{"id":775264,"url":"https://alion.io/job/lv8dsolutions-space-system-payload-engineer-level-4","title":"Space System Payload Engineer - Level 4","company":{"id":678895,"name":"LV8D Solutions","domain":"lv8dsolutions.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/lv8dsolutions","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workable","truth_index":null},"role":"DevOps","role_family":"DevOps","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Chantilly, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":111000,"max_usd":249000,"period":"year","method":"role_country_seniority_unknown","sample_n":2659},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"MATLAB","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-20T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-07-20","last_verified_at":"2026-09-28T19:34:08Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":70,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":70},"description":"Mission Context:\nLV8D Solutions supports national security space and intelligence customers delivering next-generation sensing and exploitation capabilities. The Space System Payload Engineer will support the design, integration, testing, characterization, calibration, validation, and operation of space payload systems across government, commercial, and defense space programs, with a focus on EO/IR sensors, imaging payloads, scientific instrumentation, and associated mission systems.\nPosition Overview:\nLV8D Solutions is seeking a Space System Payload Engineer*. The role requires knowledge of systems engineering processes throughout the payload lifecycle, including requirements development, verification and validation, mission integration, payload performance analysis, link budgets, sensor modeling, and mission data analysis. Responsibilities include supporting initialization and on-orbit calibration and validation activities; coordinating proposed requirements changes, mission analysis, and acquisition teams; attending segment-level design reviews and program management reviews to assess design maturity, requirements compliance, and technical risk; and reviewing acquisition milestone documentation for adequacy, accuracy, and completeness.\nInterested candidates need to thrive in an innovative, fast-paced environment; are highly motivated and not afraid to take on uncharted territory; possess strong communication, leadership, and organizational skills; and be able to prioritize their time to be effective in a dynamic environment.\nRequirements\n Key Responsibilities:\nExperience supporting the design, integration, testing, and operation of space payload systems for government, commercial, or defense space programs.\nFamiliarity with spacecraft payload architectures including EO/IR sensors, imaging payloads, or scientific instrumentation.\nKnowledge of systems engineering processes throughout the payload lifecycle including requirements development, verification, validation, and mission integration.\nExperience conducting payload performance analysis, link budgets, sensor modeling, or mission data analysis.\nFamiliarity with environmental and qualification testing including vibration, thermal vacuum, EMI/EMC, and functional testing for spaceflight hardware.\nExperience working within multi-disciplinary engineering teams supporting spacecraft bus, mission operations, and ground segment integration.\nProficiency with engineering and analysis tools such as MATLAB, Python, STK, LabVIEW, DOORS, Cameo, or equivalent modeling and simulation environments.\nUnderstanding of space environment impacts including radiation effects, thermal constraints, orbital dynamics, and reliability considerations.\nAbility to support technical reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and mission readiness reviews.\nExperience developing technical documentation, interface control documents (ICDs), verification plans, and test procedures.\nStrong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills with the ability to work in fast-paced mission environments.\nExcellent written and verbal communication skills with experience presenting technical information to customers and program leadership.\nSupport initialization and characterization activities across the NRO enterprise and with the development contractors.\nCoordinate proposed requirements changes across all SPO organizations and with mission analysis and acquisition teams to ensure completeness of review across the acquisition.\nSupport initialization and on-orbit calibration and validation activities\nAttend Segment level design reviews and program management reviews to assess design maturity, requirements compliance and to provide informed technical recommendations to the customer.\nReview acquisition milestone design documentation for adequacy, accuracy and completeness, and identify cost, schedule and technical risks/opportunities, and provide mitigation strategies through formal and informal comments.\nSupport technical and programmatic reviews and meetings, as required.\n Qualifications:\nBachelor's degree in STEM (science, technical, engineering, math) or related discipline with 8-12 years of relevant experience\nUnderstanding of DOD/IC satellite systems and architecture\nExcellent interpersonal, leadership, team building, and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to be independent and effective in a government/contractor team environment\nExperience in DOD/IC acquisition and program management processes\nExcellent oral and written communication skills\nDemonstrated sustained superior performance\nAvailable to travel domestically\n Desired Attributes:\nAdvanced degree in STEM (science, technical, engineering, math) or related discipline with emphasis on MBSE\nPrior Program Office experience\nPrevious experience developing optical telescopes, or remote imaging systems\n Security Requirements:\nU.S. Citizenship\nActive Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance\nActive Counterintelligence (CI) or Full Scope (FS) Polygraph\n Work Environment:\nOn-site work in a government or contractor facility \nOccasional travel (25%) \n*Position is contingent upon a contract seat being awarded*\n About LV8D Solutions\nLV8D Solutions is an elite Systems Engineering and Technical Advisory (SETA) company that delivers advanced systems engineering, integration, acquisition, mission operations, network communications, and cybersecurity support to our defense and intelligence customers. Founded in 2019, we apply our deep technical expertise, understanding, and mission-first mindset to design, acquire, and implement complex, high-impact solutions for our Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of War (DoW) customers. We specialize in every aspect of our customers’ space and ground mission systems while offering exceptional work-life balance and an exemplary compensation and total rewards package designed to recruit, train, and retain top talent and committed to national defense and career growth.\n\nEqual Employment Opportunity Statement\nLV8D Solutions LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, religion, gender, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other protected categories.\nBenefits\nPerformance & Recognition\nPeriod of Performance (PoP) Bonus Opportunities\nPerformance-based bonus opportunities tied to contract or organizational performance.\nRetention Incentive Benefit Bounty\nReceive a payout for unused annual company contributions designated for health insurance premiums and professional training.\nReferral Bonus\nEarn up to $5,000 for each successful employee referral.\nCustomer Recognition Letter of Appreciation (LoA) Bonus Opportunities\nBonus opportunities based on customer recognition received through Letters of Appreciation.\nMilestone Rewards\nCelebrate your career achievements with anniversary awards on your 1st, 5th, 10th, and 20th years of service.\nFinancial & Retirement Benefits\nProfit Sharing\nReceive an annual contribution equal to 4% of your W-2 gross earnings into your 401(k), with immediate vesting.\n401(k) Company Match\nThe company matches your 401(k) contributions dollar-for-dollar up to 6% of your monthly contribution, with immediate vesting.\nCareer Development\nThe company invests in your professional growth through:\nAnnual financial support for professional training and industry certifications.\nEnhanced financial support for employees actively pursuing a degree at an accredited institution.\n Work-Life Balance\nSupport for a healthy work-life balance includes:\nFlexible work hours\nCompetitive paid time off (PTO)\nCompany holidays\nHealth & Wellness Benefits\nThe company offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you and your family.\nMedical Coverage\nThree comprehensive Medical/Rx insurance plan options to meet the unique and individualized benefit needs of our employees\nDental & Vision\nComprehensive dental insurance for employees and eligible dependents.\nComprehensive vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents.\nIncome Protection\n100% Company-Paid Short-Term Disability Insurance\n100% Company-Paid Long-Term Disability Insurance\nLife Insurance\n100% Company-Paid Basic Term Life Insurance with Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.\nOptional employee-paid Supplemental Voluntary Life Insurance","description_format":"text","description_chars":8412,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Dental insurance","Flexible schedule","Health insurance","Life insurance","Vision insurance"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":[],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-11T22:45:12Z"}],"liveness":{"score":9,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.32,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":70,"expected_fill_days":21,"reasons":["conf:3","win:tail","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-09-28T05:45:00Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/lv8dsolutions-space-system-payload-engineer-level-4","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/lv8dsolutions-space-system-payload-engineer-level-4.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-09-28T22:08:11Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":114,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":4886,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-09-29T00:00:00Z"}}}