Spacecraft Systems Engineer

Company Description

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.

We are dedicated to fostering a culture that values individuals, talents, partnerships, ideas, experiences, and different perspectives, recognizing their importance to the continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.

Pay Range

$168,780 - $256,824 Annually

$168,780 - $214,032 Annually for SES.3 level

$202,500 - $256,824 Annually for SES.4 level

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting; pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage.  An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Job Description

We have an opening for a Spacecraft Systems Engineer to provide spacecraft subject matter expertise as part of a multi-disciplinary team performing concept development, requirements generation, modeling & simulations, and analyses of advanced space payloads and spacecraft models for the Z Program’s Space Science and Security Program (SSSP). You will collaborate with scientific and engineering personnel as well as senior management to design and deliver spacecraft models to support national security missions. You may also have some project management responsibilities for defining and implementing the technical, programmatic, and supervisory functions necessary to ensure the successful execution of the program’s agenda and develop a broad range of interfaces with current and potential sponsors. This position is in the National Security Engineering Division (NSED) within the Engineering Directorate.

This position offers a hybrid schedule, blending in-person and virtual presence. You will have the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week. 

This position will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level. 

You will

• Function independently with minimal direction, taking significant responsibility and using advanced knowledge and judgment to establish objectives, prioritize parallel tasks, allocate resources, and collaborate in the development of innovative methods/technology to guide the completion of projects and contribute to the development of organizational goals.
• Provide advanced level knowledge and technical support in one or more spacecraft subsystems such as attitude and orbital controls, propulsion, solar array design, electrical power systems, avionics, data handling and on-board processing, thermal, structures and mechanisms, telemetry, tracking, and control (TT&C), RF communications, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) payloads, and/or electro-optical payloads.
• Conduct various comprehensive and complex analyses of spacecraft performance and capabilities.
• Collaborate and interface directly with management and external sponsors to coordinate and communicate technical milestones and solicit input from technical leaders in the space program.
• Use technical expertise and analytical skills to develop and communicate results through formal technical reports, presentations, and peer-reviewed papers as appropriate.
• Review intelligence reports and perform, prepare, and provide technical analysis for the intelligence community and external sponsors.
• Provide technical expertise and analytical support to guide, contribute to, and collaborate effectively with a multi-disciplinary team including engineers, scientists, and technical staff to solve complex technical problems and achieve specific technical goals relevant to national security missions in space systems.
• Maintain appropriate security in a Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) environment.
• May mentor other less experienced team members.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

 Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.4 level 

• Operate under consultative direction with substantial authority, using in-depth analysis and subject matter expertise in highly advanced concepts, to resolve a diverse range of highly complex problems, independently determine strategies, modify approaches, and pursue actions that impact organizational operations or directions and achieve long