Chief Engineer

Job#: 3052018

Job Description:

Candidates must be U.S. citizens able to obtain and/or maintain a Department of Defense security clearance as a condition and continuation of employment.

TS/SCI Chief Engineer

Apex Systems is hiring for a Chief Engineer with a large aerospace and defense client, in support of the US Space Force, on-site in Boulder, CO!

Position requires a currently active, DoD-issued Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance.

If interested in applying, please apply directly online or email a copy of your updated resume to Melissa at [email protected] (please reference Job ID: 3052018 when emailing)

Location: 100% on-site work in Boulder, CO

Contract Type/Duration: W2 Contract; 9 month-contract-to-permanent-hire opportunity

Schedule: 9/80 work schedule (44 hours Monday-Friday one week; then 36 hours Monday-Thursday the following week with that Friday off. Alternating weeks.)

Pay Rate: $68-100/hour (depending upon experience and level)

Role Summary:

The Chief Engineer is a self‑motivated, creative, detail‑oriented, and driven technical leader who owns the Ground Entry Point architecture and overall technical baseline. This role is accountable for translating high‑level capability needs into a feasible, affordable, and verifiable ground system solution in an environment where explicit requirements may be incomplete or evolving.

The Chief Engineer leads architecture development, requirements definition, design, integration, and verification activities, and serves as the primary technical interface to the customer and internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

Architecture & Requirements Development -

• Lead the development and ownership of the end‑to‑end Ground Entry Point / ground station architecture, including RF, baseband, mission processing, networking, cyber, facilities, and external interfaces.
• Operate effectively in environments with incomplete or ambiguous requirements; derive, decompose, and document system and subsystem requirements from capability needs, operational concepts, and user stories.
• Develop and maintain key architectural products (CONOPS, system block diagrams, sequence diagrams, interface control documents (ICDs), data flows, and performance budgets).
• Evaluate and select design approaches, technologies, and COTS/GOTS components to meet performance, resiliency, and affordability objectives.

Ground Station Expertise -

• Apply a deep understanding of ground station architectures and associated complexities, including:
• Antenna/RF front‑end, modems/baseband processing, timing, and frequency control.
• Mission data processing, storage, and distribution.
• Secure IP networking, routing, and interfaces to external mission systems and users.
• Assess and communicate the benefits and challenges of existing Space Force-owned ground stations and enterprise ground solutions (e.g., integration complexity, legacy constraints, interoperability, cybersecurity, sustainment).
• Develop technical recommendations for leveraging or interfacing with existing Space Force ground assets versus deploying new capabilities.

Capture & Proposal Support -

• Serve as the technical lead for capture and proposal activities related to Ground Entry Point opportunities.
• Shape technical solution strategies in partnership with capture and business teams, including trades, discriminators, and win themes.
• Develop technical volumes, engineering sections of management and past performance volumes, and basis‑of‑estimate (BOE) inputs.
• Build, lead, and present internal and external technical reviews (e.g., solution concept reviews, color team briefings, customer technical interchange meetings (TIMs), and proposal orals).
• Provide rapid technical analysis and responses to RFI/RFP questions.

Customer Engagement -

• Engage directly with customer technical counterparts through TIMs, demonstrations, on‑site visits, and reviews.
• Elicit, understand, and document customer needs, wants, and concerns, and translate them into actionable requirements, design changes, or roadmaps.
• Present complex technical concepts in clear, concise language tailored to customer leadership, operators, and technical staff.

Technical Team Leadership -

• Lead a multi‑disciplinary technical team (systems, RF, software, network, cyber, test, logistics) to develop and deliver the Ground Entry Point solution.
• Facilitate technical discussions and decisions, ensuring that trades and recommendations are data‑driven and documented.
• Drive resolution of technical issues and risks, including identification, analysis, mitigation planning, and status reporting.

Mentoring & Collaboration -

• Mentor and develop newer and early‑career team members, providing guidance on systems engineering rigor, architecture development, and customer interaction.
• Foster a collaborative environment across engineering, program management, business management, operations, subcontracts/supply chain, and other functional partners.
• Ensure alignment between the technical baseline, program baseline (cost/schedule), and contractual commitments.

Required Qualifications:

• Candidates must be US Citizens with the ability to obtain and/or maintain an active DoD-issued Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance as a condition and continuation of employment
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in systems engineering, architecture, or design of ground stations, ground entry points, gateway/teleport systems, or mission operations centers.
• 5+ years of experience leading technical teams or serving as a lead systems engineer, architect, or chief engineer on complex ground or mission systems.
• Demonstrated experience:
• Developing architectures and requirements under ambiguous or incomplete customer direction.
• Leading technical reviews and presenting technical content to government or prime‑contractor customers.
• Engaging customers through TIMs, demos, or similar forums and incorporating feedback into the technical solution.

Desired Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in a relevant technical discipline.
• Direct experience with Space Force, Air Force, or other DoD/IC ground/mission systems and their enterprise ground architectures.
• Experience with:
• RF and antenna subsystems, modems/baseband, and high‑rate data links.
• Secure IP networking, cross‑domain solutions, and cyber‑hardened architectures.
• Model‑based systems engineering (MBSE) tools and practices.
• Prior capture/proposal technical leadership, including orals and color team participation.
• Proven success mentoring junior engineers and growing technical talent.

Core Competencies / Attributes:

• Self‑motivated and proactive; able to drive technical progress with minimal direction.
• Creative problem‑solver with strong systems thinking and attention to detail.
• Comfortable working in ambiguity and iterating solutions as requirements evolve.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to tailor messages to different audiences.
• Collaborative mindset and ability to influence across organizational boundaries.

#clearance

Please note that as a contract employee of Apex Systems, benefits include the below with employee contribution*

• Health
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance; Short Term Disability
• Hospitalization Coverage
• Direct Deposit
• Weekly Pay Periods
• Training and Development Programs
• 401k
• Referral Program

EEO Employer

Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law. Apex will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law. If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation in using our website for a search or application, please contact our Employee Services Department at [email protected] or 844-463-6178.

Everforth Apex is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Everforth Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRateds Best of Staffing in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work in the United Kingdom and Mexico.

Everforth Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click here for more details. By applying for this job, you agree to receive calls, AI-generated calls, text messages, or emails from Everforth Apex and its affiliates, and contracted partners. Frequency varies for text messages. Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You can reply STOP to cancel and HELP for help. You can access our privacy policy at https://www.apexsystems.com/privacy-policy

Everforth Apex Benefits Overview: Everforth Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure. Everforth Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Everforth Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA. Everforth Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our 'Welcome Packet' as well, which an Everforth Apex team member can provide.

Everforth Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law. Everforth Apex will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law.

If you require an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act to participate in an interview with a virtual recruiter or to use our website for a search or application, please contact our Benefits Department at [email protected] or 804-523-8228. Please note that this contact information is strictly to be used for medical ADA accommodations and that no other inquiries will be answered.

UnitedHealthcare creates and publishes the Transparency in Coverage Machine-Readable Files on behalf of Everforth Apex Systems.

Employee Type:

Contract

Location:

Boulder, CO, US

Job Type:

Engineering and Technicians

Date Posted:

September 15, 2026

Pay Range:

$90 - $175 per hour

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