{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"bab02ab7ffc29b9d4f5ccb76","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/bab02ab7ffc29b9d4f5ccb76","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/bab02ab7ffc29b9d4f5ccb76","title":"Deep Space Comms, Tracking & Cislunar SDA Analyst","description":"SSI is seeking a Deep Space Comms, Tracking & Cislunar SDA Analyst to join our team in Chantilly, VA.\nThis role will advise government leadership on Space Domain Awareness (SDA),\ndeep space tracking, radio frequency (RF)/optical communication architectures, and\nground network integration.\nThe ideal candidate will provide critical technical oversight and advisory support for advanced national security space missions. The candidate will have expertise in complex multi-body dynamics and advanced orbit determination techniques required for tracking, characterizing, and maintaining custody of objects in the cislunar regime.\nThe ideal candidate will also have a strong focus on advanced multi-phenomenology observational technologies as well as possess expertise in electro-optical (EO) and/or passive radio frequency (RF) sensing, observational astronomy, and cutting-edge telescope/receiver design to support the detection, tracking, and characterization of faint objects and signals in the cislunar regime.\nRole and Responsibilities include:\nDevelop and maintain an in-depth understanding of system-level requirements for assigned systems and the design features that satisfy these requirements.\nSupport full lifecycle engineering reviews to demonstrate the design meets all specifications and customer requirements.\nReview Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) deliverables to ensure content, technical accuracy, and sufficiency of design details to meet program requirements and objectives.\nParticipate in technical interchange meetings between developers and contractors.\nEvaluate vendor proposals and review technical reports, design artifacts, and program plans.\nServe as a system engineering liaison to other divisions in the SPO.\nConduct trade studies to define and refine requirements for future satellite capabilities.\nSupport acquisition documentation development (CDRLs, SOWs, MPPs, etc) related to ground systems.\nSupport readiness reviews and major program reviews to evaluate ground system readiness.\nResolve highly complex and multi-dimensional problems requiring consideration of variables that impact multiple aspects of the project/program.\nDevelop documents and briefings to communicate work or study status and brief Government and industry as required.\nProvide technical insight for EO/RF sensor designs.\nEvaluate contractor system architectures.\nAssess the utility and integration of commercial SDA data sources.\nSupport the transition of next-generation cislunar capabilities into operational enterprise frameworks.\nRequired Qualifications:\nMust possess an active Top Secret/SCI clearance with the ability to obtain a Polygraph.\nBachelor's and fourteen (14) years or more experience, or Master's and twelve (12) years or more experience.\nTechnical & Capability Requirements:\nCislunar Space Domain Awareness (SDA): Technical knowledge of detecting, tracking, and maintaining custody of dim targets in non-traditional observation geometries, high luminance backgrounds, and lunar exclusion zones.\nOrbit Determination (OD): Evaluation of vendor tracking capabilities using non-cued optical, RF, ranging, and Doppler measurements in deep space.\nCommunications & Link Budgets: Technical review of long-range X-band, Ka-band, and deep-space optical/laser communication systems and link budgets across 400,000+ km baseline distances.\nProtocol & Ground Integration: Familiarity with Delay-Tolerant Networking (DTN), Unified Data Library (UDL) data ingest, and ground network scheduling (e.g., NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) or commercial lunar data networks).\nSETA Oversight Duties: Evaluates vendor RF/Optical payload performance\nspecifications, sensor integration trades, and ground infrastructure readiness.\nExcellent interpersonal, leadership, team building, and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to be effective in a government/contractor team environment.\nExperience providing systems engineering support and technical guidance in the acquisition, development, and deployment of satellite ground systems.\nAbility to work in a very dynamic environment and effectively interact with numerous DOD, military/civilian personnel and industry partners.\nAbility to facilitate technical discussions with SMEs.\nAbility to communicate with a diverse audience of senior decision makers with varying levels of programmatic and technical expertise.\nEffective communication, coordination, and customer engagement skills.\nAbility to work in a fast-paced, dynamic, and team environment with no supervision.\nPrevious SAP experience Preferred.\nTravel is 10%\nTarget salary range: $180,000 - $240,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors. We offer medical/dental/vision benefits and 401k contribution.\n#ssi #weknowhowtobuildit #spacejobs","company":"Space Systems Integration","rawCompany":"space systems integration","city":"Gaithersburg","state":"MD","isRemote":false,"isActive":false,"createdAt":"2026-08-05T09:44:32.146Z","occupations":[{"code":"19-2099.01","title":"Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists","slug":"remote-sensing-scientists-and-technologists"},{"code":"17-3021.00","title":"Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians","slug":"aerospace-engineering-and-operations-technologists-and-technicians"},{"code":"15-1241.01","title":"Telecommunications Engineering Specialists","slug":"telecommunications-engineering-specialists"}],"industries":[{"code":"927110","title":"Space Research and Technology","slug":"space-research-and-technology"},{"code":"334511","title":"Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing","slug":"search-detection-navigation-guidance-aeronautical-and-nautical-system-and-instrument-manufacturing"},{"code":"517410","title":"Satellite Telecommunications","slug":"satellite-telecommunications"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Deep Space Comms, Tracking & Cislunar SDA Analyst","description":"SSI is seeking a Deep Space Comms, Tracking & Cislunar SDA Analyst to join our team in Chantilly, VA.\nThis role will advise government leadership on Space Domain Awareness (SDA),\ndeep space tracking, radio frequency (RF)/optical communication architectures, and\nground network integration.\nThe ideal candidate will provide critical technical oversight and advisory support for advanced national security space missions. The candidate will have expertise in complex multi-body dynamics and advanced orbit determination techniques required for tracking, characterizing, and maintaining custody of objects in the cislunar regime.\nThe ideal candidate will also have a strong focus on advanced multi-phenomenology observational technologies as well as possess expertise in electro-optical (EO) and/or passive radio frequency (RF) sensing, observational astronomy, and cutting-edge telescope/receiver design to support the detection, tracking, and characterization of faint objects and signals in the cislunar regime.\nRole and Responsibilities include:\nDevelop and maintain an in-depth understanding of system-level requirements for assigned systems and the design features that satisfy these requirements.\nSupport full lifecycle engineering reviews to demonstrate the design meets all specifications and customer requirements.\nReview Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) deliverables to ensure content, technical accuracy, and sufficiency of design details to meet program requirements and objectives.\nParticipate in technical interchange meetings between developers and contractors.\nEvaluate vendor proposals and review technical reports, design artifacts, and program plans.\nServe as a system engineering liaison to other divisions in the SPO.\nConduct trade studies to define and refine requirements for future satellite capabilities.\nSupport acquisition documentation development (CDRLs, SOWs, MPPs, etc) related to ground systems.\nSupport readiness reviews and major program reviews to evaluate ground system readiness.\nResolve highly complex and multi-dimensional problems requiring consideration of variables that impact multiple aspects of the project/program.\nDevelop documents and briefings to communicate work or study status and brief Government and industry as required.\nProvide technical insight for EO/RF sensor designs.\nEvaluate contractor system architectures.\nAssess the utility and integration of commercial SDA data sources.\nSupport the transition of next-generation cislunar capabilities into operational enterprise frameworks.\nRequired Qualifications:\nMust possess an active Top Secret/SCI clearance with the ability to obtain a Polygraph.\nBachelor's and fourteen (14) years or more experience, or Master's and twelve (12) years or more experience.\nTechnical & Capability Requirements:\nCislunar Space Domain Awareness (SDA): Technical knowledge of detecting, tracking, and maintaining custody of dim targets in non-traditional observation geometries, high luminance backgrounds, and lunar exclusion zones.\nOrbit Determination (OD): Evaluation of vendor tracking capabilities using non-cued optical, RF, ranging, and Doppler measurements in deep space.\nCommunications & Link Budgets: Technical review of long-range X-band, Ka-band, and deep-space optical/laser communication systems and link budgets across 400,000+ km baseline distances.\nProtocol & Ground Integration: Familiarity with Delay-Tolerant Networking (DTN), Unified Data Library (UDL) data ingest, and ground network scheduling (e.g., NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) or commercial lunar data networks).\nSETA Oversight Duties: Evaluates vendor RF/Optical payload performance\nspecifications, sensor integration trades, and ground infrastructure readiness.\nExcellent interpersonal, leadership, team building, and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to be effective in a government/contractor team environment.\nExperience providing systems engineering support and technical guidance in the acquisition, development, and deployment of satellite ground systems.\nAbility to work in a very dynamic environment and effectively interact with numerous DOD, military/civilian personnel and industry partners.\nAbility to facilitate technical discussions with SMEs.\nAbility to communicate with a diverse audience of senior decision makers with varying levels of programmatic and technical expertise.\nEffective communication, coordination, and customer engagement skills.\nAbility to work in a fast-paced, dynamic, and team environment with no supervision.\nPrevious SAP experience Preferred.\nTravel is 10%\nTarget salary range: $180,000 - $240,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors. We offer medical/dental/vision benefits and 401k contribution.\n#ssi #weknowhowtobuildit #spacejobs","datePosted":"2026-08-05T09:44:32.146Z","dateModified":"2026-08-05T09:44:32.146Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Space Systems Integration","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Gaithersburg","addressRegion":"MD","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"bab02ab7ffc29b9d4f5ccb76"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/bab02ab7ffc29b9d4f5ccb76"}}