DARPA TTO Space-Based Communications & Testing Support Engineer

Amentum•Arlington, VA

1d•$170,000 - $240,000•Onsite

About The Position

Amentum is a leading provider of engineering, scientific, and program management support services to some of the top agencies in the U.S. government, including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the intelligence community. The mission of DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office (TTO) is to reimagine every aspect of military hardware design, development, test, manufacture, and sustainment – with a focus on rapid, affordable, and scalable deployment – to create and prevent technological surprise. TTO’s goal is to demonstrate compelling hardware at the smallest scale that traces to disruptive capability, with designs that reduce risk and cost by managing complexity and can be manufactured responsively and affordably. Additional information on TTO is available here: https://www.darpa.mil/about/offices/tto. Amentum is currently seeking a mid- to senior-level engineer/ scientist with experience working in both the TS/SCI and SAP environments (at least 5 years of experience). This is a full-time position supporting a classified effort in which 50% of the time will be dedicated to space-based communications and the other 50% of the time will be dedicated to test planning and execution. This position will be based on-site at the client location (Arlington, VA Ballston area), with some travel (local and/or Colorado/California) required at least twice a quarter. Annual salary between $170-240K depending on qualifications and experience.

Requirements

Master’s degree or higher - substantial relevant occupational experience (~10 or more years) may be considered in lieu of degree requirement
At least 5 years’ relevant experience
Active US Government Top Secret Security Clearance, with ability to obtain SCI access. Please note US Citizenship is required to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
Working knowledge of space-based communications architectures to include ground entry points, radios, and integration of hardware and software into a system
Experience working with transition partners to include, but not limited to, the U.S. Air Force, NASA, Space Force, NRO, and SSC
Understanding of the methodologies to send data throughout a mission using both secure and open means
Experience in space-based test planning and execution to include defining test objectives, measures of performance, and developing detailed test plan for life of mission
Experience leading test working groups for fully integrated space systems with multiple payloads, and multiple government, industry and lab partners
Experience in defining test objectives and using a variety of sensor and data collection methodologies to complete testing

Nice To Haves

Prior DARPA experience
PhD in a relevant field

Responsibilities

Support a government program manager (PM) in developing space-based program concepts, providing oversight to ongoing space-based programs and efforts
Lead (2x year) Mission Integration Working Groups across 15-20 unique organizations; support for these meetings will include defining common security baseline, coordinating agenda, speakers, reviewing test plans and modeling and simulation
Serve as a test lead to run Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs) for major program objectives when final systems are ready for test; work with security to make sure all barriers for testing are clear
Work with contractors after individual test events to review data products and make any updates or changes to mission test objectives based on data gathered/ learned through each individual test
Provide overarching support to program to include attending biweekly calls for performers, attending major reviews, drafting PowerPoint charts and memorandums for DARPA and transition partners, attending transition partner meetings and internal DARPA team meetings