MITRE's National Space Program brings together leading technical talent and deep mission expertise to help shape the future of space operations. We partner with organizations across the space enterprise to design, deliver, and advance next-generation capabilities that strengthen national security and support critical civil and defense missions. Through systems engineering, advanced analytics, and mission-focused research, our teams solve complex challenges, reduce risk, and accelerate innovation across the full space life cycle.

Joining the National Space Program means contributing to work of national and global importance. Our people help strengthen the digital and physical foundations that enable resilient, effective, and trusted space operations. Together, we are advancing mission assurance and empowering operators with the confidence and capabilities needed to succeed in an increasingly dynamic space environment.

Roles & Responsibilities:

MITRE is seeking a technically exceptional Principal Project Leader to lead the National Space Program's Ground Engineering Team. In this role, you will help lead the modernization of the ground enterprise digital backbone that enables advanced orbital systems to be operated, sustained, and connected to intelligence users. Your work will directly support the end-to-end ground mission chain, including command and control for intelligence constellations, high-throughput telemetry ingestion and processing, and the secure dissemination of mission data to warfighters and national decision-makers.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of space mission operations. A key focus of the role is advancing the transition to AI-enabled mission automation and orchestration-moving beyond manual, legacy processes toward scalable, intelligent operations designed to support next-generation proliferated constellations of smaller, distributed satellites. In partnership with staff from across MITRE's Intelligence Center, you will help drive the evolution from stovepiped legacy systems to a modern, resilient architecture built on secure cloud platforms, agile delivery, DevSecOps, and AI/ML-enabled automation. You will also collaborate across MITRE, government, and industry to transform raw orbital data into operational advantage.

The selected candidate will be expected to:

• Provide strategic and technical leadership as a trusted advisor to the sponsor and help shape the full scope of work for the Ground Engineering Team
• Build and sustain strong relationships with NSP senior leadership, division leadership, branch chiefs, and government stakeholders across the mission space
• Define and execute technical objectives based on sponsor priorities and mission outcomes, with an emphasis on areas where MITRE can deliver the greatest value through its technical depth and cross-cutting capabilities
• Translate overall project strategy into clear, actionable outcomes, deliverables, and technical products
• Identify and integrate relevant research and innovation efforts from across MITRE, including internal innovation programs, to strengthen project impact and advance sponsor objectives
• Ensure the technical quality of products and recommendations by establishing clear team expectations aligned with division quality practices, conducting in-progress reviews, incorporating peer review, implementing effective knowledge management, and participating in regular program execution reviews
• Partner with MITRE staff resourcing organizations to develop and execute a mission-focused staffing strategy for the project
• Collaborate across MITRE and with sponsors to identify, assess, and inform operational trade space decisions for the NSP mission
• Lead project administration activities, including financial tracking, project documentation, meeting coordination, status reporting, facility management, task tracking, and contributor expectation setting
• Oversee staff management activities, including onboarding and access coordination for required systems, networks, collaboration environments, and classified facilities.
• Collaborate across the NSP work program with other PLs to ensure cohesive, well-aligned delivery

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 8 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD with 5 years' experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience. Typically requires a degree in physics, applied mathematics, aerospace, software development for engineering/physical systems, mechanical engineering, or related discipline and work experience with a strong technical background.
• Understanding of space-related physics and engineering concepts, for example, orbital mechanics, satellite propagation, space-based ISR, satellite communications, space domain awareness, etc.
• Knowledge of enterprise data architectures.
• Knowledge of Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) and associated tools, techniques, and processes
• Ability to proactively formulate key analytical questions to drive modeling, simulation, experimentation, and prototyping.
• Proficiency in DoD and IC space sponsors and their role in the development, acquisition, and operational lifecycle and the ability to work across to achieve higher level strategic objectives.
• Experience with understanding & presenting technical studies to senior decision-makers to drive action and outcomes.
• An active TS/SCI clearance with a polygraph.
• Per the U.S. Government's eligibility requirements for a clearance, U.S Citizenship is required
• This position requires a minimum of 5 days a week on-site.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's or PhD with research experience in one of the above specified degree programs
• Experience with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) - to include AI strategy and engineering
• Knowledge of intelligence operations, the intelligence lifecycle, and intelligence systems
• Experience developing or applying systems architecture frameworks, architecture views, interface models, operational models, or enterprise architecture products
• Experience advising the federal government on acquisition lifecycle activities (emphasizing software acquisitions), including SOW/SOO development, market research, acquisition planning, technical evaluations, source selection support, or adoption of innovative acquisition approaches
• Experience with digital engineering, mission engineering, enterprise architecture, software-intensive systems, cloud-based systems, data platforms, cybersecurity, or command-and-control systems

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):
Top Secret/SCI/Polygraph

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):
Top Secret/SCI/Polygraph

Salary compensation range and midpoint:
$162,400 - $203,000 - $243,600 Annual

Work Location Type:
Onsite