Chief Software Systems Engineer with Security Clearance

Title: Chief Engineer, Space Electronic Warfare
Location: Colorado Springs, CO (Peterson Space Force Base area)
Schedule: Hybrid, 3-4 days per week onsite
Clearance Required: Top Secret (active); TS/SCI eligibility required; prior SCI access strongly preferred
Salary: $225,000 - $250,000+ (flexibility for the right candidate)
Employment Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire
Program Start: October 2025 (contract awarded, program launching imminently) Overview A new federal program is standing up a software hosting environment for command and control of Space Electronic Warfare systems.

This is a brand-new contract supporting distributed remote operations, including the ability to send control commands to remote antenna systems conducting space electronic warfare globally. You will lead the Systems Engineering team shaping this environment from the ground up. This is a leadership role first. You will set technical direction, own the full systems engineering lifecycle, and lead a team of engineers through integration, delivery, fielding, and operational acceptance.

Hands-on infrastructure work is available and welcomed, but your primary function is leading people and driving the program's technical posture forward.

What You Will Do Lead the Systems Engineering team across the full software development lifecycle, including requirements management, technical integration, validation, and verification
Drive system integration across government-furnished, contractor-developed, and third-party capabilities in a multi-contractor environment
Establish and evolve API contracts, common data models, and module-integration specifications
Ensure technical compliance of platform-hosted mission applications, SDK evolution, and framework services across capability releases
Develop and execute architecture to MOSA (Modular Open Systems Approach) principles, ensuring open, government-owned interfaces that prevent vendor lock-in
Lead integration of cloud-native architectures, microservices, and DevSecOps pipelines
Mentor and grow the systems engineering team; lead by influence across contractor teams where direct authority does not apply
Operate and architect across multiple classification levels, from unclassified through TS/SCI Required Qualifications 10+ years of experience leading enterprise systems engineering across the full software development lifecycle
5+ years leading system integration for government-furnished, contractor-developed, and third-party capabilities
Experience leading complex, multi-contractor integration efforts
Experience in cloud-native architectures, microservices, API governance, and DevSecOps (AWS preferred; Azure considered as well)
Experience ensuring technical compliance of platform-hosted mission applications and framework services
Demonstrated experience leading people, not just contributing technically
STEM bachelor's degree (required for labor category mobility and program compliance)
Active Top Secret clearance; TS/SCI eligibility required; prior SCI access required for SCI environment familiarity

Preferred Qualifications Master's degree in Systems Engineering or a STEM field
Active TS/SCI clearance
Experience with Electronic Warfare systems as an operator, engineer, or developer
Experience with MOSA architecture design and implementation
Knowledge of cybersecurity engineering, continuous Authority to Operate (cATO), Zero Trust Architecture, and risk management frameworks
Experience supporting contested-communications environments, multi-domain operations, or distributed operations
Hands-on operational experience with satellites, space command and control, or flying satellite systems What We Are Looking For The right candidate has owned the entire systems engineering picture, not just one phase.

They have delivered and fielded major systems for the DoD or Intelligence Community. They want to lead, not just build. They can translate operational mission needs into technical architecture and drive a team to execute. Experience with space, electronic warfare, or operational systems is a significant plus but not a barrier to consideration for the right engineering leader.