Systems Engineer II: Launch and Landing Regulation Specialist, Ground Processing and Operations

Are you a bold thinker? We dream big at Sierra Space-advocating the exploration of space, keeping service members safe and creating the systems that keep our world united and sustain our way of living. Join our team! As a Systems Engineer on the Federal Agency Integration (FAI) team, you will be using your skills and expertise to facilitate research, design, certification, and integration of cutting edge products and services crucial to Sierra Space's operations. As a cross-functional engineer, you are in charge of system-level ownership of new products and processes through the product lifecycle.
Sierra Space, based in Louisville, Colorado with operations in Madison, Wisconsin, Durham, North Carolina, and Kennedy Space Center, Florida, designs and manufactures advanced spacecraft, satellites, propulsion and environmental systems, spacecraft subsystems and components for the U.S. government (including NASA), commercial customers and international organizations. Learn more about Sierra Space
The FAI team is responsible for the integration of the Dream Chaser Spacecraft with all Federal Agencies that have regulatory oversight of commercial spacecraft launch, on-orbit operations and reentry. Team members of FAI support interactions primarily with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), United States Space Force (USSF) Ranges, and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) along with several other domestic and foreign agencies on a case-by-case basis, as required by the mission. In support of interacting with these organizations, FAI is responsible for all licensing and requirement compliance with the regulations set forth by the applicable agencies as well as actively reviewing proposed legislation and regulatory impacts being discussed within branches of the US and Foreign Governments.
The FAI team has complete ownership over work products such as license applications under 14 CFR Part 400, requirement & regulatory compliance (FCC, NOAA, etc), letters of agreement (LOAs), 91-710 requirement tailoring, missile system prelaunch safety packages (MSPSPs), and Program Requirements Documentation (PRD) for Range Integration.
Specific focus of this role is USSF Range Integration, responsible for the Range work products previously mentioned and being the focal point of contact for Sierra Space's Range coordination requirements; however, you will be required to gain a working-level understanding of FAA, FCC, and other federal agency regulations, and support development of associated work products. Internally, the USSF Range Integration Lead will work closely with the FAI team and with cross-functional teams at Sierra Space. Externally, this position is the point of contact for the USSF Range and/or customers and subcontractors who work with Sierra Space.
Other tasks include negotiating agreements, interpreting federal regulations, and interacting with Dream Chaser technical teams to insure synergy with regulatory compliance. In addition, creativity and agility to overcome diverse challenges and a desire to constantly learn are a must. This position requires ingenuity, resourcefulness, accountability, and high-level technical breadth to develop and execute creative solutions in this complex and dynamic field.
Primary Responsibilities & Skills:

• Integration:
  • Coordinate with Vehicle & Range Flow Project Manager primarily, but also with other functional areas (Program Management, engineering IPTs, finance, scheduling, etc), to facilitate federal agency integration and USSF Range work product creation
    • Strong written and verbal communication
    • Project management and execution skills with understanding of master schedule and day-to-day impacts
  • Strong ability to coordinate and lead complex technical discussions with internal subject matter experts and external customers; i.e.: FAA, USSF, and others as required.
  • Understand Sierra Space's vehicles and space systems as a whole, and how that relates to federal oversight, including but not limited to FAA & FCC regulations, 91-710 Range Requirements, ITAR, and other domestic/international policies and laws
    • Tactical and strategic approach to requirement and regulatory compliance
  • Strong propensity for system-level thinking and creative problem solving. An ability to understand wide-reaching impacts of decisions across the system and company.

• Leader & Communicator:
  • Support Technical Interchange Meetings (TIMs) and other formal and informal engineering and policy discussions with teammates, customers, and external stakeholders mentioned above.
  • Brief external customers and internal leadership on technical progress, risks, and alternative courses of action.
  • Author technical documentation and presentations that will be delivered to internal and external customers (executive leadership, technical review board meetings, and TIMs with the FAA, Range, NASA, etc).
  • Prepare material for, and support periodic internal and external reviews across Sierra Space's Customer Base: NASA, FAA, USSF, and others.
  • Facilitate and manage relationships with 3rd party suppliers who support FAI: RFP, SOW creation, and vendor performance management.

Must-haves:

• Bachelor of Science degree in System Engineering or related discipline and typically 5 or more years of relevant experience
• Related experience may be considered in lieu of required education
• Practical knowledge of engineering principles and practices
• Experience working in multi-disciplinary design and development teams
• Knowledge of requirements management, functional requirements parsing, derivation, and allocation; systems design, systems integration, technical risk identification and management strategies, and Verification and Validation (V&V) principles
• Basic understanding of space policy and regulations that govern the space industry
• Experience interpreting CFRs, federal agency notices, and other government documentation
• Ability to communicate clearly and succinctly with high level government officials, technical team members, and management team members at all levels
• Extensive experience working with Project Lifecycle Management (PLM) software tools such as Teamcenter, Oracle, Windchill, etc.
• Extensive experience with MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Vizio, and Project) and expert use of these tools for effective communication

Preferred:

• Experience with requirements management and system modelling tools, such as DOORS, Rhapsody, NoMagic, MATLAB
• Prior experience with the following government regulations and experience developing documentation in compliance with:
  • FAA: 14 CFR Part 23, 25, 91, 400-499
  • FCC: Special temporary authorizations and satellite licenses
  • USSF: 91-710, MIL-STDs, MSPSPs, PRDs
  • ASTMs, MIL-STDs, and other aerospace industry standards
• Prior experience with a complex system in the aerospace Industry:
  • Space vehicles (including experience with ground support equipment) lifecycle process: proposal, development, qualification, certification, and operation
  • Launch and Reentry vehicle analysis, and associated public and operational safety regulations (USSF Range, DOT, FAA, NTSB)
• Experience leading and managing customer/supplier relationships (RFP/SOW development, contract development, performance and earned value management)
• Background in the Aerospace and Defense Industry
• Exposure to baseline definition and maturation in a complex development setting, including the use of high impact trade studies and other measures
• Understanding of establishing and tracking key Technical Performance Measurements (TPM)
• The ability to obtain and maintain a Security Clearance may be required Learn more about the background check process for Security Clearances

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
To conform to U.S. Government international trade regulations, applicant must be a U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.
With 30+ years of proven spaceflight heritage, Sierra Space has provided more than 4,000 space systems, subsystems and components to customers worldwide, and participated in more than 500 missions to space, including to Mars. The company has technology in production and in development to enable space habitats for short- and long-duration space travel, a fleet of Dream Chaser spaceplanes, and the first free-flying commercial space station. Please visit www.sierraspace.com to learn more about Sierra Space, its business areas, capabilities, programs, products and services.
Estimated Starting Salary Range: $91,154.71 - $125,337.72
Sierra Space offers a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 8%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more.
As COVID-19 continues to significantly impact our employees, families and communities, we are taking action to address the increased risk and uncertainty COVID-19 and associated variants pose in the workplace. SNC is committed to supporting our employees while ensuring we continue to meet essential national security needs of our country.
With employee health and safety as our top priority, and as a federal contractor, SNC will continue to require COVID-19 vaccination status for all employees including new hires. In accordance with applicable requirements, all current and newly hired employees who are unvaccinated may be required to adhere to enhanced onsite safety protocols including weekly COVID-19 testing, face coverings, and social distancing.
The status of applicable COVID-19 vaccination requirements are subject to change depending on applicable court orders and the course of ongoing litigation. Candidates may later be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or have an approved exemption.
At Sierra Space, our mission is to dream, innovate, inspire and empower the next generation to transform humanity through technology and imagination. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we welcome our employees to bring their whole selves to their work. Sierra Space is committed to fostering an inclusive, accepting, and diverse environment free of discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Contributions to Sierra Space come in many shapes and styles, and we believe diversity in our workforce fosters new and greater ways to dream, innovate, and inspire.