSATCOM systems. Systems Architecture Governance: Implement and enforce rigorous engineering standards to govern the program's long-term architecture, baseline security, and hardware/software configurations. Operational Readiness & OSS&E: Lead system requirements validation and performance management to guarantee continuous Operational Safety, Suitability, and Effectiveness (OSS&E). Lifecycle & Sustainment Leadership: Direct engineering sustainment, system transition plans, change management processes, and test planning; provide expert technical oversight to Satellite Anomaly Response Teams during critical operations. Strategic Advisory Support: Partner closely with the Chief Engineer and Program Managers by delivering deep technical insights, conducting formal engineering assessments, and steering the successful resolution of system deficiencies. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Lead integration efforts with cross-functional teams, defense agencies, and international partners to ensure seamless data exchange and high-availability communication interfaces. Acquisition & Proposal Technical Lead: Support technical evaluations, independent cost estimations, and the development of high-impact Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to shape future system capabilities. Engineering Mentorship: Apply advanced electronics engineering concepts, standards, and best practices to mentor junior engineers and advise on complex project developments from inception through execution.

Ideal Candidate:
Proven Engineering Leadership: Experience acting as a lead or principal engineer, with a strong track record of coordinating complex, high-value satellite, ground terminal, or command and control (C2) systems. SATCOM lifecycle expertise: Knowledge of SATCOM systems operations, maintenance, and strategic lifecycle planning. No-Fail Systems Engineering: Demonstrated experience directing systems engineering processes and rapid solution deployment for mission-critical, "no-fail" military or commercial space systems. Joint & Coalition Interoperability: Exceptional communication and collaborative skills, with a history of successfully aligning cross-functional teams, federal stakeholders, Department of War (DoW) agencies, and international defense partners. Analytical Problem Solving: Strong analytical, diagnostic, and risk-management skills tailored to resolving complex hardware/software anomalies and optimizing system performance. Academic Foundation: Must hold a bachelor's degree in an engineering field from an ABET-accredited institution. Acquisition Professionalism: Acquisition experience is highly valued; holding a Defense Acquisition Workforce Foundational (or higher) Certification in Engineering and Technical Management is highly desired. Other Requirements (Not an all inclusive list): Must be a U.S. Citizen. This position has been designated as an acquisition position and is covered by the Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP) Must meet or be capable of meeting Defense Acquisition Work Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements applicable to the duties of the position

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S Citizen.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance.
• PCS / Incentive funding is not authorized.
• Required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise.
• May be required to travel by military or commercial aircraft in the performance of temporary duty assignments.
• May be required to work overtime on an unscheduled or emergency basis.
• Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM prescribed “Unscheduled Telework”.
• Subject to Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY): Approximately 20 days per year.
• This position will close after 5 business days or 75 applications, whichever comes first.
• Position requires a professional engineering degree at the bachelor's level from an ABET accredited institution is required. Advanced degrees are preferred.
• This position is designated as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Testing Program.
• This is a cybersecurity position; the employee will attain appropriate DoD approved cybersecurity baseline certificate(s) applicable for cybersecurity functions required for the DoD position held.
• Employee must within 30-days of assuming this position and by 31 October annually thereafter, file an OGE-450, “Confidential Financial Disclosure Report.
• This position is part of the Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP).

Qualifications

???????The 0855 series has an individual occupational requirement that must be met and can be viewed here. In addition to the above requirements you can view the experience level requirements here. Please scroll down to the 4th section titled Professional and Scientific Positions.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies as related to the series and grade of the position being filled. Final qualifications determinations will be assessed based on OPM's General Schedule Qualifications Standards found here:

Interviews: You will be contacted by e-mail and/or telephone if your application is identified as qualifying for a position being filled. An interview may be conducted. If interviewed, you will be asked to address the same knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies used to initially qualify your application for the position.

Resume:You must submit a resume that may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 10 pts. You will not be considered for this vacancy if your resume exceeds two pages or is illegible/unreadable. Do NOT include photographs, inappropriate material, inappropriate content, nor personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number, etc., on your resume. If the resume you submit contains such information you will not be considered for this vacancy. Your resume must provide:

1. Personal information - your full name, email and mailing addresses, phone number
2. Education information - the name of the school and the dates you attended
3. Work experience - paid and unpaid work with the following information:
   • Job title
   • Detailed duties and accomplishments
   • Employer's name and address
   • Supervisor's name and phone number
   • Starting and ending dates (If actual dates are not known, provide your best-estimated timeframes.)
   • Hours per week
   • Salary, if applicable
4. Other qualifications - skills, certifications/licenses, honors, awards, special accomplishments, and job-related training courses

College Transcripts (if applicable): Please see the Education section of this announcement for detailed information about transcripts.

Next steps