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The United States Space Force (USSF) at Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM L is searching for a Space Launch Engineer to support SSC/SYD 80 (NH-0801-03, GS-12/13 Equivalent). Description: Are You Ready to Launch Your Career into Orbit? Join the United States Space Force's premier rapid response launch team as a Space Launch Engineer & Program Manager, where your work directly supports the Nation's most critical defense missions.
This is your chance to lead high-stakes launch acquisition and operations across a constellation of national priorities-including missions for the USSF, Office of the Secretary of War (OSW), Army, Navy, Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), and the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Golden Dome space-based interceptor program.
If you are an experienced launch systems engineer driven by technical excellence, complex problem-solving, and operational velocity, this is where your expertise commands center stage. If you are an experienced launch systems engineer driven by team work, technical excellence, complex problem-solving, and operational velocity, this is where your expertise commands center stage.
Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It: - Lead Integrated Action Teams: Drive multidisciplinary engineering, acquisition, and operational squads to formulate bold launch strategies and guarantee total mission readiness. - Conduct Deep Technical & Acquisition Evaluations: Spearhead rigorous mission assurance reviews, risk-reduction audits, and technical trade studies on next-generation launch vehicles and space payloads.
- Brief Executive Leadership: Translate complex technical, schedule, and mission-assurance data into high-impact, actionable briefings for senior military general officers and civilian agency directors. - Drive Full Mission Lifecycles: Guide and pilot world-class launch teams from initial operational concept, launch vehicle integration, and range safety all the way through countdown, ignition, and orbital deployment. ....
Why You Matter: You'll be at the forefront of safeguarding America's space launch architecture, driving innovation through cross-functional collaboration and technical excellence. Your leadership will ensure our warfighters have the space-based capabilities they need-when they need them.
Ideal Candidate: This position plays a vital role in supporting the United States Space Force (USSF) and the Department of War (DoW) by focusing on the sustainability and enhancement of global space launch systems.
The primary responsibility of the position is to serve as the focal point for launch operations and acquisition of logistics, maintenance, supply, engineering, mission assurance, solid rocket motor operations and launch services, ensuring mission readiness and success. Experience: Applicants should have experience in engineering and/or program management or related fields, ideally within the DoW or a similar environment.
Proven experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams and managing complex programs characterized by significant uncertainties and risks is essential. Applicants must demonstrate a history of developing and implementing acquisition policies, procedures, strategic plans and source selection experience that enhance mission execution effectiveness.
Experience leading/supporting integrated product teams; experience with solid rocket motor launch operations/missions, experience with implementing requirements and monitoring performance; developing cost estimates; planning/conflict resolution between many organizations; and communicating project status (written/brief) with Space Systems Command (SSC) leadership up to the General Officer Commander, PAE, Division Chief and Branch Chief levels; customer mission managers, and contractors (mission assurance/technical/mission support/launch service contractors).
Establishes management controls such as milestones, expenditure rates, management indicators, and management reviews to reflect program status and provide early detection of emerging problems. Reviews documents to assess impact on the mission preparation and execution. Organizes teamwork efforts and leads a team of specialists in resolving technical, schedule, cost, and supportability issues.
Support/lead team(s) to develop, implement, and control financial and technical aspects of projects (launch operations, acquisition, mission preparation, etc.). Generate specific plans, goals, and objectives consistent with policies and requirements. Organize, direct, and coordinate activities of functional specialists (engineering, contracting, program control, finance, logistics and mission assurance). Review progress of contractors in meeting objectives.
Keep Leadership and team informed of project status and resolution actions.
HQ.USSF.TalentAcquisition@spaceforce.mil
This position is with Space Systems Command, Department of the Air Force.
The posted pay range is $90479 – $139871/yr.
This position is eligible for telework.
This position requires a Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance.
Applications close on 2026-11-11.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government · Retrieved 2026-11-05 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.gov
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