Spacecraft and Ground Systems Integration Engineer

About Us 

Be a part of a winning team that provides technical solutions with integrity. Cortina is a government contractor providing technical professional services. But we are so much more than that! For approximately every three employees brought on to support the government, we hire an individual from an under-resourced, developing community and train them to enter the professional job market.   

Cortina is very proud of the reach-back it offers to the local community. Not only that, we LOVE our employees and do all we can to ensure they have a great work experience. Come join a company that believes in being a part of something bigger than themselves!  

Job Description

This role will be responsible for spacecraft and ground system integration for multiple mission systems and serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external customers. Integration activities include requirements identification and verification, launch and on-orbit operations, vehicle disposal, CONOP development, mission analysis, and on-console operations.  Our ideal candidate will also provide expertise and have an active role in shaping on-orbit and future operations.  

• Performs and leads integration activities for spacecraft and ground systems, ensuring on-orbit command and control.
• Investigates and troubleshoots system issues. Documents problems and opportunities for improvement. Proposes and implements process improvements.
• Evaluates, influences, refines, integrates, and validates program requirements for on-orbit and future programs.
• Advocates for operations requirements and ensures engineering implementations meet operational needs.
• Provides spacecraft and ground systems expertise to a broad array of engineering, development, integration, and strategic initiatives.
• Supports planning, preparation, execution, and evaluation of spacecraft and launch vehicle rehearsals, exercises, and compatibility tests.
• Prepares, reviews, and improves operational, anomaly, and contingency procedures for launch, on-orbit, and disposal operations.
• Works in a dynamic team environment that includes government personnel, SETAs, program offices, contractors, and spacecraft and launch vehicle manufacturers.
• Interfaces with systems engineering, software engineering, cyber, IT, and launch personnel to ensure requirements are being met.
• Achieves and maintains certification as a ground systems operations controller. Provides on-console support to test, launch, and on-orbit operations. Provide surge support to operations.

Job Requirements

• Must have an Active TS/SCI DoD security clearance AND an adjudicated CI Polygraph
• Bachelor’s STEM degree
• Robust knowledge of spacecraft flight operations and ground systems utilized for spacecraft command and control.
• Knowledge of systems engineering processes, system verification validation and test (VV&T), and requirements interpretation.
• Demonstrable skills in both written/oral communications, including the ability to understand and explain technical concepts in briefing and working group settings, and the ability to tailor delivery to those with differing knowledge levels or backgrounds.
• Ability to efficiently and independently multi-task in a deadline-driven environment.
• Self-motivated and able to complete tasks with minimal oversight.
• Able to maintain crew certification as a ground systems operations controller.
• Able to occasionally work abnormal hours to support events such as enterprise and compatibility testing, and spacecraft launches.
• Able to occasionally travel to factory, government, and launch locations within the US.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within the intelligence community.
• Spacecraft ground systems engineering or spacecraft vehicle engineering experience.
• Experience working with Collaborative Task Management tools such as JIRA and Confluence.
• Experience with spacecraft and ground systems verification validation and test (VV&T) activities.
• Working knowledge of orbital mechanics.

Benefits: 

Cortina Solutions is committed to offering comprehensive and affordable benefits to employees and their families. 

• • BCBS Medical and Dental Insurance 
  • VSP Vision 
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) Compatible Health Plan
  • Flexible spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Care Reimbursement 
  • Company-paid Life Insurance 
  • Company-paid Short and Long Term Disability Insurance 
  • Voluntary Term Life Insurance 
  • Matching 401(k) Plan 
  • Flexible PTO 
  • Paid Maternity and Paternity Leave
  • Federal Holidays 
  • Company Match on Employee Non-Profit Donations
  • Professional Development