IAE Engineer III (Space and Cyber Operations) (Finance)

The University of South Florida (USF) Institute for Applied Engineering (IAE) is a Florida not-for-profit corporation and direct support organization within the USF ecosystem. The IAE mission is to provide agile, high value engineering products and services to enhance the performance, effectiveness, and capabilities of its customers to include the Department of Defense and other federal and industry partners.

The Space and Cyber Operations Engineer is a direct contributor and team leader with expertise in space systems (satellites, payloads, ground systems, support equipment, and enabling technologies, and operation of such systems and components) and cyber operations (software design, operating system hardening, networked systems architecture design and analysis, security assessment, policy development, compliance, risk mitigation, and offensive and defensive cybersecurity) in the applied research, prototyping, and demonstration contexts.

This position contributes to one or more projects that demand multidisciplinary experience in the design, test, validation, and operation of complex systems, and leads engineering teams in the conduct of such work in a collaborative environment. As an IAE Engineer, this individual also contributes to the oversight and mentoring of junior engineers and interns, the review of work products, interfacing with customers and stakeholders, advising IAE leadership and staff to ensure the successful completion of projects and contracts, coordination and contribution to documentation, and participation in interviews, hiring, and evaluation of junior engineers.

The Space and Cyber Operations Engineer must have deep experience or expertise in multiple complementary technical fields related to space and cyber systems design and operations, working with complex systems across physical and digital domains, working with customers and stakeholders both in person and through electronic means, and familiarity with systems requirements, analysis, design, development, testing, and delivery. In-depth hands-on experience with engineering principles consistent with formal education, training, and experience (e.g., with aerospace, mechanical, electrical, RF, cybersecurity engineering) is also required.

Applicants for this position must have demonstrated relevant experience with Defense-related operational systems.Special Requirements: Applicants must be eligible for a TS/SCI security clearance

This position requires a bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline, Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, Physical, Chemical, or Biological Sciences, and three or more years of relevant experience. Specific qualifications include:

• Knowledge and experience working within the Department of Defense ecosystem.
• Technical and managerial experience including preparing engineering proposals, facilitating customer communications, leading and mentoring engineering personnel, and project planning, tracking, and oversight.
• Experience in systems development lifecycle frameworks (e.g., V and Waterfall models) applied to projects throughout the project lifecycle (e.g., requirements, analysis, design, development, testing, and delivery).
• Experience with configuration management, requirements traceability, and requirements verification.
• Experience with prototyping, testing, experimentation, system and component design, development, and integration.
• Experience with the design, development, test, and/or operations of space capability payloads, satellite systems, ground systems, and supporting systems.
• Experience with cybersecurity assessment and compliance, including but not limited to NIST SP 800-53 and NIST SP 800-171, and relevant certifications including but not limited to CISSP and/or CompTIA Security+
• Self-starter with outstanding analytic and problem-solving skills; Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• A current SECRET security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

An advanced degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, systems engineering, or a related field and over nine years of relevant engineering or technical experience.

Other preferred skills and experience include:

• A current TS/SCI security clearance.
• Knowledge and experience with Zero Trust security frameworks across enterprise and cloud environments, especially for DoD use cases in IL5/IL6 environments
• Experience with the Authority to Operate (ATO) process under DoD Risk Management Framework (RMF)
• Experience developing documentation and artifacts to support RMF/ATO programs including System Security Plans (SSP), Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M), and Security Assessment Reports (SAR)
• Knowledge of and experience with current DoD cybersecurity policies, tools, and standards, e.g., DISA STIGs, CNSSI 1253, eMASS, ACAS, HBSS
• Operational experience with space systems, including mission task planning, commanding satellites and payloads, and collecting and analyzing telemetry
• Experience with the design, development, and test of space system ground support systems including radio and laser communications equipment and computer system networking

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Contact the USF ADA Lead ( hr-ADA-Request@usf.edu ) to coordinate your accommodation request.Working at USF
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With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF's rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida's best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state's 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.
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About USF
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The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF's Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu .The Space and Cyber Operations Engineer is a senior technical contributor and lead for projects and a multidisciplinary team of engineers. They serve as a subject matter expert individual contributor and technical leader and mentor for their team. Specific responsibilities include:

• Leads a team in conceptual design, development, fabrication, testing, documentation, and delivery of projects related to research and technology development.
• Works with engineering leadership and leads junior engineers and interns on assigned project tasks.
• Manages a team of full-time engineers and interns through assigned project tasks by providing guidance, mentorship, and resources to promote productive work.
• Coordinates administrative tasks required for performance of project development tasks, including management of contract deliverables, procurement of project materials and equipment, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• May serve as a Principle Investigator (PI) on one or more projects as required.
• Reviews work products and artifacts produced by junior engineers and interns.
• Interfaces with stakeholders external to USF/IAE as needed to include: presenting technical briefings, reporting on projects and deliverables, supporting business development, and similar stakeholder activities.
• Advises IAE leadership and staff to help ensure projects align with the IAE strategic plan and make optimal operational decisions related to delivering on projects and contracts.
• Coordinates the writing of technical documentation to include: status reports, requirements documents, statements of work, design documents, technical proposals, and similar documentation.
• Participates in engineering staff interviews, hiring decisions, and evaluates junior engineers.