Sr. Systems Network and C2 Architect - Space RCO

Stellar Solutions, a nationally recognized “Great Place To Work”, has exciting opportunities providing Engineering solutions for innovative new-entrant space companies, as well as established space systems manufacturers, commercial space system operators and service providers, and other industry stakeholders including investors.  

At Stellar Solutions, we offer talented, energetic, and immediately productive resources to satisfy our customers’ critical needs in systems engineering and integration, mission operations, program management and strategic planning. We are a leading service and expertise provider for high-tech commercial ventures, spanning communications, earth observation and remote sensing systems and data products, to the infrastructures that support earth orbiting and beyond earth orbit businesses.

Stellar Solutions is seeking a Senior Space RCO Systems Network and C2 Architect Engineer to support the development of first-of-kind space vehicles and missions for a Government customer. This role provides systems engineering technical assistance in a high-profile, fast-paced environment focused on delivering operationally dominant space capabilities with speed, quality, and technical rigor. The selected candidate will bring deep expertise in network design, command and control architectures, and space hardware/software integration to help advance mission-critical ground system capability.

This role operates as part of a small, highly empowered team where every team member is directly responsible for program success. Engineering responsibilities span space-rated hardware, software, sensors, processors, networks, and ground system interfaces in a responsive development environment. The candidate will assist the Government Program Manager in designing, planning, documenting, analyzing, and troubleshooting network solutions while communicating complex technical results to management and executive leadership.

Key responsibilities include:

• Assist the Government Program Manager with network design and implementation throughout the acquisition lifecycle of a space control ground system
• Facilitate connections between the system and external data sources or recipients
• Develop technical network diagrams to inform communications subsystem planning and execution
• Provide subject matter expertise on ground system external connections during technical workshops and reviews
• Support backlog refinement and sprint planning for external connection-related tasks
• Review and build deliverables to support subsystem closure and broader system capability delivery
• Support completion of communications security requirements for the ground system
• Assess contractor plans and execution to identify risks to performance, schedule, budget, and technical outcomes
• Evaluate program, project, and task deliverables to ensure quality standards are met and mission needs are supported
• Plan and perform engineering research, design development, and related engineering assignments in accordance with customer specifications
• Coordinate with multiple partners and agencies to support delivery milestones across system engineering communities
• Translate complex ideas and technical data into actionable recommendations, courses of action, and clear written and oral communications

Required Qualifications

• Minimum ten (10) years of DoD, Intelligence Community, or relevant industry work experience
• Experience with DoD acquisition, including documentation generation, presentation preparation, and support to programmatic discussions
• Experience developing requirements for the DoD or Intelligence Community
• Knowledge of space system engineering, development, and manufacturing
• Experience in network design, optimization, and security in classified and unclassified environments
• Strong understanding of networking protocols, routing and switching, network security, virtualization, and cloud computing
• Ability to diagnose and resolve network issues effectively
• Experience with DoD program management, including program development and transition
• Experience monitoring network performance, resolving issues, and performing regular maintenance such as software updates and security patches
• Experience creating network blueprints, selecting hardware and software, and supporting new network setup or network expansion
• Understanding of operational environments and corresponding mission user needs
• Experience with Statements of Work and Performance Work Statements
• Applicable engineering degree from an ABET-accredited program or Professional Engineering license
• MA, MS, or ME degree

Desired Qualifications

• Five (5) years of relevant DoD and/or industry work experience with SAP and/or SCI programs or environments
• Experience with network architecture for space vehicles and/or space ground systems
• Experience providing systems engineering technical assistance to a Government program office
• Experience with rapid prototyping and transition to operations
• Experience with integrated air, space, and cyberspace capabilities
• Experience with ACAT I/II level acquisition programs
• Familiarity with Intelligence Community organizations
• Experience working in multiple classification environments and implementing cross-domain solutions
• Experience with online collaboration tools such as Confluence, SharePoint, and JIRA
• Experience with cloud computing tools such as VMware, Amazon Web Services, or Microsoft Azure

Clearance & Additional Requirements

• Active Top Secret clearance with sensitive compartmented information and special access program eligibility
• No less than two (2) years total experience in SAP and/or SCI environments, with one (1) year total within the last five (5) years
• Willingness to submit to a Counter-Intelligence polygraph
• Candidate must maintain a TS/SCI clearance as a condition of employment
• Full-time, on-site support in the vicinity of Kirtland AFB, NM
• Ability to travel up to 30% of the time within the continental United States

Location

This position is full-time, on site in the vicinity of Kirtland AFB, NM.

Compensation:

The typical salary range for this position is USD $145,000 - $185,000 per year. Individual pay is determined by many factors including work location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. In addition to salary, this position is also eligible for a discretionary annual performance bonus, retirement plan and other benefits.

Deliverables will be in the format of reports, briefings, spreadsheets, or other documents as directed by the Government, using government approved and/or mandated systems/software and processes governed by guidance/instructions/policy or direction.