Ground Systems Integration engineer

Ground Systems Integration Engineer

Location: Hybrid – Arvada, CO or Seattle, WA (3 days/week onsite)

Clearance Required: Active or previously held TS/SCI

Compensation: Approx. $120,000 to $180,000 (depending on experience)

Employment Type: Full-time

About the Role

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Ground Systems Integration Engineer to join a mission-driven team simplifying satellite operations. In this hybrid role, you’ll be at the forefront of integrating new satellite platforms and flight software into our client's mission management platform. You’ll work closely with a multidisciplinary team and customer stakeholders to translate complex mission requirements into robust, scalable solutions.

This focus of this role will be low-level software integration, debugging, and problem-solving in ambiguous, real-world environments. The ideal candidate needs to be comfortable working with incomplete documentation, encrypted packet formats, and non-machine-readable inputs (like screenshots and PDFs).

Key Responsibilities

• Integrate satellite vehicles and flight software into the mission management platform.
• Collaborate with customers to decompose mission requirements and engineer integration solutions.
• Work with industry-standard protocols such as CCSDS, CSP, CFDP, XTCE, and MIB.
• Troubleshoot and debug low-level software and hardware interfaces.
• Support the broader product suite by contributing to scalable, maintainable integration solutions.
• Handle encryption and packetization tasks, including working with XDC files and custom formats.
• Thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment where creative problem-solving is essential.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Python, C++, or Java.
• Experience with real-time embedded systems and hardware-software integration.
• Familiarity with satellite communication protocols (e.g., CCSDS, CSP, CFDP).
• Understanding of command and telemetry standards (e.g., XTCE, MIB).
• Knowledge of encryption algorithms (e.g., AES-256 GCM, NSA Type 1).
• Preferred experience with AWS services (Lambda, ECS, EKS, EC2, etc.).
• Comfortable with Git/GitHub and open-source tools.
• Strong analytical and debugging skills.
• Highly adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity.
• Independent self-starter with a bias for action.
• Excellent communicator—able to distill complex technical information for diverse audiences.
• Detail-oriented with a high standard for software quality and maintainability.
• Collaborative and easy to work with—team culture is key.

Preferred Background

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in satellite command and control systems or similar complex integration environments.
• Experience with flight software, ground systems, or embedded systems is a strong plus.

#satellite #groundsystems #commandand control #python #aerospace #defense #startup #missionplanning