Ground System Engineer – Space-Based Environmental Monitoring

The Aerospace Corporation

. Provide concept exploration and engineering support for NOAA satellite ground system architectures supporting disaggregated observation missions .

Posted 10/5/2026full-timeUnited StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $117,300 - $175,900 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in satellite ground systems and Earth observation spacecraft systems, with a strong focus on systems engineering principles and multi-source data integration. Capable of leading multidisciplinary teams and conducting long-term technical studies while mentoring junior members.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Satellite Ground SystemsSystems Engineering PrinciplesData Processing ArchitecturesConcurrent Engineering ToolsCloud-Based Ground System Architectures

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Engineering DegreeData Interoperability StandardsSimulation ToolsProgramming LanguagesGround Station Architectures

Soft Skills

MentoringAdaptabilityInitiative

Tools & Technologies

MATLABPythonSimulinkSTKMicroservices

Certifications & Qualifications

Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance

Industry Keywords

Earth ObservationSpace-Based SystemsAgile DevelopmentDevOpsCommercial Data Acquisition

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

CloudMicroservicesOraclePythonC++

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide concept exploration and engineering support for NOAA satellite ground system architectures supporting disaggregated observation missions
Lead and participate in conceptual and preliminary architecture studies and trades of ground systems integrating data and services from NOAA, international partners, and commercial satellite assets
Evaluate ground system design and architecture concepts for multi-source data integration and participate in design reviews
Work with applicable program offices and technical experts across The Aerospace Corporation
Develop tools and models supporting ground system concept design, architecture trades, and interoperability analysis for heterogeneous satellite constellations
Mentor junior members of the organization

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, science, or a related technical field
Typically, at least 6 years of engineering experience leading, developing, and working on multidisciplinary teams in the space, intelligence, and/or defense domains
Strong knowledge of satellite ground systems, Earth observation spacecraft systems, and systems engineering principles
Experience developing ground systems concepts for satellite missions
Experience in mission control, mission processing systems, or data processing architectures for space-based Earth observation systems
Experience with concurrent engineering tools, processes, and methodologies
Ability to work independently and conduct long-term technical studies for geographically dispersed programs
Available and willing to travel domestically and internationally approximately 5–10%
Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance issued by the U.S. government
U.S. citizenship required to obtain a security clearance
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, adapt quickly to change, demonstrate initiative under deadlines
Advanced degree in engineering, math, science, or related technical discipline (impressive if you have)
Experience with cloud-based ground system architectures and offerings from Amazon, Microsoft, or Oracle for satellite operations and data processing (impressive if you have)
Experience with hybrid on-premise and cloud infrastructure for Earth observation data systems (impressive if you have)
Experience with ground station architectures, networks, antenna systems, and RF ground entry points for satellite downlink (impressive if you have)
Experience with data interoperability standards and protocols such as HDF5, NetCDF, and CCSDS (impressive if you have)
Experience with communications and networking architectures supporting distributed ground systems (impressive if you have)
Experience with software architectures supporting satellite data processing, including microservices, APIs, and service-oriented architectures (impressive if you have)
Knowledge of agile and DevOps approaches for ground system software development (impressive if you have)
Familiarity with database technologies and distributed processing frameworks for large-scale Earth observation data (impressive if you have)
Experience with data center design, operations, network maintenance, load balancing, and data coordination (impressive if you have)
Proficiency in simulation tools/programming languages including MATLAB, Python, Simulink, STK, or C++ (impressive if you have)
Experience with international partnership agreements and commercial data acquisition strategies (impressive if you have)
Familiarity with NOAA mission requirements and operational constraints (impressive if you have)
Experience applying generative AI and LLMs ethically and effectively (impressive if you have)

Benefits

Comp & perks

Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
Flexible spending accounts
Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
Relocation assistance
Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
Education assistance programs
An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect