Technical Fellow Senior Principal III – SIGINT Mission Chief Engineer

Job Description

The SIGINT Mission Chief Engineer (MCE) serves as the principal technical authority, responsible for leading a cross-functional team and ensuring the delivery of solutions that meet customer requirements while adhering to organizational standards and strategic objectives. This senior leadership role demands exceptional technical expertise, business acumen, and interpersonal skills. The MCE must possess a deep understanding of the Tasking, Collection, Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (TCPED) chain and its underlying technologies, as well as the ability to collaborate effectively with various stakeholders. A high degree of emotional intelligence (EQ) is essential, as the MCE must be able to empower team members, foster a culture of excellence, and optimize individual and team performance to achieve mission objectives.

A well-qualified candidate will possess a deep understanding of several of the following aspects of the overhead SIGINT mission:

• Characteristics of RF emitters and associated Missions

• RF apertures and antenna design

• Performance characteristics of receiver processors and associated modes

• Spacecraft design constraints that enable the SIGINT mission

• Detection, characterization, and geolocation algorithms

• Tasking and coordinated scheduling of overhead systems.

The Engineering, Science and Analysis (ESA) Strategic Capabilities Unit comprises the technical talent and organizational leadership that enables the successful delivery of high-impact discriminating technologies for our customers’ missions. Our collaborative, cross-functional teams are committed to innovation, integrity, continual learning and strong execution.

What You’ll Do:

• Provide technical leadership and direction to the program team, including engineers, analysts and technicians to execute development of complex systems including spacecraft, instruments, ground, and missions
• Develop and implement the technical strategy for the program, aligning program goals and objectives consistent with established budget
• Oversee the design, development, testing and validation of the collection segment within the scope defined by the SOW
• Establish and control the technical baseline of the program as chair of the Engineering Review Board
• Ensure compliance with program requirements, regulatory standards, and industry best practices
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including program management, operations and logistics
• Identify and mitigate technical risks, and develop strategies for risk management
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships across the Space & Mission Systems sector within the Strategic Business Unit and across the Strategic Capability Units.
• Foster a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and technical excellence to maintain a positive and productive work environment.
• Prioritize empowering team members to take ownership and lead, exercising a thoughtful span of control that enables others to contribute, grow, and succeed.
• Maintain a regular and predictable work schedule.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships within the department, the Strategic Business Units, Strategic Capabilities Units and the Company. Interact appropriately with others in order to maintain a positive and productive work environment.
• Perform other duties as necessary.

On-Site Work Environment: This position requires regular in-person engagement by working on-site five days each normally scheduled week in the primary work location. Travel and local commute between company campuses and other possible non-company locations may be required.

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in an office, laboratory, production floor, or cleanroom, outdoors or remote research environment.
• May occasionally work in production work centers where use of protective equipment and gear is required.
• May access other facilities in various weather conditions.

Short-Term Incentive: Subject to business performance and recommendations of management, this role may be eligible to participate in an incentive compensation plan.

Required Education, Experience, & Skills

• BS degree or higher in Engineering or a related technical field is required plus 12 or more years related experience.
• Each higher-level degree, i.e., Master’s Degree or Ph.D., may substitute for two years of experience. Related technical experience may be considered in lieu of education. Degree must be from a university, college, or school which is accredited by an agency recognized by the US Secretary of Education, US Department of Education.
• A current, active TS/SCI security clearance is required.
• Demonstrated experience with SIGINT missions, payloads and space systems
• Proven track record of technical leadership and program management in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to think critically and creatively
• Willingness to delegate effectively, provide guidance and support, and create a space for others to lead and grow.
• Experience working the full program Lifecycle of a complex space-based system while leading a Mission Integration and Test team including planning and staffing
• Proven experience in Systems Engineering disciplines, with a strong background in:
  • Requirement creation, development, allocation, and verification
  • Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodologies
• Familiarity with hardware and software test processing including:
  • Test planning, execution, and problem resolution
  • Requirement sell-off efforts and allocation to test
  • Test infrastructure development and implementation across various domains (space, ground, and enterprise-level systems)
• Architecture design experience: Take concepts through trade studies and into an implementable solution including identifying connections between design, performance, and lifecycle cost.
• Extensive knowledge of missions and customers across core technologies areas. Knowledge/experience working with critical customer base, established relationships with key personnel within customer community.
• Superb presentation skills with documented presentation experience to senior decision making and technical audiences.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and analyzing mission concepts, including space, launch, and ground components.

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Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills

• Minimum 16 years of experience in engineering, with a focus on RF engineering, space vehicle design, development, and operations.
• Advanced degree (MS or Ph.D.) in a relevant field.

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $150370 - $255630

Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20 hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.


About BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems
BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it’s what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts – defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team—making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you’ll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference.

Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, Space & Mission Systems is a leading provider of national defense and civil space applications, advanced remote sensing, scientific and tactical systems for the U.S. Intelligence, Department of Defense and scientific communities. We continually pioneer ways to innovate spacecraft, mission payloads, optical systems, and other defense and civil capabilities. Powered by endlessly curious people with an unwavering mission focus, we continually discover ways to enable our customers to perform beyond expectation and protect what matters most.

This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.

Salary : $150,370 - $255,630