Manager – Mission Design & Analysis Engineering

Sierra Space Careers:

At Sierra Space, we build the missions and systems that keep our world secure in the domain above Earth.  

Sierra Space team members share a spirit of innovation and collaboration and a belief that we can deliver on the boldest missions in space today. Together with our customers, we aim to safeguard our nation, sustain human presence in space, and secure the freedom of operations in low Earth orbit and beyond.  

Our success is measured by the trust of those who rely on what we build and deliver, and our technologies keep the United States and its allies mission-ready throughout space.

We are mission-driven, and together, we are an extraordinary team.

About the Role

The Manager, Mission Design & Analysis Engineering (Clearance Required) leads a team of mission design and analysis engineers responsible for defining mission parameters and deriving driving mission requirements for novel spacecraft developments. This role provides technical leadership and people management for engineers who model, simulate, and analyze system and system-of-systems performance parameters. The Manager ensures mission design activities are properly integrated with broader systems engineering processes, requirements management, and verification & validation efforts. They translate mission design functional plans into operational plans, manage resources and budgets, and collaborate across organizational boundaries to ensure mission design constraints are properly incorporated into spacecraft and ground system designs.

The Manager, Mission Design & Analysis Engineering is responsible for leading and managing multiple mission design sections or teams, providing direct supervision to engineers performing trajectory analysis, mission planning, and performance assessments across various spacecraft projects. This leader integrates mission design and analysis activities with broader systems engineering processes, including requirements management, interface control, and verification & validation, while supporting system-level trade studies and alternatives analysis that impact mission design parameters. The role involves translating top-level mission requirements into specific trajectory, orbit, and performance requirements for subsystems, and collaborating with hardware and software engineering teams to ensure mission design constraints are properly incorporated into spacecraft and ground system designs. The Manager is responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating technical risks related to mission design and trajectory analysis that could impact overall system performance, while establishing and tracking mission-related technical performance measures that align with systems engineering management plans. This position develops and implements mission design processes that optimize spacecraft trajectories, propellant usage, and mission timelines while meeting science or operational objectives, and supports digital engineering initiatives that connect mission design tools and data with broader systems engineering digital environments. The Manager exercises financial acumen by managing budgets for mission design projects, analysis tool investments, and computational resources, while effectively communicating complex mission concepts to diverse stakeholders including systems engineering, operations, and science teams. The role requires building and maintaining collaborative relationships across organizational boundaries, supporting organizational changes within mission design teams including implementation of new analysis methodologies and simulation tools, and upholding company values while holding teams accountable to both values and technical standards.

About You

Our mission is driven by an unyielding commitment to advancing space-based technology in service of our customers and safeguarding national security. We seek individuals who are passionate about innovating beyond boundaries and relentlessly pursuing solutions that protect, preserve and empower – to join us in this critical mission.  

We’re looking for team members who align with our values, mission and goals – while also meeting the minimum qualifications below. The preferred qualifications are a bonus, not a requirement.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree)
• Typically 8+ years of relevant work experience in mission design and analysis
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in a managerial or leadership role
• Comprehensive knowledge of orbital mechanics, trajectory design, mission analysis techniques, and space mission concepts
• Experience with mission design and analysis tools (e.g., STK, GMAT, Free Flyer, Cameo EA, SysML, Matlab, Python) for trajectory optimization, orbit determination, and mission performance analysis
• Demonstrated ability to integrate mission design activities with broader systems engineering processes
• Knowledge of systems engineering standards (e.g., NASA/SP-2016-6105, INCOSE SE Handbook) and mission design alignment with these frameworks
• Proven experience translating mission requirements into operational plans and procedures
• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to diverse stakeholders
• Financial acumen with experience managing budgets and resources
• People management experience
• An active Top Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Engineering, Physics, or related field
• Experience managing mission design teams supporting spacecraft and launch vehicle programs
• Knowledge of industry standards and regulations related to space operations, orbital debris mitigation, and planetary protection requirements
• Experience with requirements management, interface control, and verification & validation processes
• Demonstrated success in technical risk identification and management
• Experience supporting system-level trade studies and cost-benefit analysis
• Familiarity with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) approaches and digital engineering initiatives
• Experience with spacecraft systems and subsystems, space mission sensors, payloads, and ground systems
• Experience with DoD modeling environments (Brawler, Suppressor, AFSIM, EADSIM, ESAMS, etc.)
• Strong understanding of electronic warfare, space domain awareness, electro-optical sensing, and mission communications
• Experience supporting business development, proposal preparation, and program cost and schedule management
• Track record of building and developing high-performing technical teams
• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvements and implement organizational changes
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across organizational boundaries and build strong stakeholder relationships

Compensation:

Pay Range:

$157,512.00 - $216,579.00

Your actual base compensation will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, experience, internal equity and market competitiveness.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This position requires current/active Top Secret with SCI eligibility U.S. Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. Citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance.  The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination include, but are not limited to, allegiance to the U.S., foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations and illegal drug use.

Elevate Your Career

At Sierra Space, we are committed to your personal and professional development. We empower you to make profound and meaningful contributions and foster a vibrant culture of collaboration, where teamwork ignites breakthrough innovations. 

 
We also offer a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, and more.

Sierra Space is an industry-leading space and defense technology company providing satellites, spacecraft, and enabling mission systems and components. We deliver mission-proven technologies to our customers that safeguard our nation, protect space-based assets and enable space exploration.

Application Deadline: This role will remain posted until a qualified pool of candidates is identified.

Please note: Sierra Space does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to Sierra Space team members not through our approved vendor list or Talent Acquisition will be considered property of Sierra Space, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.

Sierra Space Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need special assistance or a reasonable accommodation related to applying for employment with Sierra Space or at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us.