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Manager, Mission Design & Analysis Engineering (Clearance Required) Verified today

Sierra Space · 2 Locations · Space Systems · first seen 2026-07-16
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About the Role

You will lead a team of mission design and analysis engineers responsible for defining mission parameters and deriving driving mission requirements for novel spacecraft developments. You provide technical leadership and people management for engineers who model, simulate, and analyze system and system-of-systems performance parameters.

Your key responsibilities include:

  • Lead and manage multiple mission design sections or teams, providing direct supervision to engineers performing trajectory analysis, mission planning, and performance assessments across various spacecraft projects
  • Integrate mission design and analysis activities with broader systems engineering processes, including requirements management, interface control, and verification and validation
  • Translate top-level mission requirements into specific trajectory, orbit, and performance requirements for subsystems
  • Collaborate with hardware and software engineering teams to ensure mission design constraints are properly incorporated into spacecraft and ground system designs
  • Support system-level trade studies and alternatives analysis that impact mission design parameters
  • Identify, assess, and mitigate technical risks related to mission design and trajectory analysis
  • Establish and track mission-related technical performance measures aligned with systems engineering management plans
  • Develop and implement mission design processes that optimize spacecraft trajectories, propellant usage, and mission timelines
  • Support digital engineering initiatives that connect mission design tools with broader systems engineering environments
  • Manage budgets for mission design projects, analysis tool investments, and computational resources
  • Communicate complex mission concepts to diverse stakeholders including systems engineering, operations, and science teams
  • Build and maintain collaborative relationships across organizational boundaries

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree)
  • 8 or more years of relevant work experience in mission design and analysis
  • Minimum 3 years of experience in a managerial or leadership role
  • Comprehensive knowledge of orbital mechanics, trajectory design, mission analysis techniques, and space mission concepts
  • Experience with mission design and analysis tools: STK, GMAT, Free Flyer, Cameo EA, SysML, Matlab, Python for trajectory optimization, orbit determination, and mission performance analysis
  • Demonstrated ability to integrate mission design activities with broader systems engineering processes
  • Knowledge of systems engineering standards (NASA/SP-2016-6105, INCOSE SE Handbook) and mission design alignment with these frameworks
  • Proven experience translating mission requirements into operational plans and procedures
  • Strong leadership and people management skills
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills with ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to diverse stakeholders
  • Financial acumen with experience managing budgets and resources
  • Active Top Secret U.S. Security Clearance required

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master's degree or Ph.D. in Engineering, Physics, or related field
  • Experience managing mission design teams supporting spacecraft and launch vehicle programs
  • Knowledge of industry standards and regulations related to space operations, orbital debris mitigation, and planetary protection requirements
  • Experience with requirements management, interface control, and verification and validation processes
  • Demonstrated success in technical risk identification and management
  • Experience supporting system-level trade studies and cost-benefit analysis
  • Familiarity with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) approaches and digital engineering initiatives
  • Experience with spacecraft systems and subsystems, space mission sensors, payloads, and ground systems
  • Experience with DoD modeling environments: Brawler, Suppressor, AFSIM, EADSIM, ESAMS
  • Strong understanding of electronic warfare, space domain awareness, electro-optical sensing, and mission communications
  • Experience supporting business development, proposal preparation, and program cost and schedule management
  • Track record of building and developing high-performing technical teams
  • Demonstrated ability to drive process improvements and implement organizational changes
  • Proven ability to work collaboratively across organizational boundaries and build strong stakeholder relationships

Compensation

Pay range: $157,512.00 to $216,579.00. Your actual base compensation will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, experience, internal equity, and market competitiveness.

Requirements

This position requires an active Top Secret U.S. Security Clearance with SCI eligibility. U.S. Citizenship is required as this position needs an active security clearance for employment.