Job Title: Ground Systems Test & Integration EngineerJob DescriptionThis role focuses on leading the integration, test, and verification of next-generation satellite ground mission planning systems in a fully onsite environment in Colorado Springs, CO. You will guide major sections of ground system software development, collaborate closely with system engineering and test teams, and ensure that complex ground segment operational products meet customer requirements. The position offers the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology in an agile environment, contribute to mission-critical MILSATCOM ground systems, and grow into advanced technical or leadership roles within a collaborative, professional, and mentoring culture.Responsibilities
- Provide technical leadership and guidance for major portions of satellite ground mission planning system development, including ground system software integration and test.
- Apply an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach to plan, design, develop, integrate, and verify complex system-of-systems and ground system solutions across the full lifecycle.
- Evaluate customer and operational needs to define, refine, and coordinate system performance requirements, ensuring compatibility across all physical, functional, and program interfaces.
- Perform analyses to optimize total system and system-of-systems architecture, incorporating affordability, safety, reliability, maintainability, testability, human systems integration, survivability, vulnerability, susceptibility, system security, regulatory and certification factors, and product assurance into preferred configurations.
- Develop, maintain, and improve processes, tools, and practices for requirements management, including planning, organization, implementation, monitoring, risk and issue management, opportunity management, and technology readiness assessments.
- Lead and support the integration and test of ground segment operational products, ensuring that components and subsystems function as intended within the overall mission planning system.
- Develop, execute, and document comprehensive system integration and test plans, procedures, and reports for components, subsystems, and larger functional systems.
- Lead test entrance and exit reviews, ensuring test readiness, clear acceptance criteria, and thorough evaluation of test results and system performance.
- Support the development of complex system-level operational threads required to run missions in space, coordinating with system engineers, analysts, and software developers.
- Participate actively in requirements and architecture reviews, providing input on testability, portability, maintainability, and other system quality attributes.
- Work closely with customers, users, and operators to define functional and performance requirements, software interfaces, use cases, and user stories for satellite ground systems.
- Collaborate with supplier and contractor software, system engineering, and test teams on requirement generation, requirement verification, and support to the delivered customer system.
- Lead or contribute to major program reviews, presenting technical content clearly and effectively and overseeing the technical quality of system documentation.
- Resolve cross-functional technical issues by coordinating across engineering disciplines and integrated product teams to maintain system integrity and mission success.
- Apply and follow established ground system processes and procedures, while identifying opportunities for improvement in integration, test, and requirements verification activities.
Essential Skills
- Active U.S. Secret Security Clearance, with eligibility based on a clearance active within the past 24 months.
- U.S. Citizenship, as required for holding and maintaining the necessary security clearance.
- Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology (including Manufacturing Technology), Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, or a non-U.S. equivalent directly related to the work.
- 2-3+ years of engineering experience in fields relevant to system integration, test, or software systems engineering.
- Hands-on experience with ground system engineering, software integration and test, and formal qualification of complex systems.
- Experience in software systems engineering or test, including analysis of system and subsystem requirements, interface design, system integration, system test, verification, and demonstration.
- Experience in all aspects of test management, including test definition, test execution, verification traceability, and unit, factory, and site customer testing.
- Experience working with customers and operators to define functional and performance requirements, software interfaces, use cases, and user stories.
- Experience with satellite ground systems and the satellite operations domain, particularly in mission planning and operations.
- Experience collaborating with developers using agile development tools and practices, including participation in agile ceremonies and iterative development.
- Experience using Atlassian Jira for requirements tracking, task management, defect tracking, and agile collaboration.
- Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present at major program reviews and lead the technical content of system technical documents.
- Ability to work effectively in a team environment and interact constructively with system engineers, analysts, software developers, and other members of integrated product teams.
- Willingness and ability to travel domestically as needed to support integration, test, and customer engagements.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelors degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
- An additional 2-3+ years of related engineering experience beyond the minimum, particularly in ground systems, MILSATCOM, or complex mission systems.
- Experience with Agile processes, including agile planning, iterative development, and continuous integration and delivery practices.
- Familiarity with Model-Based Engineering across the development lifecycle, including use of models for requirements, architecture, and verification.
- Operational knowledge of key MILSATCOM systems and military communication architectures.
- Basic understanding of orbital dynamics, RF communications, satellite links, transponder loading, and related satellite communications concepts.
- Experience with satellite bus and payload resource management, including planning and allocation of spacecraft resources.
- Familiarity with system integration and test processes and execution for complex, mission-critical systems.
- Experience in requirements decomposition and verification, including traceability from high-level customer needs to test cases and verification activities.
- Experience with ground systems integration and test engineering for satellite or similar mission systems.
- Experience with agile software development collaboration, including coordination with cross-functional teams and use of modern development toolchains.
- Experience with scripting or programming languages such as Python and Bash for automation, test scripting, or data analysis.
- Experience with containerization and orchestration technologies such as Kubernetes in support of ground system deployment and operations.
Work EnvironmentThe role is 100% onsite in Colorado Springs, CO, working within a professional, collaborative, and mentoring environment focused on satellite ground mission planning systems. You will operate in a structured engineering setting that uses established ground system processes and procedures, agile development tools, and modern technologies such as Python, Bash, Kubernetes, and Atlassian Jira. The environment emphasizes teamwork, clear communication, and close collaboration with system engineers, software developers, test engineers, and customer stakeholders. Work is performed in an office and lab setting with access to engineering workstations, integration and test facilities, and secure environments appropriate for handling classified information. The culture supports professional growth, technical excellence, and long-term career development into advanced technical and management roles, while maintaining a casual but professional atmosphere. Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Colorado Springs, CO. Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $50.00 - $80.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:
Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Colorado Springs, CO. Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Nov 5, 2026. Workplace TypeThis is a fully onsite position in Colorado Springs,CO.About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
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