Principal Systems Engineer

Auria Space
$180,000 - $195,000
life insurance, paid time off, flex time, 401(k)
United States, Colorado, Boulder
Apr 15, 2026
Auria is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to join our outstanding team in a hybrid position based in Boulder, Colorado. The Principal Systems Engineer will lead a team supporting the development and maturation of advanced space software solutions for the GMI program. WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO DO: Requirements and Design - Lead the design, development, and integration of assigned systems, using a strong understanding of stakeholder needs and requirements to ensure reliability, scalability, and maintainability. Develop system architecture diagrams, data flow diagrams, and detailed design specifications. Integration and Testing - Oversee the execution of system testing strategies, including unit, integration, and performance tests to validate that the system functions as intended and meets specifications. Troubleshoot and resolve system issues to ensure maximum operational efficiency. Documentation and Communication - Produce essential system documentation and effectively communicate complex technical details to various stakeholders, ensuring clarity and understanding. Risk and Performance Management - Identify potential system risks, devise mitigation strategies, and monitor system performance metrics, making adjustments as needed. Collaboration and Continuous Improvement - Collaborate closely with interdisciplinary teams, stay updated with industry trends, and incorporate feedback for ongoing system refinement. Liaise with stakeholders, including customers and end-users, to gather feedback and ensure the system meets operational requirements. WHAT THE TEAM REQUIRES: Current U.S. Government SECRET security clearance (requires U.S. Citizenship) Proven experience in design and deployment of large-scale, complex space systems using strong knowledge of software development life cycles, system architecture, and design principles. Proven ability to perform deep-dive architectural reviews of distributed systems written in C#, C++ and Java. Must be able to interpret source code and stack traces to identify system-level bottlenecks (e.g., memory leaks, thread contention, or serialization overhead) 10+ years of experience integrating heterogeneous systems across different enclaves. Demonstrated ability to trace data flows through multiple "black box" subsystems without direct access to internal feature code. Extensive experience defining and troubleshooting interface contracts using modern protocols such as gRPC (Protobufs), Kafka (Avro/Schema Registry), or DDS (Data Distribution Service). Proficiency in Cameo Systems Modeler/SysML with a focus on using models to govern real-world software behavior. Be able to map logical SysML BDDs to actual physical APIs and data schemas. Experience defining quality gates using a DevSecOps pipeline. Ability to architect automated integration tests that validate mission-critical timing and error-handling requirements. WHAT THE TEAM PREFERS: Experience implementing or utilizing OpenTelemetry, Jaeger, or other stacks to perform root-cause analysis across complex, distributed software environments. Strong understanding of asynchronous message-bus patterns, including backpressure strategies (buffering, dropping, limiting, etc.) and dead-letter queues in high-throughput tracking systems. Familiarity with OpenShift/MPDAF/Forge, Terraform, Ansible, or Kubernetes for environment management. Experience managing data integrity across different security domains or different architectures. Experience serving as a "System Owner" within an Agile/Scrum framework. PAY TRANSPARENCY: The salary offered will be based on the selected candidate's qualifications - skills, education & experience - and the position level. $180,000 - $195,000 APPLICATION DEADLINE:May 15, 2026 Why You'll Love Working at Auria We believe our team does their best work when they are well-supported, financially secure, and have the freedom to balance life outside of the office. Time for What Matters Generous & Growing PTO: Start with a substantial paid time off package that increases every year you're with us. True Flexibility: Contract permitting, use Flex Time to work in a way that fits your life, not just your 8-to-5. 11 Paid Days Off: Enjoy 6 fixed company holidays plus 5 Floating Holidays to use whenever you choose. Invested in Your Future 401(k) Match-Yours to Keep Instantly: We match up to 4% of your contributions. Both your contributions and the company match are yours from day one with no vesting wait-period. Industry-Leading Education Support: Level up with up to $12,000 annually for tuition and certifications. We don't just hire talent; we grow it. Health & Peace of Mind Premium Healthcare, Lower Costs: High-quality medical plans paired with a Company-Sponsored HSA to help you save for the future. Fully Covered Life Insurance: Breathe easy with life insurance up to $50K provided at zero cost to you. Holistic Support: Access our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health, financial coaching, and more. ...and that's just the beginning! Auria is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action-Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.