Clearance Requirement: A current, active TS/SCI security clearance is required.

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We create innovative space solutions, enable more accurate weather forecasts, drive insightful observations of our planet, deliver actionable data and intelligence, and ensure those who defend our freedom go forward bravely and return home safely. For more information, visit Ball Aerospace Career Site or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

The Security and Mission Assurance Strategic Support Unit provides discriminating support to the business to ensure success. We focus on threat identification, risk assessment, and mitigation while improving the efficiency of the business through effective governance and analysis of process, data and overall business knowledge.

Space/Ground RF Mission Architect – Staff Consultant

This engineering position is for an experienced systems engineer who is creative, objective, and experienced in developing RF architectures and trades across the following assembly levels: constellation and ground; constellation; space vehicle group; space vehicle; and high level RF payload performance.

What You'll Do:

•Develop RF architecture frameworks to prioritize and order trades for an analysis-of-alternatives study
•Develop architecture trades and associated selection criteria and weightings upon which solution sets are graded
•Develop novel figures of merit to evaluate concepts that represent mission utility for the customer
•Trade performance vs Cost, Size, Weight, and Power (C-SWAP)
•Include and develop figures of merit for adaptability and scalability in the trade space
•Include and develop figures of merit for architecture performance and C-SWAP during the non-recurring expense (NRE) and recurring expense (RE) phases
•Provide engineering support across multiple and diverse new business pursuits by developing concepts to meet customer mission needs
•Provide systems engineering leadership of technical teams to design, analyze, and simulate complex RF systems including constellations, space vehicle groups, space vehicles, and ground
•Provide mission-level systems engineering support throughout the program execution life-cycle
•Define, execute, and report on trade studies that provide data for decision making to our customers
•Drive the development of enabling mission architecture and analysis tools and have competency in MATLAB, STK, C++, and others
•Mentor other systems and RF engineers in mission systems engineering and architecture development
•Prepare and give presentations to peers/management/customers.
•Support technical proposal development
•Maintain a regular and predictable work schedule
•Establish and maintain effective working relationships within the department, the Strategic Business Units, Strategic Support Units and the Company. Interact appropriately with others in order to maintain a positive and productive work environment.

What you'll need:

•BS degree or higher in Engineering or a related technical field is required plus 16 or more years related experience.
•MS in Physics/Engineering Systems or a related technical field is strongly preferred.
•Each higher-level degree, i.e., Master's Degree or Ph.D., may substitute for two years of experience. Related technical experience may be considered in lieu of education. Degree must be from a university, college, or school which is accredited by an agency recognized by the US Secretary of Education, US Department of Education.
•Experience with RF engineering preferred
•Customer Relationships: Extensive knowledge of missions and customers across core technologies areas; Knowledge/experience working with critical customer base, established relationships with key personnel within customer community is preferred
•Demonstrated experience leading multi-disciplinary teams in relevant business environments.
•Demonstrated experience in developing and analyzing mission concepts, including space, launch, and ground components.
•Demonstrated experience in all phases of hardware program execution, including early planning, design reviews, manufacture, assembly, integration, test, sell-off, and on-orbit mission operation is preferred.
•Demonstrated experience in systems engineering processes, including requirements development, concept of operations, requirement allocation, change management, verification and validation.
•Superb presentation skills with documented presentation experience to senior decision-making customers.
•Proven track record in producibility of designs with cost, budget, and schedule constraints.

Working Conditions:

•Work is performed in an office, laboratory, production floor, or clean room, outdoors or remote research environment.
•May occasionally work in production work centers where use of protective equipment and gear is required.
•May access other facilities in various weather conditions.
•Travel and local commute between Ball campuses and other possible non-Ball locations may be required.

Current Clearance Required:

Verification that your current security clearance or government customer access meets the requirement for this position will be required.

Relocation for this position is available.

Compensation & Benefits

• HIRING SALARY RANGE: $159,000 - $200,500 (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.)
• This position includes a competitive benefits package. Click here to learn more.

US CITIZENSHIP IS REQUIRED

Ball Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.