Payload Chief Engineer Delegate
Sunnyvale, California
Sunnyvale, California
Job Responsibilities
Job ID: 710336BR Date posted: Dec. 09, 2025
Description:Lockheed Martin Space is seeking a Payload Chief Engineer Delegate to join our team in Sunnyvale, CA!
Come join the Lockheed Martin Space Radio Frequency (RF) Talent Center (RFTC) team and shape the future! You can join our mission and contribute to challenging programs in support of Space Vehicles, Hypersonics, Human Space Flight and Interplanetary Missions, Missile Defense, and more.
Our team is dedicated to making a positive impact on the world by leveraging our unique skills and experiences to tackle complex engineering challenges. We are passionate about delivering exceptional results and creating a better tomorrow. Do you want to be part of a dynamic, fast-moving, high-performance team that's creating a best-in-class team culture, all while quickly adapting to ever-changing customer requirements?
Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) provides the advanced Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) waveform, giving warfighters 10 times the communications capacity of the legacy Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Satellite Communication (SATCOM) system. The Payload Chief Engineer Delegate (PCED) will assist the Payload Chief Engineer (PCE) manage and direct the technical design and development of the Wide-Band Payload subsystem for the Mobile User Objective System Service Life Extension (MUOS SLE) Program. The MUOS SLE Radio Frequency Engineering Team is responsible for the design, development, and delivery of multiple communication subsystems. MUOS SLE communication subsystem consists of digital, Radio Frequency (RF), optical, and Secured Tracking, Telemetry and Command (STT&C) components that collectively receive and transmit mission information across a group of satellites and the base stations.
Payload Chief Engineer Delegate Roles and Responsibilities:
- Oversees and manages the development of the entire Payload and STT&C Subsystems Architectures consisting of equipment: antennas, transmitters, receivers, digital processors, low noise amplifiers, high power amplifiers, RF conversion elements, transmission line, and cryptographic hardware.
-Coordinates link analysis and optimization, including effects of propagation medium and possible interference sources.
- Manages the development and allocation of RF system and subsystem functional and performance requirements.
- Oversees the identification and tracking of RF technical performance measurements.
- Monitors RF system/subsystem/component trade studies.
- Supports life cycle costs, reliability, availability, and maintainability analysis.
- Oversees the preparations of test methods and specifications
- Coordinate the analyzes and testing of the RF hardware to verify performance characteristics.
- Provides inputs to product development for formal documentation and supports manufacturing during the deliverable assembly and testing phase.
***This position is contingent upon contract award to Lockheed Martin. Estimated award date is around mid-February 2026. Any job offers extended to selected candidates will include a contingency clause stating that the offer is contingent on Lockheed Martin securing the contract.***
Basic Qualifications:
- Understanding of Radio Frequency (RF) and Systems Engineering principles and processes
- Engineering experience working as Certified Professional Engineer (CPE), Responsible Systems Engineer (RSE), Design Lead, Technical Lead, Technical Program Manager, or in a similar role
- Experience in one or more of the following fields: electrical engineering, RF/Antenna/STT&C design, systems engineering and/or integration and test
- Experience writing and deriving complex subsystem level requirements
- Informal or formal leadership experience
- Must be able to obtain a Secret clearance; US citizenship required
Desired Skills:
- Experience leading employees to perform productively and develop relationships in a multi-functional team environment
- BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related discipline
- Proven track record of success in managing complex engineering projects and teams
- Proactive problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to think critically and creatively with limited direction
- Experience evaluating product technology readiness levels and developing product technology strategies
- Experience leading successful completion of System Engineering milestone reviews
- Experience implementing System Engineering processes and command media, or equivalent
- Experience interfacing and partnering with government customers
- Experience with requirements management and system modeling tools (e.g. Dynamic Object-Oriented Requirements System (DOORS), CAMEO)
- Demonstrated ability to drive closure and resolve technical issues/challenges and demonstrated agility in decision making
- Demonstrated ability to mentor other leaders and individual contributors
- Demonstrated consistency with high ethical standards and conduct
- Aptitude for Model Based Engineering, Agile processes, and Digital Transformation
- Demonstrated experience with delivering communication hardware for space applications
- Experience with specifying, developing, testing, delivering RF or Digital Hardware for space applications
- Strong presentation skills and capable of briefing audiences of varying technical knowledge
- Familiarity with Digital Signal Processing such as Mission Payload Processor
- Active Secret Clearance
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including a demonstrated ability to interact effectively with customers, suppliers, management, and peers
- Ability to interact with hardware developers, software developers, and subcontractors to ensure mission requirements are satisfied
Security Clearance Statement: This position requires a government security clearance, you must be a US Citizen for consideration.
Clearance Level: Secret
Other Important Information You Should Know
Expression of Interest: By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in this position and could be considered for other career opportunities where similar skills and requirements have been identified as a match. Should this match be identified you may be contacted for this and future openings.
Ability to Work Remotely: Onsite Full-time: The work associated with this position will be performed onsite at a designated Lockheed Martin facility.
Work Schedules: Lockheed Martin supports a variety of alternate work schedules that provide additional flexibility to our employees. Schedules range from standard 40 hours over a five day work week while others may be condensed. These condensed schedules provide employees with additional time away from the office and are in addition to our Paid Time off benefits.
Schedule for this Position: 9x80 every other Friday off
Pay Rate: The annual base salary range for this position in California, Massachusetts, and New York (excluding most major metropolitan areas), Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington or Washington DC is $145,200 - $255,990. For states not referenced above, the salary range for this position will reflect the candidate’s final work location. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market and business considerations when extending an offer.
Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays.
(Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.
This position is incentive plan eligible.
Pay Rate: The annual base salary range for this position in most major metropolitan areas in California, Massachusetts, and New York is $167,000 - $289,340. For states not referenced above, the salary range for this position will reflect the candidate’s final work location. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market and business considerations when extending an offer.
Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays.
This position is incentive plan eligible.
Lockheed Martin is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified candidates will be considered without regard to legally protected characteristics.
The application window will close in 90 days; applicants are encouraged to apply within 5 - 30 days of the requisition posting date in order to receive optimal consideration.
At Lockheed Martin, we use our passion for purposeful innovation to help keep people safe and solve the world's most complex challenges. Our people are some of the greatest minds in the industry and truly make Lockheed Martin a great place to work.
With our employees as our priority, we provide diverse career opportunities designed to propel, develop, and boost agility. Our flexible schedules, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits enable our employees to live a healthy, fulfilling life at and outside of work. We place an emphasis on empowering our employees by fostering an inclusive environment built upon integrity and corporate responsibility.
If this sounds like a culture you connect with, you’re invited to apply for this role. Or, if you are unsure whether your experience aligns with the requirements of this position, we encourage you to search on Lockheed Martin Jobs, and apply for roles that align with your qualifications.
Experience Level: Experienced Professional
Business Unit: SPACE
Relocation Available: Possible
Career Area: Electrical Engineering
Type: Full-Time
Shift: First
Apply Now
Description:Lockheed Martin Space is seeking a Payload Chief Engineer Delegate to join our team in Sunnyvale, CA!
Come join the Lockheed Martin Space Radio Frequency (RF) Talent Center (RFTC) team and shape the future! You can join our mission and contribute to challenging programs in support of Space Vehicles, Hypersonics, Human Space Flight and Interplanetary Missions, Missile Defense, and more.
Our team is dedicated to making a positive impact on the world by leveraging our unique skills and experiences to tackle complex engineering challenges. We are passionate about delivering exceptional results and creating a better tomorrow. Do you want to be part of a dynamic, fast-moving, high-performance team that's creating a best-in-class team culture, all while quickly adapting to ever-changing customer requirements?
Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) provides the advanced Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) waveform, giving warfighters 10 times the communications capacity of the legacy Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Satellite Communication (SATCOM) system. The Payload Chief Engineer Delegate (PCED) will assist the Payload Chief Engineer (PCE) manage and direct the technical design and development of the Wide-Band Payload subsystem for the Mobile User Objective System Service Life Extension (MUOS SLE) Program. The MUOS SLE Radio Frequency Engineering Team is responsible for the design, development, and delivery of multiple communication subsystems. MUOS SLE communication subsystem consists of digital, Radio Frequency (RF), optical, and Secured Tracking, Telemetry and Command (STT&C) components that collectively receive and transmit mission information across a group of satellites and the base stations.
Payload Chief Engineer Delegate Roles and Responsibilities:
- Oversees and manages the development of the entire Payload and STT&C Subsystems Architectures consisting of equipment: antennas, transmitters, receivers, digital processors, low noise amplifiers, high power amplifiers, RF conversion elements, transmission line, and cryptographic hardware.
-Coordinates link analysis and optimization, including effects of propagation medium and possible interference sources.
- Manages the development and allocation of RF system and subsystem functional and performance requirements.
- Oversees the identification and tracking of RF technical performance measurements.
- Monitors RF system/subsystem/component trade studies.
- Supports life cycle costs, reliability, availability, and maintainability analysis.
- Oversees the preparations of test methods and specifications
- Coordinate the analyzes and testing of the RF hardware to verify performance characteristics.
- Provides inputs to product development for formal documentation and supports manufacturing during the deliverable assembly and testing phase.
***This position is contingent upon contract award to Lockheed Martin. Estimated award date is around mid-February 2026. Any job offers extended to selected candidates will include a contingency clause stating that the offer is contingent on Lockheed Martin securing the contract.***
Basic Qualifications:
- Understanding of Radio Frequency (RF) and Systems Engineering principles and processes
- Engineering experience working as Certified Professional Engineer (CPE), Responsible Systems Engineer (RSE), Design Lead, Technical Lead, Technical Program Manager, or in a similar role
- Experience in one or more of the following fields: electrical engineering, RF/Antenna/STT&C design, systems engineering and/or integration and test
- Experience writing and deriving complex subsystem level requirements
- Informal or formal leadership experience
- Must be able to obtain a Secret clearance; US citizenship required
Desired Skills:
- Experience leading employees to perform productively and develop relationships in a multi-functional team environment
- BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related discipline
- Proven track record of success in managing complex engineering projects and teams
- Proactive problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to think critically and creatively with limited direction
- Experience evaluating product technology readiness levels and developing product technology strategies
- Experience leading successful completion of System Engineering milestone reviews
- Experience implementing System Engineering processes and command media, or equivalent
- Experience interfacing and partnering with government customers
- Experience with requirements management and system modeling tools (e.g. Dynamic Object-Oriented Requirements System (DOORS), CAMEO)
- Demonstrated ability to drive closure and resolve technical issues/challenges and demonstrated agility in decision making
- Demonstrated ability to mentor other leaders and individual contributors
- Demonstrated consistency with high ethical standards and conduct
- Aptitude for Model Based Engineering, Agile processes, and Digital Transformation
- Demonstrated experience with delivering communication hardware for space applications
- Experience with specifying, developing, testing, delivering RF or Digital Hardware for space applications
- Strong presentation skills and capable of briefing audiences of varying technical knowledge
- Familiarity with Digital Signal Processing such as Mission Payload Processor
- Active Secret Clearance
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including a demonstrated ability to interact effectively with customers, suppliers, management, and peers
- Ability to interact with hardware developers, software developers, and subcontractors to ensure mission requirements are satisfied
Security Clearance Statement: This position requires a government security clearance, you must be a US Citizen for consideration.
Clearance Level: Secret
Other Important Information You Should Know
Expression of Interest: By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in this position and could be considered for other career opportunities where similar skills and requirements have been identified as a match. Should this match be identified you may be contacted for this and future openings.
Ability to Work Remotely: Onsite Full-time: The work associated with this position will be performed onsite at a designated Lockheed Martin facility.
Work Schedules: Lockheed Martin supports a variety of alternate work schedules that provide additional flexibility to our employees. Schedules range from standard 40 hours over a five day work week while others may be condensed. These condensed schedules provide employees with additional time away from the office and are in addition to our Paid Time off benefits.
Schedule for this Position: 9x80 every other Friday off
Pay Rate: The annual base salary range for this position in California, Massachusetts, and New York (excluding most major metropolitan areas), Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington or Washington DC is $145,200 - $255,990. For states not referenced above, the salary range for this position will reflect the candidate’s final work location. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market and business considerations when extending an offer.
Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays.
(Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.
This position is incentive plan eligible.
Pay Rate: The annual base salary range for this position in most major metropolitan areas in California, Massachusetts, and New York is $167,000 - $289,340. For states not referenced above, the salary range for this position will reflect the candidate’s final work location. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market and business considerations when extending an offer.
Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays.
This position is incentive plan eligible.
Lockheed Martin is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified candidates will be considered without regard to legally protected characteristics.
The application window will close in 90 days; applicants are encouraged to apply within 5 - 30 days of the requisition posting date in order to receive optimal consideration.
At Lockheed Martin, we use our passion for purposeful innovation to help keep people safe and solve the world's most complex challenges. Our people are some of the greatest minds in the industry and truly make Lockheed Martin a great place to work.
With our employees as our priority, we provide diverse career opportunities designed to propel, develop, and boost agility. Our flexible schedules, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits enable our employees to live a healthy, fulfilling life at and outside of work. We place an emphasis on empowering our employees by fostering an inclusive environment built upon integrity and corporate responsibility.
If this sounds like a culture you connect with, you’re invited to apply for this role. Or, if you are unsure whether your experience aligns with the requirements of this position, we encourage you to search on Lockheed Martin Jobs, and apply for roles that align with your qualifications.
Experience Level: Experienced Professional
Business Unit: SPACE
Relocation Available: Possible
Career Area: Electrical Engineering
Type: Full-Time
Shift: First
About
At Lockheed Martin, we apply our passion for purposeful innovation to keep people safe and solve the world's most complex challenges.
Pioneering Defense Technology: From aerospace to outer space to cyber space, you can innovate mission solutions alongside the best minds in the business.
United By Culture: Excellence, integrity, and collaboration define us. We accelerate change and embrace one another’s perspectives to win for our customers.
Real Impact, Real Growth: Grow your career and skills for life. Our wide array of opportunities and technology-driven learning programs enable your development and agility.
Your Health, Your Wealth, Your Life: Competitive pay, comprehensive benefits and flexible schedules designed so you thrive — at work and beyond.
Empowered to Be Your Best: Use your strengths to make a difference in the lives of one another, our customers, our communities, and our planet.
Here, the possibilities are endless because we offer:
- Flexible Schedules, dependent on role
- Levels: Student, Entry, Mid, Senior, Management
- Locations: Nationwide & OCONUS Positions
Qualifications
See what it takes to be a successful Lockheed Martin employee.
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Collaborative
There is no innovation without imagination. You bring new, different and exciting ideas to the table every day. You are committed to the success of your team.
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Curious
The ability to explore and drive new ideas. You think innovatively to come up with creative solutions to complex challenges.
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Goal-oriented
From planning and organizing to decision making, goal orientation produces impactful results. You set goals and strive to make things happen quickly and efficiently.
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Proactive
The ability to anticipate, plan and prepare for what lies ahead. You act rather than react to potential situations.
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Problem Solver
You work to tackle tough problems with complex solutions.
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Strategic
You observe, reflect and analyze processes to make more informed decisions.
Quote
“Before I came to Lockheed Martin, I never thought I’d get these opportunities. The benefits available and the company’s value culture make it an incredibly supportive place to work, and I’m grateful to work somewhere that wants me to succeed. I hope to have a long career here making an impact, and I know I’ll be supported in doing that every step of the way.”
Ryan J., Enterprise Operations
Benefits
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Healthcare
Medical, Dental and Vision coverage is available for employees who opt-in.
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401(k)/Retirement Plans
Our 401(k) plan features generous matching and company contributions.
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Professional Development
We support our employees through mentoring, internal & external educational programs, networking, skills enhancement and career-building programs.
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Maternity and Paternity Leave
Our generous parental leave policies support your journey into parenthood. When you return to work, our facilities offer mother's rooms to support your transition and work/life balance.
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Paid Time Off
We offer PTO, paid holidays and paid time off for jury duty and military obligations.
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Flex-time
Depending on the position, we offer flexible work schedules.