Sierra Space Workday in 2026
Sierra Space uses Workday as its applicant tracking system, which means every application — from intern to senior engineer to program manager — goes through the same portal. If you have applied to jobs at any Workday-using company before, the interface will be familiar. If you have not, the system has a few quirks that are worth understanding before you invest time submitting an application. This guide covers how to use the Sierra Space Workday portal effectively, what happens after you submit, and how to optimize your chances at each stage.
How to access the Sierra Space Workday portal
Sierra Space's job listings are accessible through the company's careers page, which routes to a Workday-powered portal. The URL follows the standard Workday format: sierraspace.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com (or similar). You can also find Sierra Space listings through LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor, but all applications ultimately funnel back to the Workday portal.
First-time setup:
| Step | What to Do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Navigate to Sierra Space's careers page or search on sierraspace.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com |
| 2 | Browse open positions using keyword search, location, or job category filters |
| 3 | Click on a position to view the full description |
| 4 | Click "Apply" to start the application process |
| 5 | Create a Workday account (email + password) or sign in with LinkedIn/Google |
| 6 | Upload your resume — Workday will attempt to auto-parse it into fields |
| 7 | Review and correct the parsed information (it frequently gets things wrong) |
| 8 | Answer any position-specific screening questions |
| 9 | Submit the application |
The whole process takes 15 to 30 minutes per application if your resume is ready and you have a Workday account. First-time users should budget 30 to 45 minutes because of the account creation and resume parsing correction steps.
Workday's auto-parse feature reads your uploaded resume and populates the application fields (work history, education, skills). It gets the basics right about 70% of the time but frequently mangles dates, splits job titles incorrectly, and misattributes company names. Always review every field after the parser runs. A parsing error that lists you as having worked somewhere for 0 months instead of 24 months can get your application filtered out before a human sees it.
Navigating Sierra Space's job listings
Sierra Space typically has 100 to 150 open positions at any given time, which is small compared to defense primes (Northrop Grumman lists 5,000+ at any time) but significant for a company of 1,800 employees.
Filtering tips:
- By job family: Workday organizes Sierra Space positions into categories like Engineering, Program Management, Operations, and Business. Use these filters if you know your function.
- By location: Most positions are in Louisville, CO, but some are at Kennedy Space Center (FL), Madison (WI), or Broomfield (CO). Filter by location if you have a geographic preference.
- By keyword: Search for specific terms like "Dream Chaser," "LIFE," "GNC," "avionics," or "structures" to find positions on specific programs or in specific disciplines.
- By date posted: Workday allows sorting by posting date. Recently posted positions have larger applicant pools forming but are also fresh — applying within the first two weeks of a posting gives you the best chance of being reviewed before the pipeline fills.
Position title conventions at Sierra Space:
| Title Pattern | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Engineer I, II, III | Junior, mid-level, senior within a discipline |
| Sr. Engineer | Senior individual contributor (8+ years typical) |
| Principal Engineer | Subject matter expert, technical leadership (12+ years) |
| Lead Engineer | Technical lead for a team or subsystem |
| Manager, Engineering | People management over an engineering team |
| Director | Department-level leadership |
| Intern | Summer or co-op position for current students |
Workday-based companies (including Sierra Space) often use automated screening to filter applications that do not match the experience level in the posting. If a position asks for 5 to 8 years of experience and you have 2, your application may be automatically filtered out before a recruiter sees it. Apply to positions that match your actual experience level, even if you feel capable of more. It is better to be reviewed for a role slightly below your capability than to be auto-rejected from one above it.
After you submit: what happens next
Understanding Sierra Space's hiring pipeline helps you set realistic expectations about timelines:
| Stage | Typical Timeline | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Application received | Day 0 | Workday sends automated confirmation email |
| Resume screening | 1–3 weeks | Recruiter reviews application against requirements |
| Recruiter phone screen | 2–4 weeks after submission | 20–30 minute call to discuss background and interest |
| Technical interview | 3–5 weeks after submission | 45–60 minutes with hiring manager and team members |
| Final round | 4–6 weeks after submission | Panel interview or additional technical deep-dive |
| Offer | 5–8 weeks after submission | Verbal offer, followed by written offer through Workday |
| Background check | After offer acceptance | Standard employment verification + clearance initiation if applicable |
These timelines are approximate. Some positions move faster (2 to 3 weeks from application to offer for urgent needs) and some move slower (8 to 12 weeks for roles that require extensive technical evaluation or clearance pre-processing).
Common reasons for delays:
- Requisition approval pending (the position was posted but budget approval is still in process)
- Hiring manager travel or workload (Dream Chaser program milestones can pull managers away from recruiting)
- Clearance considerations (if the role requires a clearance, HR may delay processing until clearance eligibility is confirmed)
Optimizing your Workday application
Specific tactics to improve your chances in the Sierra Space Workday system:
1. Keyword-match your resume to the posting. Workday-based systems often use keyword matching to rank applications. If the job posting says "GNC" and "MATLAB" and "6DOF simulation," make sure those exact terms appear on your resume. Do not assume the system understands that "flight dynamics" means the same thing as "GNC."
2. Use a clean, parseable resume format. Workday's parser struggles with multi-column layouts, graphics, tables, and unusual fonts. Use a single-column format with clear section headers (Experience, Education, Skills). PDF and .docx both work, but simple formatting parses more reliably.
3. Fill in all optional fields. Workday applications often have optional fields for skills, certifications, and additional information. Filling these in gives the system more data to match you against the position and gives recruiters more context. Do not skip them.
4. Apply to multiple positions if qualified. Sierra Space's Workday system tracks applications separately. If you are qualified for a Systems Engineer role and also a Test Engineer role, apply to both. Each application is reviewed independently by the relevant hiring team.
5. Do not submit duplicate applications for the same position. Submitting the same application twice for the same posting does not help and can flag your profile in the system. If you want to update your resume after submitting, Workday usually allows you to edit your profile, which updates all pending applications.
Sierra Space recruiters actively source candidates on LinkedIn in addition to reviewing Workday applications. Having a complete LinkedIn profile that mirrors your resume — with the same keywords, job titles, and skills — increases your visibility. Some candidates report being contacted by Sierra Space recruiters on LinkedIn before or instead of going through the Workday portal.
Screening questions and assessments
Some Sierra Space positions include screening questions in the Workday application. These are short-answer or multiple-choice questions designed to filter candidates on basic requirements. Examples:
- "Are you authorized to work in the United States?"
- "Are you a U.S. Citizen?" (ITAR-related roles)
- "Do you have experience with [specific tool or technology]?"
- "Are you willing to relocate to Louisville, CO?"
- "What is your desired salary range?"
Answer honestly. Screening questions that ask about citizenship or work authorization are legally required filters for ITAR-restricted positions — misrepresenting your status will result in disqualification later.
For the salary question: research Sierra Space's pay bands before applying. Listing a range too far above market may flag your application as out of budget. Listing too low undervalues you. A range like "$85,000 to $110,000" for a mid-level engineering role in Louisville is reasonable.
What to do if you do not hear back
If two to three weeks pass without a response, here are appropriate next steps:
Check your Workday portal. Log back into your Sierra Space Workday account and check the status of your application. Common statuses include "Under Review," "Interview," "No Longer Under Consideration," and "Offer."
Follow up via LinkedIn. Identify the recruiter or hiring manager for your area and send a polite, brief message. Mention the specific position title and requisition number. Something like: "I submitted an application for the Systems Engineer II position (Req #12345) two weeks ago and wanted to confirm it was received. I'm very interested in the Dream Chaser program. Happy to provide any additional information."
Do not call HR repeatedly. One follow-up is appropriate. Multiple follow-ups in a short period will not accelerate the process and may create a negative impression.
Apply to additional positions. If one application does not generate a response within 4 weeks, it may have been filtered. Apply to other relevant positions rather than waiting indefinitely on a single application.
FAQ
Can I apply to multiple Sierra Space positions at the same time?
Yes. Sierra Space's Workday system handles each application independently. If you are qualified for more than one role, applying to multiple positions increases your chances. Recruiters from different teams will review each application separately.
How do I check the status of my Sierra Space application?
Log into your Workday account on Sierra Space's careers portal. Your active applications and their current status (Under Review, Interview, Offer, etc.) are visible in your profile. Workday also sends email notifications for status changes, though these can sometimes go to spam folders.
Does Sierra Space use automated resume screening?
Sierra Space's Workday system includes automated filtering based on screening question responses and likely keyword matching. However, a human recruiter reviews applications that pass the automated filters. The system is not purely algorithmic — having the right keywords helps your application reach the human review stage.
What is the best time to apply for Sierra Space positions?
Apply within the first two weeks of a position being posted. Early applicants are more likely to be reviewed before the recruiter has a full pipeline. Sierra Space tends to post the most positions in Q1 (January–March) for general hiring and Q3 (September–November) for intern positions.
Can I update my resume after submitting a Sierra Space application?
Yes. Workday allows you to update your profile, which can affect pending applications. However, if a recruiter has already reviewed your initial submission, the updated version may not be re-reviewed. For significant resume changes, consider withdrawing and resubmitting the application.
Does Sierra Space sponsor work visas?
Sierra Space sponsorship practices vary by role. Many engineering positions are ITAR-restricted and require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. Some business and non-ITAR technical roles may support visa sponsorship. Individual job postings specify eligibility requirements.
Start your search
Browse Sierra Space positions on Zero G Talent. For tips on applying to other space companies, check out our guides to Northrop Grumman careers, Relativity Space, or Rocket Lab. Search all space industry jobs to compare opportunities across the industry.
