Senior Systems Engineer

Senior Systems Engineer

City/State: Colorado Springs, CO USA

Type and Schedule: Full-Time, Salary/Exempt.

Annualized Salary Range: $145,000.00 - $230,000.00 commensurate with experience.

About Us:

Caliola is an award-winning woman-owned small business that is improving and protecting our Nation's way of life through secure collaboration and resilient communications. Our engineers, subject matter experts, and veterans are developing and delivering trusted solutions for mission-critical communications. We seek teammates who share our core values:

I3 for C3 - Insight, Innovation, and Integrity for Command, Control, and Communications

These values guide how we work every day. At Caliola, you will find technically challenging, mission-focused work within a flexible and collaborative culture that is uncommon in the defense industry. We offer flexible PTO, subsidized health insurance, 401(k) matching, professional development, and a competitive compensation structure designed to support long-term growth.

Position Description:

Caliola Engineering is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to support the reliability, interoperability, and evolution of mission-critical MILSATCOM and Protected MILSATCOM capabilities. This role is ideal for an experienced engineer who enjoys solving complex technical problems, working across integrated system architectures, and seeing their work directly support mission success. You will support the operations, sustainment, and integration of current and future MILSATCOM, Protected MILSATCOM, and cryptographic systems; identify capability gaps and interoperability challenges; and assess proposed system modifications, enhancements, maintenance activities, and technology insertion plans. You will also provide technical expertise to troubleshoot and resolve highly complex issues involving EHF and Protected MILSATCOM terminals, architectures, baseband systems, cryptographic equipment, ancillary systems, and user interfaces.

Essential Responsibilities:

Self-Leadership and Accountability

• Own assigned MILSATCOM and Protected MILSATCOM systems engineering, technical advisory, sustainment, integration, and interoperability activities through completion.
• Manage priorities and commitments across technical support, testing, analysis, field support, and customer requirements while proactively communicating risks, dependencies, or needed support.
• Serve as a trusted technical resource to the Government Chief Engineer, operational users, system experts, equipment specialists, item managers, and other engineering stakeholders.
• Apply MILSATCOM operational and systems engineering expertise to evaluate issues, develop recommendations, and support senior-level technical and programmatic decisions.

Deliver High-Quality Work

• Provide expert-level MILSATCOM and Protected MILSATCOM systems engineering guidance, technical consultation, sustainment support, and troubleshooting for complex technical issues.
• Support interoperable AEHF capabilities and architectures involving International Partners, NATO, coalition partners, and joint-service stakeholders.
• Analyze system architectures, cryptographic requirements, KeyMat, data flows, hardware and software modifications, command-and-control capabilities, and other technical changes to assess feasibility, interoperability, integration, and operational impact.
• Plan and support systems integration, backwards compatibility testing, verification, validation, and other technical evaluations of new or modified MILSATCOM and Protected MILSATCOM capabilities.
• Develop and maintain functional test assets and cryptographic architectures that align with national guidance and operational requirements.
• Conduct site surveys, technical analyses, engineering assessments, and operational or logistics evaluations, and provide recommendations related to system design, implementation, sustainment, readiness, and site requirements.
• Provide hands-on technical engineering and maintenance support to system operators and maintainers at CONUS and OCONUS locations as required.
• Evaluate new capabilities, terminal designs, allied architectures, equipment, software, cryptographic components, and other system changes to ensure proposed solutions meet technical and operational requirements.

Maintain Accurate Documentation

• Prepare, review, and maintain technical documentation supporting MILSATCOM and Protected MILSATCOM systems, including architectures, test documentation, implementation plans, Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), specifications, and Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
• Document engineering analyses, technical recommendations, test results, system changes, site assessments, and other work performed to support traceability, quality control, sustainment, and future reference.
• Support documentation of MILSATCOM and Protected MILSATCOM KeyMat requirements, data flows, cryptographic architectures, integration requirements, and associated system modifications.
• Maintain documentation for laboratory environments, functional test assets, system configurations, and interoperability activities, updating records as project requirements or system conditions change.

Support Process Refinement

• Identify opportunities to improve MILSATCOM and Protected MILSATCOM engineering, integration, testing, sustainment, troubleshooting, and documentation processes.
• Evaluate proposed system modifications, architectures, testing approaches, plans, and procedures and recommend improvements that enhance interoperability, technical performance, operational readiness, or maintainability.
• Contribute to the planning, development, and continued improvement of systems integration and interoperability laboratory environments, test capabilities, and supporting processes.
• Participate in technical discussions, reviews, working groups, and other improvement efforts to evaluate and implement changes to tools, procedures, architectures, and engineering practices as project requirements dictate.

Collaborate and Communicate

• Partner with the Government Chief Engineer, satellite system experts, operational users, helpdesk personnel, item managers, equipment specialists, engineers, and other stakeholders to align on technical requirements, priorities, and expected outcomes.
• Coordinate with International Partners, NATO, coalition partners, and joint-service stakeholders to support interoperable MILSATCOM and Protected MILSATCOM architectures and capabilities.
• Provide clear technical guidance and hands-on assistance to troubleshoot and resolve highly complex MILSATCOM and Protected MILSATCOM terminal, integration, interoperability, cryptographic, and sustainment issues.
• Communicate technical findings, recommendations, risks, system impacts, testing results, and operational considerations to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ensure proposed joint-service and allied MILSATCOM concepts, capabilities, requirements, and integrated architectures are appropriately characterized and considered within current and future systems.
• Provide technical and logistics advisory support to help identify and resolve issues affecting operational and materiel readiness.

What We Require:

• Active DoD Top Secret clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI eligibility.
• Expert-level knowledge of MILSATCOM and Protected MILSATCOM systems, including AEHF, Milstar, COMSEC/cryptographic systems, terminals, payloads, baseband equipment, system architectures, interfaces, and interoperability requirements.
• Extensive understanding of joint-service, intra/inter-service, and allied MILSATCOM architectures and operations.
• Demonstrated experience providing senior-level technical guidance, analysis, recommendations, and systems engineering support within military or space operations.
• Ability to effectively collaborate and communicate with senior military and government leaders, officers, directorates, action officers, technical teams, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver accurate, high-quality work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Ability to travel moderately in support of program requirements.

What We Value:

• 10 years or more of experience in an engineering role.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in engineering or related field, or equivalent experience.

Minimum Physical Requirements:

• Ability to remain in a stationary position and/or move about for extended periods while performing job duties.
• Ability to use computers, communications equipment, and other standard office and technical equipment.
• Ability to bend, reach, stoop, and perform other movements necessary to access or support equipment and workspaces.
• Ability to safely lift, carry, and move equipment or materials weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to travel to and work at CONUS and OCONUS customer, operational, laboratory, and field locations as required.

Please contact Human Resources with questions about ADA accommodations.

More About Us:

Our performance has driven rapid growth and national recognition, being named twice to the Deloitte Technology Fast 500™ and inclusion on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies. We have also been recognized as a Colorado Company to Watch, a ColoradoBiz Top Company in Aerospace & Defense, and the #2 Gazette's Best Workplace (medium size) in 2025.

Headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO, we operate in a leading aerospace and defense hub with proximity to major military installations. Set against the Rocky Mountains, the region offers year-round outdoor recreation and a high quality of life for professionals and families considering relocation.

As a part of our selection process, we ask all applicants to complete a short, 10–12-minute survey from Culture Index. This is a survey, not a test; no passing or failing. The purpose of this survey is to identify your unique strengths as they relate to our open positions. Please copy and paste the following link into a separate browser window to complete: https://go.cultureindex.com/s/5i6Gpe3wge

Expression of Interest: By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in this position and could be considered for other career opportunities at Caliola Engineering. Should a match be identified between your skillset and Caliola's requirements for this or a future opening, you may be contacted.

The posted salary range represents our good faith estimate for this role based on current organizational needs and the qualifications reasonably expected for the position. Final compensation will be determined based on factors such as experience, skills, education, clearance status, and business needs.

This position will remain open until filled, and applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis.

At Caliola, we believe that true innovation can only occur when teammates bring their authentic selves to collaborate in a supportive, encouraging environment. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age, or any other federally protected class.

Caliola participates in E-Verify, an internet-based system used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. Upon hire, all employees are required to complete Form I-9 to verify their identity and employment eligibility to work in the United States.

All candidates will be required to pass a basic background screening.