Senior Spacecraft Electrical Systems Engineer

Company Description

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.

We are committed to a diverse and equitable workforce with an inclusive culture that values and celebrates the diversity of our people, talents, ideas, experiences, and perspectives. This is important for continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.

Pay Range

$159,330 - $204,636 Annually for the SES.3 level

$191,220 - $245,544 Annually for the SES.4 level

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. Many factors are taken into consideration when setting starting pay including education, experience, the external labor market, and internal equity.

Job Description

We have an opening for a Senior Spacecraft Electrical Systems Engineer to provide spacecraft electrical subject matter expertise as part of a multi-disciplinary team performing concept development, requirements generation, modeling & simulations, and analyses of advanced space payloads and spacecraft models for the Z Program’s Space Science and Security Program (SSSP). You will collaborate with scientific and engineering personnel as well as senior management and external sponsors to design and deliver spacecraft models to support national security missions. You may also have some project management responsibilities for defining and implementing the technical, programmatic, and supervisory functions necessary to ensure the successful execution of the program’s agenda and develop a broad range of interfaces with current and potential sponsors. This position requires full-time on-site work. This position is in the National Security Engineering Division (NSED) within the Engineering Directorate.

This position will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.

You will

• Provide advanced knowledge in spacecraft electrical subsystems and components such as electrical power converters, batteries, on-board computers, and optical payload electronics;
• Lead electrical engineering design for spacecraft electronics from conceptualization, simulation, part grade specification, layout, fabrication, and acceptance testing under limited direction;
• Lead a diverse team of scientists and engineers to develop electrical systems requirements for models of advanced spacecraft systems;
• Perform modeling and simulations of spacecraft electrical components or subsystems based on limited information and utilizing space electronics best practices and fundamental electrical engineering design principles;
• Support mission planning functions, including design and analysis of spacecraft electrical requirements, electrical component assurance test plan, and operational concepts;
• Interface directly with management and external sponsors to communicate technical milestones and solicit input from technical leaders in the space program;
• Communicate results through formal technical reports and presentations;
• Review intelligence reports and derive technical assessments for the intelligence community and external sponsors based on fundamental engineering design principles;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.4 level

• Define technical direction in support of broadly defined objectives as the primary spacecraft electrical subsystem technical contact;
• Propose and develop strategies that enhance the ability of the lab to address new opportunities in space systems analysis, modeling, and simulations utilizing advanced technical knowledge of space systems engineering and best practices in the aerospace community;
• Participate in strategic planning and help develop an integrated strategy for space program activities consistent with the goals of the SSSP and Z Program, under consultative direction;
• Work closely with U.S. Government sponsors, other organizations, and technology leaders to provide technical input, and develop and refine new concepts that support national security missions;
• Responsible for personnel management. Conduct staff and performance management activities in collaboration with the appropriate Discipline managers, including succession planning;
• Mentor junior technical staff to promote professional development. Provide performance feedback to the appropriate managers as input to personnel performance evaluations;
• Define business plans for program execution, tracking costs and managing budgets.

Qualifications

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access, which requires U.S. citizenship;
• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related field, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience;
• Significant practical experience and/or theoretical depth in spacecraft electrical subsystems such as RF Communications, telemetry, tracking, and control (TT&C), command and data handling (C&DH), and/or electrical power;
• Experience leading a multidisciplinary project team that may include engineers, scientists, designers, and technicians;
• Significant experience and demonstrated track record of success in developing and implementing creative solutions to a diverse range of complex multi-disciplinary problems;
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment and present and explain technical information to colleagues, management or sponsors;
• Ability to effectively manage multiple parallel tasks, often requiring the resolution of conflicting work requirements and prioritization of tasks toward predetermined long-range targets;
• Ability to travel as necessary to present analyses to sponsors, stakeholders and mission partners.

Additional qualifications at the SES.4 level

• Expert level knowledge of concepts related to aerospace and/or electrical engineering of spacecraft and experience leading the development of proposals to meet space mission customer requirements;
• Substantial experinece conducting research and analysis related to national security issues;
• Substantial experience with programs and projects for National Security mission applications, subject matter expert knowledge and understanding of National Security mission requirements and related issues;
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective relationships with laboratory technical experts and coordinate with other U.S. government agencies;
• Experience managing and leading multidisciplinary (scientists, engineers, and analysts) project teams effectively, including systems engineering requirements definition and verification, resource and project management as well as demonstrated ability to motivate and collaborate with other personnel in achieving project objectives;
• Experience estimating cost and schedule of scientific, technical, spacecraft, or aerospace projects.

Qualifications We Desire

• Current active U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access;
• Master’s degree in electrical engineering or related field, or equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Experience with FPGA design and/or MIL-STD-1553 communications standards;
• Familiar with orbital mechanics, orbit determination, satellite maneuvering, identification or tracking;
• Experience with spacecraft operations in any phase, such as launch, deployment/initialization, mission operations, and disposal;
• Experience with on-orbit anomaly resolution, spacecraft failure review boards, and/or fault tree analysis;
• Experience with software tools, methods, and techniques as applied to spaceflight systems such as Matlab and/or Simulink;
• Experience conducting research and analysis related to national security issues, including extensive experience with Intelligence Community and Department of Defense needs and practices, including SCI security marking, intelligence oversight and compliance, and related security and safety practices;
• Familiarity with machine learning and/or data science theories or techniques

Additional Information

#LI-Onsite

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2024 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!;
• Flexible Benefits Package;
• 401(k);
• Relocation Assistance;
• Education Reimbursement Program;
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs);
• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) - visit https://www.llnl.gov/diversity;
• Our core beliefs - visit https://www.llnl.gov/diversity/our-values;
• Employee engagement - visit https://www.llnl.gov/diversity/employee-engagement.

Security Clearance

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance. If you are selected, we will initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if you meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. Also, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing. Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship.

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the use and/or possession of mobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area where you are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile device in your possession. This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.

If you use a medical device, which pairs with a mobile device, you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas. Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

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Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

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