Senior Technical Advisor – OPIR Enterprise Integration & Modernization

Stellar Solutions is seeking a Senior Technical Advisor to support the U.S. Space Force's Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) enterprise through the SMILE mission at Space Delta 84. As missile threats become more sophisticated and the space domain evolves, the OPIR enterprise is undergoing a critical transformation to deliver more resilient, integrated, and operationally responsive missile warning and tracking capabilities. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence that transformation - connecting legacy system modernization, emerging space architectures, advanced technology development, and operational mission needs across one of the nation's most critical national security space enterprises.

The Senior Technical Advisor will serve as a trusted technical advisor to senior Government leadership, providing independent engineering judgment, enterprise-level integration expertise, and strategic guidance across two interconnected mission areas: WT-5 (formerly the Joint Tactical Ground Station, or JTAGS) modernization and associated OPIR ground architecture, and the Space Modernization Initiative (SMI) portfolio. The role spans operational systems, advanced development activities, emerging missile warning and tracking architectures, and the transition of new technologies into fielded capabilities.

Working across acquisition organizations, operational units, technical laboratories, and industry partners, this individual will help resolve complex technical challenges, assess competing architectural approaches, and translate engineering insights into actionable recommendations. Success requires deep technical credibility, broad enterprise perspective, and the ability to influence complex decisions and drive integration without direct organizational authority.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide senior technical advisory support for WT-5 modernization and OPIR ground architecture integration, ensuring technical approaches align with enterprise requirements and operational mission needs.

• Assess the integration, verification, testing, and operational transition of modernized capabilities, including SESAMI-based processing and supporting ground infrastructure.

• Evaluate system architectures, hardware and software integration, cybersecurity, technical readiness, sustainment, deployment considerations, and engineering risks to inform Government decisions.

• Coordinate with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's Integrated System Program Office (ISPO), Government stakeholders, and contractor teams to resolve integration challenges and identify opportunities to leverage existing Government-owned infrastructure.

• Collaborate with 5 SWS, 4 STS, and other operational organizations to strengthen alignment between modernization activities, operational requirements, and mission readiness.

• Advise Space Delta 84 S9 leadership on technical priorities, architecture assessments, advanced development strategies, and execution risks across the Space Modernization Initiative portfolio.

• Provide technical leadership and integration support across OPIR TAP Lab, Boulder Ground Innovation Facility (BGIF), Wide Field of View (WFOV), and OPIR Modeling, Simulation and Analysis Center (OMAC) activities.

• Evaluate prototypes, emerging technologies, and mission architectures for technical maturity, operational value, integration complexity, and feasibility of transition into operational capabilities.

• Develop and assess technical roadmaps connecting experimentation, modeling and simulation, technology maturation, acquisition planning, and operational capability delivery.

• Support enterprise architecture evaluations involving emerging medium Earth orbit (MEO) and low Earth orbit (LEO) missile warning and tracking capabilities, applying constellation modeling, mission analysis, and architecture trade studies to inform investment and integration decisions.

• Facilitate technical coordination among Government program offices, operational units, laboratories, and industry partners; participate in engineering reviews, technical exchanges, and senior leadership engagements.

• Translate complex engineering and programmatic challenges into decision-ready recommendations, actionable risk mitigation strategies, and executable technical plans while mentoring personnel and strengthening engineering execution across the enterprise.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field.

• 15+ years of relevant aerospace or defense systems engineering experience.

• Demonstrated senior technical leadership supporting major DoD space, ground, or mission system development and integration programs.

• Strong understanding of missile warning and tracking missions, national security space systems, and supporting ground architectures.

• Extensive experience with system-of-systems integration, technical risk assessment, and the transition of capabilities into operational environments.

• Experience working with Government acquisition organizations, contractor engineering teams, and military operational stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to independently evaluate complex engineering challenges, assess technical alternatives, and provide credible recommendations to senior decision-makers.

• Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills, including the ability to influence technical direction and facilitate cross-organizational alignment without direct authority.

• Demonstrated engineering judgment, strategic perspective, and ability to connect technical decisions with broader enterprise and mission outcomes.

Desired Qualifications

• 20+ years of relevant aerospace or defense systems engineering experience.

• Advanced degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.

• Direct OPIR mission experience involving SBIRS, DSP, Next-Generation OPIR, JTAGS, FORGE, or emerging missile warning and tracking architectures.

• Familiarity with NGA ISPO activities, OPIR ground modernization, mission processing systems, and distributed ground architectures.

• Experience supporting advanced technology development, rapid prototyping, experimentation, and transition of emerging capabilities into operational systems.

• Knowledge of MEO/LEO missile warning and tracking architectures, constellation modeling, mission analysis, and enterprise-level architecture trade studies.

• Experience supporting Space Systems Command, Space Force operational organizations, or related national security space acquisition and modernization activities.

• Demonstrated experience developing technical roadmaps and connecting engineering assessments, acquisition strategies, and capability transition decisions.

Clearance & Additional Requirements

• Active Top Secret security clearance required.

• Eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access preferred.

• Active TS/SCI clearance desired.

• Ability to travel occasionally in support of program activities, technical engagements, and mission coordination.

Location

This position is full-time, on site at Los Angeles Space Force Base in El Segundo, California, with occasional travel as required.

Compensation:

The typical annual salary range for this position is approximately USD 145,000 - $175,000. Individual pay is determined by many factors including work location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

In addition to base salary, this position is eligible for a comprehensive total rewards package that includes an annual performance bonus, an employer-funded Profit-Sharing Plan (PSP) contribution based on base compensation, comprehensive employer-paid medical benefits, PTO pay-out options, and additional company-sponsored benefits. These benefits represent an additional approximately 30-40% of base compensation as part of the overall total compensation package.

The Senior Technical Advisor will help strengthen the integration, technical integrity, and operational effectiveness of the OPIR enterprise by connecting modernization investments, emerging technologies, and operational mission requirements into a coherent path toward future capability. Through independent technical assessments, enterprise architecture evaluations, modernization planning, and coordination across Government and industry stakeholders, this individual will help reduce integration and transition risks, inform critical acquisition decisions, and accelerate the delivery of resilient missile warning and tracking capabilities.