Full-Time

Launch Systems Engineer

Posted on 11/14/2025

Deadline 5/23/27
QinetiQ

QinetiQ

5,001-10,000 employees

Global defense, security, and aerospace engineering

Compensation Overview

$134.8k - $174.9k/yr

Los Angeles, CA, USA

In Person

Category
Aerospace Engineering (1)
Requirements
  • TS/SCI with a CI/Poly; #qinetiqclearedjob
  • 10 years of relevant experience
  • 5 years of NRO experience
Responsibilities
  • Provide recommendations/products that reflect best path for the NRO and OSL Evaluate mission specification requirements
  • Assess adequacy of verification data/actions
  • Support planning, integration, acquisition for critical space launch support systems including systems-wide analysis with respect to sustainment, reliability, maintainability and availability
  • Identify elevated mission risks areas and develop mitigation approaches. Conduct Interface Compatibility Assessments
  • Advise on the Launch Readiness Process
  • Provide support to the OSL in preparing for and conducting all required meetings, briefings, reviews, and readiness assessments
  • Maintain working knowledge of launch base systems and infrastructure, NOPS systems infrastructure, including systems maintained by others such as Remote Ground Terminals, communications networks, fiber and conveyance systems that support OSL and NRO customers
  • Identify and scope facility, system and communications requirements for new missions and/or capabilities, along with recommended solutions
  • Prepare requirements documentation, including drawing and specifications as needed as well as period of performance and any OSL constraints.
  • Provide project management and technical support in support of OSL SystemEngineering and Enterprise level projects
  • Assess impacts to OSL capabilities of proposed changes to launch vehicle fleet, SV architecture, launch sites or other launch environment elements.
  • Develop briefings for OSL to present to NRO leadership and external organizations
  • Provide program and project cost estimates across all OSL capabilities
  • Support annual budget planning and execution reviews
  • Support technical and programmatic meetings
Desired Qualifications
  • 15 years of relevant experience
  • 10 years of NRO experience

QinetiQ is a global science and engineering company serving defense, security, and aerospace markets. It delivers advanced technologies, testing, evaluation, and integrated engineering services for government and commercial customers, including R&D, systems design, testing facilities, and program support to design, verify, and deploy defense and security solutions. The company originated from the UK's Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) and was privatized to become a private company, later expanding via Carlyle Group’s investment and a London IPO to grow, especially in the U.S. defense market. This mix of government-originated expertise and private-sector growth helps it offer broad, end-to-end capabilities across international projects. Its goal is to provide trusted science and engineering capabilities that help protect nations and people by delivering reliable defense, security, and aerospace solutions.

Company Size

5,001-10,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Mary Tavy, United Kingdom

Founded

1956

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Record backlog of £4.8 billion provides strong revenue visibility.[1]
  • Australian acquisition of Air Affairs expands defence aviation services capability.[user provided news]
  • Thermal event detection licensing opens battery safety revenue in EVs and aerospace.[user provided news]

What critics are saying

  • US defence services face budget pressure and roughly 1,000 job cuts.[user provided news]
  • Heavy dependence on government procurement exposes results to budget delays and pauses.[6][7]
  • Battery-safety licensing depends on third-party adoption, not direct end-market control.[user provided news]

What makes QinetiQ unique

  • Origins trace to the UK Ministry of Defence's 2001 DERA split.[3]
  • Operates as a science and engineering company in defence and security.[5][6]
  • Combines testing, evaluation, and research across air, land, sea, and target systems.[1]

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Your Connections

People at QinetiQ who can refer or advise you

Benefits

Flexible Work Hours

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

1%
DeFLI
Oct 25th, 2024
DeFli Announce Series A Funding | DeFli Network

An insight in to our Series A round

The Defense Post
Dec 7th, 2022
QinetiQ Acquires New South Wales Firm Air Affairs Australia

UK-based engineering firm QinetiQ has acquired defense aviation service provider Air Affairs Australia.

QinetiQ
May 27th, 2022
Our History

QinetiQ was formed in July 2001, when the Ministry of Defence (MOD) split its Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) in two. The smaller portion of DERA, was rebranded Dstl (Defence Science & Technology Laboratory).

Naval Technology
Feb 21st, 2022
QinetiQ Group plc partners with Babcock Education

As part of the BEQ consortium, QinetiQ will work together with prime contractor Babcock International and Elbit Systems UK to deliver the capability for the UK Royal Navy surface platforms.

Army Recognition
Feb 17th, 2022
Texelis SAS partnered with QinetiQ Group plc on Jan 1st 21'.

At the Singapore Airshow this week, French manufacturer Texelis announces that together with its partner, QinetiQ, they have delivered the first in-wheel Electric Hub Drive and suspension prototype system for installation on an 8x8 armored vehicle.

INACTIVE