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Space Launch Engineer, SSC/SYD 80

Space Systems Command

Kirtland AFB, NMFull-time$90–140K/yrPosted today

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At a glance

Compensation
$90–140K/yr
Location
Kirtland AFB, NM
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Job overview

The United States Space Force seeks a Space Launch Engineer and Program Manager to support launch operations and acquisition for national defense missions. The role leads multidisciplinary teams, evaluates launch vehicles and payloads, briefs senior leaders, and guides missions through integration, range safety, countdown, and deployment. The ideal candidate has engineering or program management experience, preferably in the Department of War or a similar environment, and experience managing complex programs and acquisition activities.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Launch OperationsAcquisition ManagementEngineeringProgram ManagementTeam LeadershipRisk ManagementMission AssuranceTechnical Trade StudiesExecutive BriefingsLaunch Vehicle IntegrationRange SafetySolid Rocket Motor OperationsRequirements ManagementCost EstimationConflict ResolutionProject Status CommunicationFinancial Project Control

Qualifications

Engineering or Program Management ExperienceMultidisciplinary Team Leadership ExperienceComplex Program Management ExperienceAcquisition Policy Development ExperienceSource Selection ExperienceIntegrated Product Team ExperienceSolid Rocket Motor Launch ExperienceRequirements Implementation ExperiencePerformance Monitoring ExperienceCost Estimation ExperienceOrganizational Planning ExperienceProject Status Communication Experience

Full job description

Summary

Do not email applications. To submit your resume for this Direct Hire opportunity click here. For additional information on other USSF direct hire opportunities visit the Air Force Civilian Careers Space Force website and follow USSF on LinkedIn.

Duties

The United States Space Force (USSF) at Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM L is searching for a Space Launch Engineer to support SSC/SYD 80 (NH-0801-03, GS-12/13 Equivalent). Description: Are You Ready to Launch Your Career into Orbit? Join the United States Space Force's premier rapid response launch team as a Space Launch Engineer & Program Manager, where your work directly supports the Nation's most critical defense missions. This is your chance to lead high-stakes launch acquisition and operations across a constellation of national priorities-including missions for the USSF, Office of the Secretary of War (OSW), Army, Navy, Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), and the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Golden Dome space-based interceptor program. If you are an experienced launch systems engineer driven by technical excellence, complex problem-solving, and operational velocity, this is where your expertise commands center stage. If you are an experienced launch systems engineer driven by team work, technical excellence, complex problem-solving, and operational velocity, this is where your expertise commands center stage. Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It: - Lead Integrated Action Teams: Drive multidisciplinary engineering, acquisition, and operational squads to formulate bold launch strategies and guarantee total mission readiness. - Conduct Deep Technical & Acquisition Evaluations: Spearhead rigorous mission assurance reviews, risk-reduction audits, and technical trade studies on next-generation launch vehicles and space payloads. - Brief Executive Leadership: Translate complex technical, schedule, and mission-assurance data into high-impact, actionable briefings for senior military general officers and civilian agency directors. - Drive Full Mission Lifecycles: Guide and pilot world-class launch teams from initial operational concept, launch vehicle integration, and range safety all the way through countdown, ignition, and orbital deployment. .... Why You Matter: You'll be at the forefront of safeguarding America's space launch architecture, driving innovation through cross-functional collaboration and technical excellence. Your leadership will ensure our warfighters have the space-based capabilities they need-when they need them. Ideal Candidate: This position plays a vital role in supporting the United States Space Force (USSF) and the Department of War (DoW) by focusing on the sustainability and enhancement of global space launch systems. The primary responsibility of the position is to serve as the focal point for launch operations and acquisition of logistics, maintenance, supply, engineering, mission assurance, solid rocket motor operations and launch services, ensuring mission readiness and success. Experience: Applicants should have experience in engineering and/or program management or related fields, ideally within the DoW or a similar environment. Proven experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams and managing complex programs characterized by significant uncertainties and risks is essential. Applicants must demonstrate a history of developing and implementing acquisition policies, procedures, strategic plans and source selection experience that enhance mission execution effectiveness. Experience leading/supporting integrated product teams; experience with solid rocket motor launch operations/missions, experience with implementing requirements and monitoring performance; developing cost estimates; planning/conflict resolution between many organizations; and communicating project status (written/brief) with Space Systems Command (SSC) leadership up to the General Officer Commander, PAE, Division Chief and Branch Chief levels; customer mission managers, and contractors (mission assurance/technical/mission support/launch service contractors). Establishes management controls such as milestones, expenditure rates, management indicators, and management reviews to reflect program status and provide early detection of emerging problems. Reviews documents to assess impact on the mission preparation and execution. Organizes teamwork efforts and leads a team of specialists in resolving technical, schedule, cost, and supportability issues. Support/lead team(s) to develop, implement, and control financial and technical aspects of projects (launch operations, acquisition, mission preparation, etc.). Generate specific plans, goals, and objectives consistent with policies and requirements. Organize, direct, and coordinate activities of functional specialists (engineering, contracting, program control, finance, logistics and mission assurance). Review progress of contractors in meeting objectives. Keep Leadership and team informed of project status and resolution actions. Qualifications

The 0801 series has an individual occupational requirement that must be met and can be viewed here. In addition to the above requirements you can view the experience level requirements here. Please scroll down to the 4th section titled Professional and Scientific Positions.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies as related to the series and grade of the position being filled. Final qualifications determinations will be assessed based on OPM's General Schedule Qualifications Standards found here: Interviews: You will be contacted by e-mail and/or telephone if your application is identified as qualifying for a position being filled. An interview may be conducted. If interviewed, you will be asked to address the same knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies used to initially qualify your application for the position. Other Information

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information. Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

How this job compares

Set against the 11,503 open Program Manager jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 5, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$90–140K/yr
  • New Mexico median$115–210K/yr84 salary ranges
  • US median$120–202K/yr9,008 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $115K, is 26% below the New Mexico median midpoint ($156K) — in the lowest quarter of Program Manager salary ranges in New Mexico.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 101 open Program Manager jobs in New Mexico and 11,503 across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in New Mexico
Experience
Program Manager postings that state a minimum ask for 6 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 5 to 8 years (9,817 postings).
Education
4,697 of the 11,503 open Program Manager jobs (41%) ask for a bachelor'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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