Chief Engineer

ABOUT SPHINX

Sphinx builds software to solve complex national security problems in Space. Founded by engineers and technologists with deep experience across commercial and defense technology, we were frustrated by the outdated and insecure technology America's service members are forced to rely on. We're here to do better.

We’re focused on building modern, scalable products with an emphasis on using open source technologies. Expect talented, motivated, and interesting colleagues who emphasize collaboration, transparency, and individual responsibility.

ABOUT SPHINX

Sphinx builds software to solve complex national security problems in Space. Founded by engineers and technologists with deep experience across commercial and defense technology, we were frustrated by the outdated and insecure technology America's service members are forced to rely on. We're here to do better.

We’re focused on building modern, scalable products with an emphasis on using open source technologies. Expect talented, motivated, and interesting colleagues who emphasize collaboration, transparency, and individual responsibility.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Sphinx is hiring a Chief Engineer to serve as the technical authority for a software-focused space-ground program in the SATCOM mission domain. This role will provide engineering leadership across the full system lifecycle, guiding architecture, technical strategy, risk management, and execution while ensuring mission success for our customers.

As the Chief Engineer, you will act as the primary technical interface between Sphinx, government stakeholders, and partner organizations. You'll work closely with Program Leadership, Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, Integration Test, and customer technical leadership to drive sound engineering decisions, align technical roadmaps, and ensure the successful delivery of complex space-ground systems.

This role is ideal for a seasoned engineering leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy and execution, enjoys solving challenging technical problems, and can confidently influence both internal teams and external stakeholders.

What you will be focusing on:

Serving as the technical authority for a space-ground program, providing guidance on architecture, engineering decisions, technical baselines, and risk posture.

Leading the development and evolution of system and ground segment architectures that support mission performance, scalability, resiliency, and long-term sustainment.

Partnering with customers, program leadership, engineering team, and embedded subcontractor personnel to translate mission needs into practical technical solutions and drive cohesive technical execution across the program.

Defining and maintaining technical roadmaps, system architectures, interface strategies, and engineering standards across the program and networks.

Leading the design and implementation of mission planning, resource optimization, and system architecture solutions that maximize space payload effectiveness, mission performance, and operational efficiency.

Driving cross-functional collaboration between software, systems engineering, cybersecurity, integration test, and operations teams.

Authoring, managing, and maintaining Space-to-Ground Interface Control Documents (ICDs), ensuring compatibility between space vehicle payloads, telemetry formats, command and control interfaces and ground segment systems.

Supporting interface definition and integration activities across external partners and mission stakeholders.

Managing technical risks, dependencies, and constraints throughout execution.

Collaborating with cybersecurity teams to support RMF activities and ATO objectives.

Supporting proposal efforts, customer engagements, and technical growth initiatives.

Providing mentorship and technical leadership to engineers across the organization.

You might be a good fit if you:

Have 12+ years of experience designing, developing, integrating, testing, or operating complex space, ground, SATCOM, or mission-critical systems.

Have 8+ years of experience with SATCOM systems, including command and control (C2), mission planning, mission management, or related mission operations capabilities.

Have significant engineering experience in software engineering, software-intensive space-ground systems engineering, or related mission-critical space and defense programs.

Have 5+ years of experience applying Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) concepts, methodologies, and tools to system design, architecture development, and requirements management.

Have experience working with modern software architectures, containerized applications, and software-intensive systems that support scalable, resilient, and mission-critical operations.

Have 8+ years of experience supporting commercial, government, or national security space and ground systems.

Have 5+ years of experience with cloud-based architectures, Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) …