| Location | Colorado Springs, CO |
Job Title: Space Engineer
Job Code: SSE742
Location: Peterson SFB; JBSA Lackland
Reports to: Program Manager
FLSA Status: Exempt
Supervisory: No supervisory/management authority
Prepared Date: 10/6/2026
A government contract requires that this position be restricted to U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. You must provide documentation that you are a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident to qualify.
This position requires an active Top Secret/SCI clearance with a polygraph. Candidates holding an active Top Secret/SCI clearance without the polygraph may be selected; the ability to obtain the required polygraph is a condition of the position and will be completed as part of the hiring process.
Position Summary:
Cherokee Strategic Edge is seeking a qualified Space Engineer to support Defense Analytical requirements with enhanced scientific research and contribute to the Defense Industry Enterprise’s all-source analysis of foreign defense capabilities for warfighters, Defense planners, and policymakers.
Compensation & Benefits:
Starting Salary Range for Space Engineer: $128,000
Benefits That Set Us Apart
When considering your next opportunity, compensation is only part of the picture. We offer a benefits package designed to invest in your future and support your life outside of work.
Highlights include:
• Up to a 6% 401(k) company match to help you build long-term financial security
• Paid time off as part of our comprehensive benefits package, so you have the flexibility to rest, recharge, and enjoy what matters most
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus prescription drug coverage
• Basic life and AD&D insurance, with supplemental life options
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage
• Paid holidays
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options
• Professional development, training, and certification support
• Voluntary benefits including accident, critical illness, and identity theft protection
Because taking care of our employees isn’t just a promise, it’s part of who we are.
Benefits are subject to change and eligibility requirements apply.
Essential Functions, Duties & Responsibilities:
Includes the following:
• Research, evaluate, and provide detailed technical reviews on technologies, data, programs, projects, and capabilities.
• Provide recommendations, reports, issue resolutions, advice, and assistance to government CORs, requirements owners, and stakeholders to improve Space ISR mission effectiveness and future acquisitions efforts.
• Provide engineering documentation reflecting scientific analysis of specified or recommended solutions.
• Draft, analyze, review, advise, and assist with test and evaluation program planning; provide support to installation, testing, and other technical documentation for ISR operations in support of space systems, missions and their activities.
• Develop detailed analysis and strategies.
• Coordinate, manage, advise, and assist with technical requirements for fulfilling intelligence requirements.
• Serve as the senior technical advisor for engineering activities and will be responsible for conveying Government guidance and aiding all ISR Operations Integration staff offices, FIELDCOMs, and subordinate organizations.
• Support the creation, planning, and maintenance of master schedules encompassing all intelligence systems, their acquisition and sustainment for SpOC/S2 and its ISR units.
• Analyze technical reports and provide advice and assistance with determining key information, defining ISR capability performance parameters, tracking and resolving milestone conflicts, in-line with joint capabilities integration and development system or other acquisition guidance/approaches.
• Document required/relevant processes, operating instructions, and standard operating procedures for inclusion into future operations/program efforts.
• Advise and assist with planning, organizing, and managing critical technical aspects of the development, production, and/or deployment of capabilities.
• Collaborate with engineers and intelligence requirements managers to identify intelligence needs and gaps.
• Produce timely research, information, and technical studies for identifying space related ISR technologies and projecting likely upgrade and replacement paths for technologies in response to customer requirements.
• Draft, analyze, and submit reports summarizing conclusions, advice, and recommendations for meeting space intelligence needs and gaps in support of stakeholder requirements.
• Provide advice, assistance, and systems engineering expertise for acquisitions strategies and management of portfolios supporting SpOC system life cycle support.
• Track, advise, and assist supported organizations with creation and maintenance of the organization’s intelligence lifecycle programs consistent with government approved priorities, vision and requirements.
• Advise and contribute to intelligence capability planning and support throughout the phases of threat definition, concept explorations, system acquisition, testing, evaluation, training, operation and sustainment for supported space systems.
• Interface with intelligence community personnel during each phase of the program lifecycles to stay abreast of system development activities and translate those activities and capabilities into intelligence collection and production requirements supporting newly developed systems throughout the acquisition lifecycle.
• Devise and execute government-approved strategies for the acquisition of intelligence capabilities and advise the government on the movement and/or location of PCPAD capabilities.
• Implement ISR operations integration and national cryptologic processes to improve production and collection effectiveness of intelligence architectures to satisfy customer needs.
• Develop, update, sustain, and provide advice, assistance, and technical support to the development of enterprise intelligence architectures and associated architectural and engineering viewpoints in accordance with industry best practices, standards, languages, tools, DoD Architecture Framework (DoDAF) and/or Intelligence Community guidance, Information Support Plans (ISP), technical reports, and other planning and technical documentation.
• Support modernization efforts for ISR capabilities in compliance with current directives and instructions
• Support and conduct capabilities-based assessments (CBA) and other analyses using physics-based modeling and simulation tools to determine ISR capability requirements, gaps and shortfalls based on this information and recommend new or modified ISR system capabilities.
• Develop and maintain Requirements Traceability Verification Matrixes (RTVMs) reflecting bidirectional traceability from customer requirement to associated component of the Space ISR operations architecture.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
No supervisory/management authority
Basic Qualifications:
Minimum of twelve years of experience performing duties and responsibilities related to the Space Engineer’s responsibilities.
Ability to work independently with minimal oversight.
Ability to communicate understanding from information that may be incomplete, indirect, highly complex, seemingly unrelated, and / or technically advanced.
Demonstrates ability to collaborate and work with other IC members on information sharing, driving collection, and addressing analytic disputes and conflict resolution.
Ability to develop concise, insightful, and comprehensive products for defense intelligence.
Must be a US Citizen.
This position requires an active Top Secret/SCI clearance with a polygraph. Candidates holding an active Top Secret/SCI clearance without the polygraph may be selected; the ability to obtain the required polygraph is a condition of the position and will be completed as part of the hiring process.
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer; may occasionally require standing or moving about the office for extended periods.
Must pass pre-employment qualifications of Cherokee Federal.
Work Environment:
Work is performed primarily in a climate-controlled environment.
Company Information:
Behind every government mission stands skilled, mission-driven talent: people whose expertise and dedication turn complex challenges into successful outcomes. Cherokee Strategic Edge, part of Cherokee Federal, the federal contracting division of Cherokee Nation Businesses, is that team. We modernize aging systems, deliver care where it’s needed most, and keep missions supplied, staffed, and moving across defense, intelligence, and civilian agencies. For more than 60 federal clients, we take on the work others won’t, and deliver where it counts. If that’s the kind of work you’re looking for, you’ve found your team. Learn more at cherokee-federal.com.
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Cherokee Federal is a military friendly employer. Veterans and active military transitioning to civilian status are encouraged to apply.
Legal Disclaimer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability or any other status protected under applicable federal, state or local law.
Many of our job openings require access to government buildings or military installations. Candidates must pass pre-employment qualifications of Cherokee Federal.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement
Cherokee Federal is a federal contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA). As required by VEVRAA, we take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans. Protected veterans are encouraged to self-identify during the application process.
Cherokee Federal takes affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. Qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to self-identify during the application process.
Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities or those with sincerely held religious beliefs. To request an accommodation in the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at careers@cherokee-federal.com.