career guides

Sierra Space jobs in 2026: Dream Chaser, programs, and what to expect

By Zero G Talent

Sierra Space jobs in 2026: Dream Chaser, programs, and what to expect

~1,500
Employees
$5.3B
Valuation
Dream Chaser
Flagship Program

Sierra Space is a privately held space company with approximately 1,500 employees, $1.7B in total funding, and a $5.3B valuation. The company is building Dream Chaser, the LIFE habitat, and partnering with Blue Origin on Orbital Reef.

Key programs

Dream Chaser (Tenacity) — First flight now targeted for Q4 2026. The mission plan changed: it will be a free-flyer demonstration with runway landing at Vandenberg SFB, rather than docking to the ISS. EMI/EMC testing, tow testing, and command/telemetry tests are complete.

LIFE Habitat — Three-story commercial habitation and science platform for low Earth orbit. Full-scale habitat testing is underway with a pathfinder demonstration mission targeted for 2026.

Orbital Reef — LEO commercial space station partnership with Blue Origin, targeted operational by 2027.

Salary ranges

Role Salary Range
Systems Engineer $118,000–$181,000
Mechanical Engineer $97,000–$156,000
Engineering Technician ~$73,000
Director ~$210,000

Locations

Site Focus
Louisville, CO Headquarters
Broomfield, CO "Power Station" — $45M solar module production, 70K sq ft, thermal vacuum + vibe testing
Durham, NC Engineering
Madison, WI Engineering
Merritt Island, FL Dream Chaser processing (near KSC)
Startup risk

Sierra Space laid off hundreds of employees in November 2023 (from ~2,000 to ~1,500) and an additional 165 in a separate workforce realignment. While $1.7B in funding provides runway, the company is pre-revenue and Dream Chaser has experienced multiple delays. Ask about program stability and funding timeline during interviews.

Browse Sierra Space positions on Zero G Talent, or see our Sierra Space careers guide.

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