Senior Systems Engineer - Ground Systems & Advanced Concepts
Senior systems engineer at SES Space & Defense in Reston, VA, architecting, integrating, and delivering satellite ground-segment capabilities (mPOWER-based relay services, intersatellite links, hosted payloads) from concept through POCs and operational systems. Core skills: systems engineering, MBSE, ground infrastructure, satcom modems/waveforms, and RF.
- Compensation
- Not disclosed
- Location
- Not listed
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- Senior
- Employment
- Not specified
- Experience
- 7+ years
- Category
- Software engineering
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering or technical discipline, or equivalent education and directly applicable experience
- 7+ years of relevant Systems Engineering experience developing, integrating, or delivering complex technical systems
- Experience developing or integrating satellite, ground, communications, network, or mission systems
- Experience developing ground-segment or end-to-end communications architectures
- Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and requirements development, management, traceability, and verification
- Experience developing and executing system integration and test plans, procedures, and test reports
- Broad understanding of satellite communications and the interaction between space, ground, network, and user segments
- Working knowledge of satellite ground infrastructure, networking, ground command and control, mission planning, or related systems
- Familiarity with satellite communications modems, waveforms, and associated RF equipment at hub/gateway and remote/user-terminal sides
- Ability to translate emerging technical concepts into practical architectures and coordinate integration across hardware, software, networks, and operations
- Strong written, verbal, analytical, and technical presentation skills
- Must meet U.S. Person requirements
Nice to have
- Experience with SES mPOWER and multi-orbit satellite architectures
- Familiarity with the SES mPOWER ground control software suite and associated operational architecture
- Familiarity with intersatellite links, satellite relay services, hosted payload integration, and UHF SATCOM
- Experience with satellite ground stations, gateways, teleports, SOCs, NOCs, or Ground Command and Control systems
- Experience executing POCs, demonstrations, prototypes, or Government-funded studies
- Familiarity with digitization of communications and ground-system functions, cloud architectures, APIs, automation, and orchestration
- Experience supporting U.S. Government or DoD communications programs and/or ability to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance
Full description
Who We Are:
At SES Space & Defense, we deliver secure, resilient connectivity and integrated space solutions for customers operating in the world’s most demanding environments. As part of SES S.A., a global leader in satellite-enabled communications, we combine capabilities across all orbits with extensive global ground infrastructure, managed networks, hosted payload solutions, and mission integration services to support communications, sensing, data transport, and operational resilience worldwide.
Our vertically integrated space and ground capabilities bring together satellite capacity, terrestrial infrastructure, advanced network technologies, and deployed user terminals to support mission-critical government operations around the world. We are a trusted partner to the U.S. Federal Government and national security community, allied governments, NATO, NASA, and other civilian agencies, delivering reliable, high-performance solutions when mission success is critical.
At SES Space & Defense, our people are our competitive advantage. You’ll work alongside a mission-driven team committed to integrity, innovation, accountability, and delivering real-world impact for customers whose missions matter most.
What You'll Do:
SES Space & Defense is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer – Ground Systems & Advanced Concepts to support strategic franchise initiatives focused on developing and maturing innovative space-based capabilities and services. The position will focus primarily on the architecture, integration, and delivery of ground-segment capabilities supporting SES mPOWER-based satellite relay services, multi-orbit architectures, intersatellite links, and hosted payload missions.
This role bridges concept development and execution, working with franchise teams, Business Development, engineering organizations, customers, and technology partners to translate emerging concepts into executable ground architectures, proofs of concept (POCs), demonstrations, study contracts, and ultimately operational capabilities.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop ground-segment and end-to-end architectures supporting strategic franchise initiatives, including SES mPOWER-based satellite relay services, intersatellite links, hosted payloads, and UHF capabilities.
- Translate space-segment concepts into executable ground architectures, interfaces, operational concepts, and integration approaches.
- Develop and manage system requirements, interfaces and Interface Control Documents (ICDs), architecture models, and verification approaches using MBSE and requirements management practices.
- Define and integrate ground infrastructure including gateways, ground stations, command and control, mission planning, terrestrial networks, cloud environments, customer interfaces, modems, waveforms, and associated RF equipment.