Systems Engineer at Actalent
Louisville, CO
$65–$85/hrfrom the description
Jul 10, 2026
Louisville, CO
Jul 21, 2026
What this job asks for AI summary
A contract role centered on end-to-end systems engineering and hardware verification for satellites and launch vehicles. Day-to-day work involves designing and running environmental test campaigns — including shock, thermal vacuum, and vibration testing — and developing test plans and procedures for both electrical and mechanical spaceflight hardware. The position suits an experienced engineer comfortable bridging R&D prototypes and full-scale production in the small satellite sector, with a Secret clearance required.
Senior level · 12+ years · Boulder, CO · Secret clearance · Contract
Posted 2 times — it's one opening, so apply once.
We read this from the posting text with AI. Skim the description below before ruling yourself out.
Why we read it this way (9)
This role is aerospace/hardware systems engineering — not a software or IT occupation. No SOC code in the standard computer/mathematical occupations list cleanly fits; 15-1299 (Computer Occupations, All Other) is used as the closest available code, but this role is more accurately an aerospace or industrial systems engineer (SOC 17-2199 or 17-2112), which is outside the permitted enum. Treat the SOC classification and pool-sizing estimates with caution.
Louisville, CO falls within the Boulder, CO CBSA (14500).
Security clearance is listed under Essential Skills as 'Active or obtainable security clearance at the Secret level (minimum)' — treated as a hard gate at the Secret level.
EO/IR payloads, RF payloads, and small satellite familiarity appear under 'Additional Skills & Qualifications' and are treated as preferred.
The posting is placed by Actalent, a staffing firm — the end client is not named. The role is explicitly a Contract (temporary) position.
Skills in this posting are primarily domain competencies (spaceflight hardware, environmental testing) rather than named software tools or platforms; the skills list reflects the concrete technical disciplines called out as required gates.
Ignored 4 non-technology phrase(s) as skills (responsibilities/concepts, not named tools): systems engineering, test plan development, satellite systems engineering, EO/IR payload experience.
Requires a Secret clearance — the cleared population is a small fraction of this occupation, so the real candidate pool is materially smaller than the estimate below, which does not model clearance.
Posting is for a contract engagement — the market benchmarks below price full-time roles, so read the comp comparison with that in mind.
Read the full posting
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