Systems Engineer

Job Title

Systems Engineer

Location

WALLOPS ISLAND, VA 23337 US (Primary)

Category

Engineering, General Laborer

Job Type

Full-Time

Compensation Minimum (USD)

$135,000

Compensation Maximum (USD)

$150,000

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum Citizenship Status Required

U.S Citizen or Permanent Resident

Security Clearance Required

None

Job Description

The NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite Products and Operations (OSPO) has established a Mission Operations Enterprise Systems Engineering Team (MOESET) that requires flexible Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) support. This support helps to address critical gaps in engineering expertise and project management within OSPO’s divisions. Additionally, it may fulfill engineering, project administration, or leadership roles for various partner missions as well as OSPO's internal sustainment and ground architecture evolution initiatives. This assistance will encompass several NOAA missions and partnerships. STC is seeking a Satellite Ground Systems Engineer / SME with the qualifications below for this effort. 

 

Job Description 

 

• Provide engineering expertise in the installation, integration, and operation of ground systems that support NOAA's Satellite Service and related space missions. 

• Perform professional engineering work involving electronic circuits, circuit elements, equipment, systems, and associated phenomena concerned with electromagnetic or acoustical wave energy or electrical information for purposes such as communication, computation, sensing, control, measurement, and navigation. 

• Provide support to Engineering Assessments (EA) and cost estimation, if requested.  

• Support oversight of sustainment projects to provide the Government insight on vendor commitments and constraints in terms of budget, schedule, technical scope and quality. 

• Validate space capability requirements, analyze current system performance, and perform gap analysis to support emerging capabilities in the program. 

• Support investigations into Network, Antenna, or any other ground-related anomaly and participate in the notification and closure processes. 

• Support the transition of the space data distribution and network configuration. 

• Deliver data, recommendations, analytical reports, or papers, including Interface Control Document (ICD) generation and updates/mods. 

• Interface with NOAA and other Government staff to support regular meetings and to present relevant information per assigned tasking. When appropriate, support shall include coordination, moderation, and meeting documentation for various program activities including outreach to government, non-profit, and non-governmental organizations. 

• All SMEs shall have the ability to analyze problems, identify solutions, work in a fast-paced team environment, and have strong written and verbal communication skills. 

 

Specific Duties 

 

Specific duties of the Lead/Senior Systems Engineer include: 

• Plans, coordinates, and manages assigned project(s) based on overall objectives, milestones, expected results, and constraints in support of program functions or designated area of responsibility. This includes the annual budget and schedule of operations. 

• Advises management of progress, and/or issues, conflicts in priorities, and/or unusual situations. This includes coordination on project identification, funding, and prioritization. 

• Leads a team effort to accomplish the project goals and objectives. 

• Develops short and long range plans/programs, including new approaches to problems, and required resources given existing capabilities. 

• Represents organization on technical committees. 

• Provides leadership and expert advice within the agency, to other agencies and to contract engineers/vendors on engineering systems of major size and complexity. 

• Leads or supports in-progress design reviews and shop drawing reviews. 

• Consults with contractor scientists/engineers to resolve complex problems and latent conditions developed during manufacturing. 

• Develops solutions and initiates change documents applying an understanding of the customer's scientific or engineering data analysis and requirements. 

• Ensures completion of documentation for procurement of diverse and unique electrical, mechanical, physical science, and civil systems and specialized equipment for satellite/ground systems and various facilities. 

• Maintains contacts with industry manufacturers and engineers concerning technical information. Works with manufacturers and customers to develop specialized ground equipment to enhance satellite communications and data distribution for their various systems. 

• Conducts feasibility and on-site investigations of projects to determine existing conditions and unconventional operating requirements; obtains data analysis/anomalies to initiate major engineering/science design projects. 

• Develops preliminary design parameters and data/equipment design solutions, and project costs incorporating recommendations of other engineers/scientists, managers, and field supervisors; considers constraints such as impact on project operation. 

• Determines project testing & operational requirements, contracting needs, supplies, and materials to complete the project. 

• Support the Government Change Control Board (CCB) by providing an engineer experienced with Configuration Control and Management processes to create, maintain, and track completion of agendas, minutes, and action items. 

• Maintains each document, diagram, data set, or technical data package used in the mission operations of all assigned systems as needed. Tracks Configuration Change Requests (CCRs) to their assigned materials and makes recommendations to the Government for when they should issue a new revision of the materials.  Submits CCRs for Document Change Requests. 

Job Requirements

Education and Experience 

 

• Bachelor's or master's degree in aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering (or equivalent) 

• Fifteen or more years' experience in satellite ground stations and a broad working knowledge of core ground processing elements, antenna systems (including an understanding of RF science and applications), space and terrestrial networks, and operations, simulation, and testing tools. 

• Extensive experience in systems engineering and project management, preferably in the areas of space-ground communications systems. 

We are equal opportunity/affirmative action employers, committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under state or local law.