Ground Systems Engineer Jobs
Ground Systems Engineer jobs are open across aerospace, defense, and government contracting, from early-career to senior and staff levels, with specializations in satellite command and control, launch vehicle support, and mission operations. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 101+ Ground Systems Engineer jobs
Activities include concept of operations formulation, requirements definition, analysis and engineering, system architecting, system analysis and design, interface and data architectures, validation and verification, systems integration, system & op. performance analysis, Lifecycle cost analysis & estimation, decision analysis and physical configuration analysis (PCA). This position focuses on evaluation of Network Design and Implementation, Maintenance, Optimization, Security, and Troubleshooting/Problem Resolution. Candidate will be able to:
- Understand network systems architecture, security protocols, VPNs, firewalls, and data center environments. Support evaluation of proposed network design and existing network architecture including scalable, high-performance systems.
- Show a thorough understanding of virtualization technologies such as VMware or Hyper Visors, cloud networking, and automation tools such as Ansible For existing networks, understand how to monitor network performance for optimal operation, identify bottlenecks, and evaluate network analysis identifying areas of improvement and optimization.
- Support evaluation of latest security protocols, risk assessments, and strategies to mitigate network risks.
- Provide advice on network architecture, network performance, and security risks.
- Provide advice on data center floor layout, power & cooling, data storage, infrastructure management, backup, monitoring, operating systems, directory services, identity management, access management, and automation.
- Provide formal and informal feedback on program status and recommendations for the best way forward
- Provide systems engineering support for requirements development, design, test plans, and requirements verifications through acceptance testing from developers
- Review and assess the adequacy of ground systems specifications, RADs, RVPs, ICDs, RVRs and system level requirements documentation.
- Review, analyze and coordinate any changes to ground system specifications. Participate in defining, managing, testing, verifying and validating collection segment internal and external interfaces.
- Coordinate with SED, GED, MOD and non-NRO SPO ground elements as required.
- Prioritize and manage multiple tasks, ability to work and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
- Provide advice on the design and deployment of scalable infrastructure platforms
- Attend system level design reviews and program management reviews to assess ground system design maturity, requirements compliance and to provide informed technical recommendations to the customer.
- Review, document and trace ground systems hardware and software requirements, and coordinate with other engineers, FFRDC and developer personnel to resolve issues.
- Review ground system requirements allocations for accuracy and ensure requirement allocation documentation is complete and accurate.
- Review acquisition milestone ground systems design documentation for adequacy, accuracy and completeness, and identify cost, schedule and technical risks/opportunities, and provide mitigation strategies through formal and informal comments. Assess adequacy of developer verification data and provide recommendations to the GPOC for approval or disapproval with clear commentary demonstrating the logic for the recommendations.
- Develop and maintain productive relationships with prime contractor counterparts and functional counterparts
- Understand risk management processes and methods for adjudicating program risk mitigation strategies
- Coordinate across geographic diverse sites for delivery and acceptance testing; requires travel to these sites as well as to developer sites
- Provide coordination with facilities’ teams during site surveys, installation, and for long-term facilities maintenance of IT equipment and specialized hardware
- Support request for change (RFC) processes
Required Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree and five (5) years or more experience in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field
- Experience is desired in Network protocols, network hardware such as routers, switches, firewalls from major vendors like Cisco, Juniper, and Palo Alto Networks.
- Should also include familiarity with network monitoring tools such as Wireshark and with virtualization technologies like VMware.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are required as well as excellent communication and documentation skills.
- Organizing meetings, project coordination, and writing and reviewing technical reports is expected
- Possess high organizational capabilities and excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Possess the ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to travel overseas
Desired Skills and Experience:
- Advanced degree in STEM (science, technical, engineering, math) or related discipline
- Prior ground system acquisition experience in a major satellite system
- Understanding of SIGINT Satellite systems
- Prior experience for acquisition activities related to requirements development and assessment, technical evaluations of proposals, and ECP development
- CSEP and or PMP certification
- Demonstrated knowledge of NSIS and JSIS
- Experience in NRO, IC, or DoD program management processes
Activities include concept of operations formulation, requirements definition, analysis and engineering, system architecting, system analysis and design, interface and data architectures, validation and verification, systems integration, system & op. performance analysis, Lifecycle cost analysis & estimation, decision analysis and physical configuration analysis (PCA). This position focuses on evaluation of Network Design and Implementation, Maintenance, Optimization, Security, and Troubleshooting/Problem Resolution. Candidate will be able to:
- Understand network systems architecture, security protocols, VPNs, firewalls, and data center environments. Support evaluation of proposed network design and existing network architecture including scalable, high-performance systems.
- Show a thorough understanding of virtualization technologies such as VMware or Hyper Visors, cloud networking, and automation tools such as Ansible For existing networks, understand how to monitor network performance for optimal operation, identify bottlenecks, and evaluate network analysis identifying areas of improvement and optimization.
- Support evaluation of latest security protocols, risk assessments, and strategies to mitigate network risks.
- Provide advice on network architecture, network performance, and security risks.
- Provide advice on data center floor layout, power & cooling, data storage, infrastructure management, backup, monitoring, operating systems, directory services, identity management, access management, and automation.
- Provide formal and informal feedback on program status and recommendations for the best way forward
- Provide systems engineering support for requirements development, design, test plans, and requirements verifications through acceptance testing from developers
- Review and assess the adequacy of ground systems specifications, RADs, RVPs, ICDs, RVRs and system level requirements documentation.
- Review, analyze and coordinate any changes to ground system specifications. Participate in defining, managing, testing, verifying and validating collection segment internal and external interfaces.
- Coordinate with SED, GED, MOD and non-NRO SPO ground elements as required.
- Prioritize and manage multiple tasks, ability to work and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
- Provide advice on the design and deployment of scalable infrastructure platforms
- Attend system level design reviews and program management reviews to assess ground system design maturity, requirements compliance and to provide informed technical recommendations to the customer.
- Review, document and trace ground systems hardware and software requirements, and coordinate with other engineers, FFRDC and developer personnel to resolve issues.
- Review ground system requirements allocations for accuracy and ensure requirement allocation documentation is complete and accurate.
- Review acquisition milestone ground systems design documentation for adequacy, accuracy and completeness, and identify cost, schedule and technical risks/opportunities, and provide mitigation strategies through formal and informal comments. Assess adequacy of developer verification data and provide recommendations to the GPOC for approval or disapproval with clear commentary demonstrating the logic for the recommendations.
- Develop and maintain productive relationships with prime contractor counterparts and functional counterparts
- Understand risk management processes and methods for adjudicating program risk mitigation strategies
- Coordinate across geographic diverse sites for delivery and acceptance testing; requires travel to these sites as well as to developer sites
- Provide coordination with facilities’ teams during site surveys, installation, and for long-term facilities maintenance of IT equipment and specialized hardware
- Support request for change (RFC) processes
Required Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree and five (5) years or more experience in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field
- Experience is desired in Network protocols, network hardware such as routers, switches, firewalls from major vendors like Cisco, Juniper, and Palo Alto Networks.
- Should also include familiarity with network monitoring tools such as Wireshark and with virtualization technologies like VMware.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are required as well as excellent communication and documentation skills.
- Organizing meetings, project coordination, and writing and reviewing technical reports is expected
- Possess high organizational capabilities and excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Possess the ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to travel overseas
Desired Skills and Experience:
- Advanced degree in STEM (science, technical, engineering, math) or related discipline
- Prior ground system acquisition experience in a major satellite system
- Understanding of SIGINT Satellite systems
- Prior experience for acquisition activities related to requirements development and assessment, technical evaluations of proposals, and ECP development
- CSEP and or PMP certification
- Demonstrated knowledge of NSIS and JSIS
- Experience in NRO, IC, or DoD program management processes
Ground Systems Engineer Jobs by Experience Level
See All 101+ Ground Systems Engineer Jobs
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Find Ground Systems Engineer JobsGround Systems Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
- SAIC10
- BAE Systems USA9
- KBR5
- Boeing5
- Blue Origin5
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Aerospace & Defense
- Media & Entertainment
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in ground systems engineer jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in aerospace, electrical, or systems engineering or a related technical field
- Experience with satellite command and control systems or ground software architectures
- Active or eligible DoD security clearance, often Secret or Top Secret
- Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, or C++ for telemetry analysis or simulation
- Familiarity with CCSDS standards, spacecraft communication protocols, or mission data handling
- Experience with systems integration, verification and validation, or ground segment test environments
Tips for Your Ground Systems Engineer Job Search
Tailor your resume to mission phases
Ground systems engineers work across launch, on-orbit, and decommissioning phases. Call out which phase each past role covered and what systems you owned. Hiring teams scan for direct mission lifecycle experience, not just software or hardware keywords.
Highlight clearance status up front
Many ground systems openings require a security clearance. Put your clearance level and status in your resume header or a dedicated credentials line. Active clearances move candidates past screening faster than sponsorable ones at most defense employers.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists ground systems engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target openings by ground segment specialty
Filter your search by terms like command and data handling, telemetry processing, or mission planning. Roles with these phrases signal a ground-software focus, while launch support and range operations roles lean toward hardware and test infrastructure.
Prepare for system-of-systems interview questions
Interviewers commonly ask how you've integrated subsystems from multiple vendors or teams under a single ground architecture. Prepare two or three specific examples where you resolved interface conflicts or drove interoperability between flight and ground segments.
Negotiate relocation before you accept
Ground systems roles are often tied to specific launch sites, test ranges, or mission operations centers. Confirm whether the employer covers relocation and what the on-site schedule looks like before signing, since hybrid flexibility is limited at many facilities.
Ground Systems Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most ground systems engineers?
The companies hiring the most ground systems engineers right now include SAIC, BAE Systems USA, and KBR, with the largest share of openings in California, Colorado, and Virginia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Demand is concentrated at aerospace primes, national laboratories, and civil space contractors supporting launch and on-orbit operations.
How many ground systems engineer jobs are remote?
About 18% of ground systems engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of August 2026, which is lower than most software engineering fields. Sub-disciplines that allow more remote work include ground software development, mission planning tool support, and systems architecture, while on-site presence is typically required for range operations, hardware integration, and real-time mission support roles.
How do you become a ground systems engineer?
Start with a bachelor's degree in aerospace, systems, electrical, or computer engineering. Build hands-on experience through internships, co-ops, or university cubesat programs that expose you to telemetry, command systems, or ground data processing. Obtain or pursue a security clearance early, since many employers require one. From there, focus on a ground segment specialty like command and control software, launch support, or mission operations to sharpen your profile for senior roles.
Can you break into ground systems engineering without direct experience?
Yes, entry-level ground systems roles exist at aerospace primes and government contractors, particularly for candidates with related coursework in embedded systems, RF communications, or spacecraft dynamics. Participating in a university small satellite program, contributing to open-source mission operations tools, or completing a relevant internship all demonstrate applied competency that substitutes for professional experience in early-career screenings.
What does the ground systems engineer interview process look like?
Most ground systems engineer interviews include a technical screening focused on systems integration, telemetry architecture, or ground software concepts, followed by a panel interview with engineers and a program manager. You may be asked to walk through a past project end to end, including design decisions and failure modes. Roles requiring a clearance add a separate adjudication step that runs independently from the technical hiring process.
Where can I find and apply to ground systems engineer jobs?
You can find and apply to ground systems engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search for roles that match your specialty and experience level, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background.
See All 101+ Ground Systems Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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