Civilian roles within the United States Space Force and its partner ecosystem span government installations, federally funded research centers, and commercial defense leaders. As national security space missions expand across orbital warfare, satellite communications, and space domain awareness, civilian personnel provide critical technical continuity alongside uniformed Guardians. Right now, 4,379 open space defense roles are available for qualified civilians seeking to work on orbital platforms, launch infrastructure, and command-and-control software.
Direct Civilian Roles vs Defense Contractor Positions
Civilian opportunities divide into direct federal employment within the United States Space Force and positions with defense contractors and research organizations supporting Space Force programs. Direct federal positions place civilians inside military units, managing programs and engineering launch systems. For example, the United States Space Force actively hires roles such as Deputy Director, Joint Sensitive Space Staff in Chantilly, Virginia, and Space Launch Engineer, SSC/SYD 80 at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.
Defense contractors and federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) execute much of the hardware development, software integration, and architecture design for Space Force missions. Organizations like The Aerospace Corporation hire specialists such as Space Systems Engineer/Sr.Space Systems Engineer to define constellation standards. Meanwhile, defense tech firms employ personnel for fast-paced infrastructure deployments, such as a Senior DevOps Engineer, Space at Anduril Industries.
Compensation and Salary Ranges
Civilian pay for space defense roles reflects high demand across software, systems engineering, and program leadership. Direct government civilian positions list transparent base pay ranges tied to federal pay schedules. Positions such as Space Launch Engineer, SSC/SYD 80 offer salaries between $90,479 and $139,871 annually, while executive leadership roles like Deputy Director, Joint Sensitive Space Staff range from $143,913 to $197,200.
Contractors and commercial space firms offer competitive compensation scaling with technical specialization and seniority. Engineering roles range from $87,600 to $226,900 depending on location and scope. Positions like Space Control Systems Director range from $168,200 to $252,400, while a Lead SATCOM Payload Engineer commands between $171,400 and $257,100 per year. Commercial ventures hiring for tactical space systems, such as a Capture Manager, Tactical Space Systems at Turion Space, offer salaries from $175,000 to $240,000.
Technical Requirements and Operational Domains
Civilian space jobs require expertise across key engineering discipline sets, including orbital mechanics, RF communications, software development, and nuclear power integration.
- Systems Architecture & Integration: Positions such as Sr. Space Architectures Systems Engineer and Space Systems Integration Engineer – Global Mission Operations oversee complete spacecraft systems, payload handoffs, and satellite command structures.
- Space Domain Awareness & Intelligence: Analyzing orbital tracks and sensor networks requires specialized analysts. A Space Domain Awareness and Mission Analyst evaluates space environment threats and orbital tracks.
- Power & Propulsion: Advanced satellite systems demand specialized energy engineering. Roles like Sr. Space Nuclear Power Systems Engineer focus on next-generation power generation for long-duration orbital platforms.
- Software & Operations Infrastructure: Maintaining software supply chains and automated operations requires expertise like that of a Senior Product Operations Engineer, Space or Systems or Software Engineer - Change Management 2 - Space AHT.
- Logistics & Business Strategy: Commercial space startups and established contractors hire leaders such as a Vice President, Space Logistics to manage on-orbit servicing and payload transport pipelines.
Core Work Locations and Requirements
Space Force civilian roles and related defense engineering positions operate primarily onsite at specialized air force bases, space force bases, and key aerospace hubs. Most positions require active security clearances or eligibility to obtain them upon hire.
Key geographic clusters include:
- Colorado: Positions at Schriever SFB, Peterson SFB, and Colorado Springs support mission command and theater operations, including Space Vehicle Systems Engineer/Sr. Space Vehicle Systems Engineer and SPACE NORTH Theater Support Lead.
- California: Los Angeles AFB, El Segundo, Costa Mesa, and Irvine host payload design, launch integration, and commercial hardware development. Openings include Space-Based Environmental Monitoring Systems Engineer at Los Angeles AFB and Space Enterprise Design Engineer in El Segundo.
- Virginia & Washington D.C. Metro: Intelligence and government liaison centers around Chantilly, Virginia, house strategic roles including Deputy Director, Joint Sensitive Space Staff.
- Alabama, Arizona, & New Mexico: Production and launch operations span Kirtland AFB, NM, Huntsville, AL, and Gilbert, AZ, represented by roles such as Sr Principal Space Vehicle Systems Engineer in Gilbert and Spacecraft Project Engineer across multiple regional facilities.
Who Is Hiring Right Now
| Role | Company | Location | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deputy Director, Joint Sensitive Space Staff | United States Space Force | Chantilly, Virginia | $143,913 - $197,200 |
| Space Launch Engineer, SSC/SYD 80 | United States Space Force | Kirtland AFB, New Mexico | $90,479 - $139,871 |
| Senior DevOps Engineer, Space | Anduril Industries | Costa Mesa, California, United States | $183,000 - $243,000 |
| Senior Product Operations Engineer, Space | Anduril Industries | Costa Mesa, California, United States | $183,000 - $243,000 |
| Space Systems Engineer/Sr.Space Systems Engineer | The Aerospace Corporation | Chantilly, VA | $117,300 - $226,900 |
| Vice President, Space Logistics | Turion Space | Irvine, CA | $140,000 - $240,000 |
| Space Enterprise Design Engineer | The Aerospace Corporation | Colorado Springs, CO; El Segundo, CA; Chantilly, VA; Albuquerque, NM | $117,300 - $226,900 |
| Space Control Systems Director | The Aerospace Corporation | El Segundo, CA | $168,200 - $252,400 |
| Space Vehicle Systems Engineer/Sr. Space Vehicle Systems Engineer | The Aerospace Corporation | Schriever SFB, CO | $117,300 - $226,900 |
| Systems or Software Engineer - Change Management 2 - Space AHT | Northrop Grumman | Huntsville, AL | $87,600 - $131,400 |
| SPACE NORTH Theater Support Lead | The Aerospace Corporation | Peterson SFB, CO; Colorado Springs, CO | $151,300 - $226,900 |
| Capture Manager, Tactical Space Systems | Turion Space | Irvine, CA | $175,000 - $240,000 |
| Sr. Space Nuclear Power Systems Engineer | The Aerospace Corporation | Albuquerque, NM; El Segundo, CA; Chantilly, VA; Wright-Patterson AFB, OH | $151,300 - $226,900 |
| Spacecraft Project Engineer | Blue Origin | Space Coast, FL; Huntsville, AL; Denver, CO; Greater Seattle Area; Los Angeles, CA | $121,023 - $169,432 |
| Space-Based Environmental Monitoring Systems Engineer | The Aerospace Corporation | Los Angeles AFB, CA | $117,300 - $226,900 |
| Space Systems Integration Engineer – Global Mission Operations | The Aerospace Corporation | El Segundo, CA | $117,300 - $226,900 |
| Sr. Space Architectures Systems Engineer | The Aerospace Corporation | Schriever SFB, CO | $151,300 - $226,900 |
| Lead SATCOM Payload Engineer | The Aerospace Corporation | Los Angeles AFB, CA | $171,400 - $257,100 |
| Space Domain Awareness and Mission Analyst | The Aerospace Corporation | Colorado Springs, CO; El Segundo, CA; Chantilly, VA | $117,300 - $226,900 |
| Sr Principal Space Vehicle Systems Engineer | Northrop Grumman | Gilbert, AZ | $122,800 - $184,200 |