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

**Author:** Zero G Talent
**Published:** 2026-02-28
**Category:** career-guides
**Tags:** aerospace, space, systems-engineering, salary, colorado

[Read on Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com/blog/sierra-space-jobs-2026)

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

<div class="blog-stats">
  <div class="blog-stat">
    <div class="blog-stat-value">~1,500</div>
    <div class="blog-stat-label">Employees</div>
  </div>
  <div class="blog-stat">
    <div class="blog-stat-value">$5.3B</div>
    <div class="blog-stat-label">Valuation</div>
  </div>
  <div class="blog-stat">
    <div class="blog-stat-value">Dream Chaser</div>
    <div class="blog-stat-label">Flagship Program</div>
  </div>
</div>

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) |

<div class="blog-callout blog-callout-warning">
  <div class="blog-callout-title">Startup risk</div>
  <p>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.</p>
</div>

Browse [Sierra Space positions on Zero G Talent](/space-jobs-at-sierra-space), or see our [Sierra Space careers guide](/blog/sierra-space-careers-2026).


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*Source: [Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com), the job board for space, defense, AI, robotics and frontier-tech companies.*