Principal Systems Engineer IV

Principal Systems Engineer IV – Product Owner | Satellite Ground Systems Location: Aurora, CO — Onsite Salary Range: $170,000–$210,000 Clearance: Active and transferable TS/SCI required U.S. Citizenship required Openings: 1

The information below covers the role requirements, expected candidate experience, and accompanying qualifications.
About the Opportunity:Talent Stack is recruiting a Principal Systems Engineer – Product Owner on behalf of a confidential defense and aerospace client supporting a mission-critical satellite ground systems program.
This senior-level role combines systems engineering, technical leadership, and Agile product ownership. You will own the vision, strategy, roadmap, and execution of a critical ground software capability while serving as a primary technical link between the Product Manager, Chief Engineer, customers, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
The ideal candidate brings significant systems engineering experience along with the ability to lead complex technical efforts, translate mission needs into executable engineering priorities, and drive delivery within a SAFe Agile environment.
What You’ll Do:Own and communicate the vision, strategy, and roadmap for a key ground system componentAlign engineering teams, program leadership, customers, and other stakeholders around technical priorities and program objectivesPartner with the Scrum Master and engineering teams to plan and execute Program Increments (PIs) within a SAFe Agile environmentTranslate customer needs, mission objectives, and operational concepts into technical requirements, system designs, user stories, and acceptance criteriaManage and prioritize the team backlog, balancing feature development, technical debt, technical risks, and program commitmentsLead readiness reviews, design reviews, demonstrations, and technical presentations for customers and senior program leadershipDevelop and communicate technical documentation, implementation guidance, and product strategiesDrive systems engineering activities including requirements management, interface definition, technical risk management, integration, and verificationCoordinate across systems engineering, software development, integration, and test teams to ensure successful product deliveryProvide technical leadership and guidance throughout the product lifecycle
Required QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), or a related technical discipline8+ years of relevant professional experience, Internships, co-ops, academic projects, and other non-professional experience do not count toward the required years of professional experienceExperience serving as a Product Owner, Product Manager, Technical Lead, or similar technical leadership role within an Agile development environmentExperience with satellite ground systems, mission operations, or systems engineeringExperience with systems engineering functions such as:Requirements managementInterface definitionTechnical risk managementExperience using Agile development and collaboration tools including Jira and ConfluenceExperience or familiarity working within DevSecOps and CI/CD environmentsActive and transferable U.S. government-issued TS/SCI security clearance required prior to startU.S. Citizenship required due to government security-clearance requirements
Preferred QualificationsExperience serving as a SAFe Product Owner supporting complex government or mission software programsExperience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams across systems, software, integration, and testExperience developing or operating satellite ground systems or Command and Control (C2) systemsExperience with automated testing and software factory tools such as Cucumber, Gherkin, and ZephyrSoftware development experience using Java, C++, Python, or similar programming languagesExperience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)Experience with Atlassian tools including Jira, Confluence, and BitbucketExperience with DevOps/DevSecOps methodologies and toolsExperience working within Linux and cloud-based environmentsStrong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex technical information to customers, engineers, and senior leadership
BenefitsEligible employees may have access to a comprehensive benefits package, including:Medical, dental, and vision insurance401(k) retirement plan optionsPaid time off and paid holidaysLife and disability insuranceEmployee assistance and wellness programsProfessional development and career-growth opportunities
Why Join?This is an opportunity to take ownership of a mission-critical ground systems product while directly influencing technical direction, engineering priorities, and product execution.You will work with experienced engineers and senior program leadership while helping deliver advanced satellite ground system capabilities supporting critical national security missions.The anticipated salary range for this position is $170,000–$210,000, based on experience, qualifications, and other business considerations.
Important Application NoticeCandidates must apply directly and represent themselves. Third-party agency, staffing firm, subcontractor, recruiter, or vendor submissions will not be accepted. Unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from outside recruiting organizations will not be considered and will not create any obligation for fees, commissions, or other compensation.Talent Stack is an independent recruiting partner representing this opportunity on behalf of a confidential client. xzbcwsv Talent Stack is not the employer of record or the final hiring decision-maker.
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