
Mission Architect, Missile Defense
Centennial, COJob$77–145/hrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today
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At a glance
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Requirements
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Job overview
The Mission Architect will define and analyze missile defense missions across complex systems of systems, translating mission objectives into operational concepts, requirements, performance measures, and engineering solutions. The role leads mission-level analysis and architecture development, models system performance, and supports integration, verification, planning, execution, and mission lifecycle analysis. The position is on-site in Centennial, Colorado or Long Beach, California, with hourly rates varying by level.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
Job Description
The Mission Architect will serve as a senior technical leader responsible for defining and analyzing missile defense missions across a complex system of systems. This individual will work with customers, stakeholders, and engineering teams to translate mission objectives into operational concepts, system requirements, technical performance measures, and executable engineering solutions. They will lead mission-level trade studies, engagement sequence and intercept analysis, kill-chain and fire-control architecture development, and sensor, command-and-control, and interceptor integration. The Mission Architect will also conduct system-of-systems performance modeling using astrodynamics, simulation, parametric analysis, and Monte Carlo techniques to evaluate mission effectiveness and support major technical decisions. This person will help oversee system integration and verification, support mission planning and real-time execution, assess mission risks, and perform pre- and post-flight analysis throughout the full mission lifecycle. This role is offering an hourly rate of $77-118/hr for Staff Level and $94-145/hr for Principal Level. This role will be on-site in Centennial, Colorado OR Long Beach, California. If this sounds like the role for you, please apply today!
Skills and Requirements
12+ years of experience in mission analysis, space operations, orbital mechanics, or related aerospace/defense systems Strong experience with missile defense mission architecture, system-of-systems analysis, or complex defense mission design Strong understanding of orbital mechanics, spacecraft dynamics, astrodynamics, and autonomous space operations Experience defining mission objectives, operational concepts, system requirements, and technical performance measures Experience leading mission-level trade studies, feasibility assessments, and system performance analyses Experience performing or leading engagement sequence and intercept analysis Understanding of the integration between sensors, command-and-control systems, and interceptors Experience with kill-chain and/or fire-control architecture Experience performing system-of-systems modeling, simulation, and analysis Hands-on experience with mission analysis tools such as STK, FreeFlyer, GMAT, or similar Proficiency with analytical/programming tools such as MATLAB, Python, or C+Experience with Monte Carlo studies, parametric analyses, trajectory analysis, or mission performance modeling Experience supporting mission planning, testing, and real-time mission operations Strong technical leadership and systems architecture capabilities Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI or TS/SAP U.S. government security clearance Advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Systems Engineering, or related discipline Active TS/SCI clearance Experience supporting classified or national defense space missions Experience with pre-flight and post-flight mission analysis Experience with trajectory reconstruction and anomaly investigation Experience working directly with government customers and other technical stakeholders Experience integrating hardware, software, sensors, C2, and other mission elements within a large system-of-systems environment
We are a company committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments where people can bring their full, authentic selves to work every day. We are an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer that believes everyone matters. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, genetic factors, age, disability, protected veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to [email protected].
How this job compares
Set against the 913 open Systems Architect jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 5, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$77–145/hr
- US median$60–70/hr30 hourly ranges
This range's midpoint, $111/hr, is 71% above the US median midpoint ($65/hr) — in the top quarter of Systems Architect hourly ranges across the US.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 77 open Systems Architect jobs in Colorado and 913 across the US. 11% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Colorado
- Lockheed Martin10 open
- Booz Allen Hamilton7 open
- American Systems Corporation4 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 12 years of experience; Systems Architect postings that state a minimum ask for 8 years at the median (796 postings).
- Education
- This posting asks for a master's degree; 27 of the 913 open Systems Architect jobs (3%) ask for a master's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 5, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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