HADES - Chief Engineer - Space Ground Systems

About this role

Type of Requisition: Pipeline

Clearance Level Must Currently Possess: Top Secret/SCI

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: Top Secret/SCI

Public Trust/Other Required: None

Job Family: IT Infrastructure and Operations

Job Qualifications: Skills: Architecture Development, Satellite Ground Systems, Space Systems, Systems Development Certifications: Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) | International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2) - International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2) Experience: 10 + years of related experience US Citizenship Required: Yes

Job Description: Join General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) and help tackle some of the nation’s most complex space and ground-system challenges. The U.S. Space Force’s HADES program is seeking a Ground Systems Chief Engineer in Albuquerque, NM to lead technical strategy, system architecture, and mission integration for next‑generation satellite C2 capabilities.

Role Overview

As the program’s senior technical leader, you will guide end‑to‑end systems engineering for advanced satellite ground systems. You’ll shape architecture, drive mission risk management, and lead integration across cyber, crypto, communications, and cloud‑based technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the full systems engineering lifecycle, using authoritative data and model‑based engineering to reduce risk and improve product quality • Drive technical requirements, test-driven design, and verification approaches • Architect modular, open‑systems designs and identify reusable components • Direct implementation aligned to change management and system baselines • Oversee integration using automated, model-driven interface control • Build comprehensive test strategies across unit, subsystem, integration, and end‑to‑end levels • Coordinate validation with users, customers, and mission stakeholders • Design repeatable sustainment processes and data-driven maintenance insights • Oversee mission‑unique software integration and interface management • Lead system-of-systems integration across space and ground segments • Perform architecture and engineering analysis including requirements, interfaces, data architectures, performance, lifecycle costs, and CONOPS • Support risk management with technical risk assessments and mitigation strategies • Collaborate closely with Government, FFRDC, SETA, and contractor partners

Basic Qualifications

• BS in a technical field required; MS preferred • 15+ years systems engineering experience in aerospace, satellite ground systems, or major DoD programs • 4+ years in senior technical leadership (Chief Engineer, Lead Architect, Technical Director) • Experience with at least three of the following: • – Satellite ground control systems (MCC/SOC) • – Hybrid cloud architectures (AWS GovCloud, Azure Government, on‑prem) • – Multi‑mission, multi‑classification environments • – Enterprise software‑intensive or low‑cost R&D systems • – Complex configuration management for ground infrastructures • – DevSecOps, CI/CD, IaC • – High‑availability 24x7 operations (99.9%+)

• Active TS with SCI eligibility

Required Certifications

• AWS Solutions Architect – Professional OR Azure Solutions Architect Expert • INCOSE CSEP or ESEP • CISSP or Security+ (8140) • One of: SAFe Architect, DoDAF/MODAF, Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)

WHAT CAN GDIT OFFER YOU? • Excellent customizable health benefits (Medical, Dental and Vision) • 401K with company match • Educational Assistance and eLearning • Flexible work week • Internal mobility team dedicated to employee advancement • Rewards and Recognition programs • Innovative and collaborative environment encouraging of highly motivated critical thinking

The likely salary range for this position is $169,604 - $229,464. This is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary. Rather, salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and possibly contractual requirements and could fall outside of this range.

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40

Travel Required: 10-25%

T elecommuting Options: Onsite

Work Location: USA NM Albuquerque

Additional Work Locations:

Total Rewards at GDIT: Our benefits package for all US-based employees includes a variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, dental plan options, a vision plan, and a 401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post-tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match. To encourage work/life balance, GDIT offers employees full flex work weeks where possible and a variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave. To ensure our employees are able to protect their income, other offerings such as short and long-term disability benefits, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available. We regularly review our Total Rewards package to ensure our offerings are competitive and reflect what our employees have told us they value most.    

Our Identity Verification Process: As part of the hiring process, we will ask you to complete an identity verification process that leverages advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and protect against identity fraud. You are expected to be on camera during virtual interviews. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud. By proceeding, you authorize the collection, processing, and use of your biometric data for identity verification and security purposes.     About Our Work: We are GDIT. A global technology and professional services company that delivers technology solutions and mission services to every major agency across the U.S. government, defense and intelligence community. Our 26,000 experts extract the power of technolo

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