Principal Engineer, Mission Systems Integration

Iridium is an award-winning and innovative satellite communications company with bragging rights to the only network that offers voice and data connectivity anywhere in the world. For over 20 years, Iridium's unique network and services have supported critical communications needs for individuals, businesses, and the evolving Internet of Things.

At Iridium, we understand the importance of staying connected and the limitations of traditional communications networks. People across the globe, including first responders, humanitarians, global militaries, scientific researchers, and lone workers, as well as ships, aircraft and remote operations all rely on Iridium to stay connected. We take our responsibility for providing these essential communications very seriously and pride ourselves on offering a reliable lifeline when needed. Likewise, Iridium is committed to providing an exciting and innovative workplace, where employees are challenged to think outside the box and collaborate on new, bold ideas and solutions. Our talented teams are passionate about their work and the impact our company makes around the world. Iridium fosters an empowering and inclusive culture that allows employees to genuinely be their best selves. We are looking for others who want to join this truly unique company that celebrates our employees and provides the opportunity to truly make a difference in the world.

What We're Looking For:

If you are passionate about space and deploying disruptive space technology, we want to talk to you! Iridium is seeking a motivated and experienced Principal Engineer, Mission Systems Integration to join our team. In this role, you will support the integration of our core ground system components, including constellation mission management and ground transport capabilities, that will manage operations for a new constellation of space vehicles on behalf of the Space Development Agency (SDA). You will also coordinate with Space Vehicle Vendors and the SDA customer to ensure that our system level development meets mission objectives. You will thrive in this role if you have a desire to be part of a team on the forefront of one of the most advanced satellite constellations in the world and are highly motivated and passionate about system engineering and space systems.

This position requires an active/current Top Secret/SCI U.S. Security Clearance with the ability to obtain CI Polygraph (A U.S. Security Clearance that has been active in the past 24 months is considered active).

What You'll Do:

Plan, organize, and integrate current and emerging operational and system capabilities to achieve desired warfighting mission effects
• Deliver engineering results to identify enhanced capabilities, technologies, system interdependencies, and architectures in development of reference missions and close mission capability gaps
• Use systems in an operational mission context to inform stakeholders about building the right functions and guiding capability maturation to address warfighter mission needs
• Provide technical leadership and oversight for the integration of multiple components within a satellite ground system, ensuring compatibility, functionality, and performance at the system level
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including hardware, software, and network engineers, to ensure integration and interoperability of system components
• Conduct system-level analysis and troubleshooting to identify and resolve complex technical issues, coordinating with relevant stakeholders to implement effective solutions
• Develop and maintain system-level architecture and design documentation, ensuring alignment with project requirements, industry standards, and best practices
• Conduct risk assessments and mitigation planning for system integration activities, identifying potential risks, developing contingency plans, and implementing risk mitigation strategies
• Collaborate with system architects and project managers to define system-level requirements, establish technical baselines, and track performance metrics throughout the integration process
• Collaborate with government agencies and stakeholders to understand mission objectives, requirements, and constraints, and ensure that system engineering activities align with these objectives
• Develop and implement mission assurance plans and processes to assess and mitigate risks associated with system design, integration, testing, and operations, ensuring mission success and resilience

What You'll Need to Succeed:

• Bachelor's degree in system's engineering or related field, OR equivalent relevant experience in lieu of a degree
• 10+ years of relevant experience in the DoD (Department of Defense) or IC (Intelligence Community) sector designing, developing, and implementing ground systems in support of space missions
• Experience with systems engineering, agile software development, and hardware integration
• Ability to decompose a complex mission into its component parts and analyze the relationships between those parts to then identify potential risks and problems early on and develop effective solutions to mitigate those risks
• Strong familiarity with tools and software applications that support system engineering best practices
• Ability to formulate problem statements, characterizing missions, identifying mission metrics, and using models to analyze missions
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey products, deliverables, analyses, and/or issues clearly and confidently, and recognize and adapt to different communication techniques
• Be able to analyze a situation or problem, generate effective solutions, and see those solutions through to completion
• Must possess the creativity and resourcefulness needed to make reliable decisions and determine methods on new assignments
• Can easily build meaningful relationships with others, including senior leadership outside of your own department, and comfortable providing constructive feedback to your team members and management
• Can thrive in a dynamic environment by handling multiple tasks and managing shifting priorities
• Be proactive in sharing knowledge you've learned with others

Things That Would be Great if You Brought to the Table:

• Experience with space operations, including mission control, telemetry, and mission services
• Experience with Space Vehicle Subsystems and various command and control systems (e.g. OS Comet, InControl, etc.)
• Experience with launch and early operations of space vehicles
• Experience with Link-16 and other tactical sensors
• Knowledge of Overhead Persistent Infra-Red (OPIR) operations
• Working knowledge of networking protocols, routers, switches, etc.
• Familiarity with Atlassian Tool Suite such as JIRA, R4J, and Confluence

We'll also need you to:

• Be able to travel up to 10%
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Ability to work in the office at least 2 days a week to foster collaboration with the team and stakeholders

Work Environment:

This position primarily works in the company office or in a home office. The position is largely sedentary with the majority of the position sitting in a chair and working with a computer. The role uses basic office equipment including a phone, video, computer, keyboard, mouse and printer. For meetings in person, this position will need to be able stand, walk within the office and climb stairs on occasion.

Iridium is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or status as a protected veteran. EOE of Minorities/Females/Vets/Disability and other protected categories.