Aerospace EngineeringSpacecraft & Launch Vehicle Systems
No H1B Sponsorship
US Citizenship Required
About the job
Requirements
Must be a United States citizen and be able to obtain and maintain a United States Government security clearance.
A bachelor's degree in engineering or a related science and at least eight years of relevant experience are required.
Knowledge of systems engineering tools and analysis methods is required.
Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite is required.
Strong verbal and written communication skills are required.
Previous experience leading teams of engineers and technicians is required.
Experience writing and executing test plans and procedures is required.
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, schematics, and wiring diagrams is required.
Familiarity with test equipment, Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE), and Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) is required.
Ability to work effectively individually and within a team is required.
Strong technical problem-solving and analytical skills are required.
Strong attention to detail while maintaining a system-level perspective is required.
Ability to make decisions independently and seek guidance as appropriate is required.
Some travel may be required.
Responsibilities
Lead facility stand-up and sustainment processes, including the equipment, supplies, hardware, software, support equipment, and other resources needed for Assembly, Integration, and Test (AI&T) operations.
Manage classified logistics, procurement, calibration, and hardware configuration control in accordance with program and facility requirements.
Develop and maintain laboratory procedures, test plans, work instructions, Acceptance Test Procedures (ATPs), Qualification Test (QT) documentation, and associated test reports.
Support SDL and AFRL Program Managers and lead systems engineers in technical project management, including technical risks, requirements, interfaces, configurations, and related systems engineering activities.
Gather system-level requirements, evaluate design alternatives, perform systems analysis, and decompose solutions into actionable engineering tasks.
Develop AI&T plans to satisfy program and system requirements, including requirement verification approaches, assembly and test sequences, and integration of development units into the overall test strategy.
Lead and perform assembly, integration, and testing of space hardware across software, hardware, thermal, structural, optical, electrical, and related domains.
Execute tests, gather artifacts, and generate requirement verification reports.
Develop, maintain, and communicate regular program status reports for internal and external customers to monitor and report progress.
Desired Qualifications
An active Top Secret security clearance is preferred.
Experience defining and documenting requirements is preferred.
Experience with environmental test processes, including thermal vacuum, vibration, and EMI/EMC, is preferred.
Experience with optical system calibration and testing is preferred.
Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools and processes is preferred.
Hands-on experience with spaceflight article design, fabrication, and testing is preferred.
Broad understanding of mechanical, electrical, electronic, software, and optical systems, astrodynamics, navigation, propulsion, or guidance is preferred.
Experience with schedules and requirement tracking is preferred.
Experience leading small teams and coordinating with others to solve challenging problems is preferred.
Job ID: 9473 Date Posted:September 15, 2026
Join the Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) team and contribute to innovative technologies supporting critical national security missions. We are seeking a motivated mid-level or senior-level Multidisciplinary Systems Engineer to join our Assembly, Integration, and Test (AI&T) team in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In this role, you will support SDL’s mission for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) by establishing and operating AI&T capabilities for small spacecraft, spacecraft payloads, and aeroshell vehicles. Working closely with government program managers, engineers, and SDL technical teams, you will support programs from AI&T planning through integration, testing, and reporting. This position is ideal for an engineer with broad technical expertise who thrives in a collaborative, mission-driven R&D environment and is comfortable navigating the uncertainty of emerging technologies.
Key Responsibilities:
Leads facility stand-up and sustainment processes, including equipment, supplies, hardware, software, support equipment, and other resources required to support AI&T operations
Manages classified logistics, procurement, calibration, and hardware configuration control in accordance with program and facility requirements
Develops and maintains laboratory procedures, test plans, work instructions, Acceptance Test Procedures (ATPs), Qualification Test (QT) documentation, and associated test reports
Supports SDL and AFRL Program Managers and lead systems engineers in technical management of projects including technical risks, requirements, interfaces, configurations, and related systems engineering activities
Gathers system-level requirements, evaluate design alternatives, performs systems analysis, and decomposes solutions into actionable engineering tasks
Develops AI&T plans to satisfy program and system requirements, including requirement verification approaches, assembly and test sequences, and incorporating development units into the overall test strategy
Leads and performs activities for the assembly, integration, and testing (AI&T) of space hardware across software, hardware, thermal, structural, optical, electrical, and related domains
Executes tests, gathers artifacts, and generates requirement verification reports
Develops, maintains, and communicates regular program status reports for internal and external customers to monitor and report progress
Required Qualifications:
Must be a US citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain US Government Security Clearance
Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related science and 8+ years of relevant
Knowledge of system engineering tools and analysis methods
Previous experience leading teams of engineers and technicians
Experience writing and executing test plans and procedures
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams, etc.
Familiarity with test equipment, MGSE, and EGSE
Ability to work effectively both individually and within a team environment
Strong technical problem-solving and analytical skills
Strong attention to detail while still having a system-level perspective
Ability to make decisions independently and seek guidance as appropriate
Some travel may be required
Preferred Qualifications:
Active Top Secret security clearance
Experience with defining and documenting requirements
Experience with environment test processes (thermal vacuum, vibration, EMI/EMC, etc.)
Experience with optics system calibration and testing
Experience with MBSE tools and processes
Hands on experience with spaceflight article design, fabrication, and testing
Broad understanding of mechanical, electrical, electronic, software and optical systems astrodynamics, navigation, propulsion, or guidance
Experience with schedules and requirement tracking.
Experience leading small teams and coordinating with others to solve challenging problems.
Salary Range
$160,000 - $220,000
Salary commensurate based on education and experience
This range serves as a general guideline and may vary based on factors such as role, level, location, market conditions, and individual qualifications, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. The range displayed in the job advertisement reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries across all US locations. Specific salary details for a candidate’s preferred location can be provided by the recruiter or HR manager during the hiring process.
Why Join SDL? SDL offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package. Visit our Benefits Page to learn more about what we offer.
SDL supports a variety of missions, including NASA’s vision to reveal the unknown for the benefit of humankind and the Department of Defense’s aim to protect our Nation on the ground, in the air, and in space. Our sensors, satellites, software systems, and science and engineering play an essential role in some important missions you’ve heard of, and others that you haven’t. Join our team in our seventh decade of delivering mission success.
At SDL, we uphold a culture of respect, collaboration, empowerment, and accountability. We listen with open minds, seek to understand diverse perspectives, and engage in thoughtful dialogue. We work together by sharing knowledge, involving others, and offering support. We trust and empower our team members to take ownership, act with integrity, and be accountable. Above all, we deliver on our commitments to each other and to our mission partners.
The application window for this position is expected to remain open for approximately 7 days. However, it may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications promptly.
For questions, assistance, or accommodation with the application process or the DoD SkillBridge program, please contact [email protected].