Stell Engineering Secures $5.8M Space RCO Contract for Advanced Systems Integration Software

Stell Engineering, Inc. has secured a significant $5.8 million SBIR Phase III contract with the Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO) to deploy and enhance its advanced systems integration software platform. The 24-month contract represents a strategic investment in accelerating the development and deployment of complex space systems for US military operations.

The contract funding will support Space RCO-tailored enhancements to Stell's core software platform and establish a multi-layered secure deployment infrastructure. This initiative aims to improve Space RCO's system requirements management capabilities while tailoring the software specifically for rapid delivery timelines. The software will help integrate complex system-of-systems comprising hardware, software, and firmware interfaces for Space RCO's evolving mission requirements.

A critical component of the contract involves building on Stell's existing cybersecurity infrastructure work at the Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) level, including establishing one-way connections into high-side environments. This security enhancement ensures that sensitive military engineering data remains protected while enabling efficient information flow between security domains.

The contract award follows Stell's successful AFWERX Direct to Phase II Small Business Innovation Research contract secured in February 2024, which served Space Systems Command's Assured Access to Space and Space Systems Integration Office programs. Stell has collaborated with multiple defense organizations including Space Systems Command, AFWERX, SpaceWERX, COMSO, and supporting SETA contractors at ManTech and Alpha Omega Group, LLC to advance the Phase II innovation effort.

Malory McLemore, Stell's CEO, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership, stating that the company's mission focuses on ensuring US capability dominance through unmatched speed and technical execution in complex systems engineering. The collaboration with Space RCO positions Stell's engineering team alongside a Department of Defense organization actively fielding novel hardware technologies in the increasingly contested space domain.

This contract represents a significant advancement in military systems engineering capabilities, particularly relevant as space becomes a more contested operational domain. The enhanced software platform will provide engineers within the Department of Defense and supporting contractors with advanced tools to manage mission requirements, interfaces, testing, and compliance workflows more efficiently. This capability enables US teams to develop, test, and field advanced hardware and systems faster than potential adversaries, addressing growing concerns about maintaining technological superiority in space operations.

The strategic implications extend beyond immediate operational improvements, potentially influencing how the Department of Defense approaches rapid capability development across all domains. As military operations increasingly rely on integrated systems spanning multiple platforms and technologies, Stell's software could become a critical enabler for maintaining competitive advantage in complex engineering environments.