Senior Systems Engineer I - Mission Architecture

Description

The company builds rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems for missions that connect and protect the world and extend human presence to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

The space systems team builds complete spacecraft, precision payloads, and the components that let them operate in orbit, such as solar arrays, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, and radios.

The team has supported more than 1,700 missions, including interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing, and national security and defense work, and has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for Moon and Mars missions. Partners include NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.

This senior systems engineer role sits at the company's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA. You will lead the design of new satellite systems to win civil, national security, and commercial business. You will also own technical budgets, requirements, test planning and execution, and the systems engineering process, including checking customer requirements. You will support the Vice President of Business Development and Strategy and the wider business development group, preparing material for company leadership, the board of directors, and investors.

The work is demanding and often has tight deadlines, so you will need to keep moving when priorities compete.

Responsibilities

• Lead satellite engineering design work that supports business development and new opportunities.
• Build and maintain technical budgets for vehicle performance.
• Write and maintain system requirements and the methods used to verify them.
• Run simulations and analysis across vehicle functions.
• Define test methods and analyze the resulting data.
• Lead and take ownership of the technical work on spacecraft missions.
• Help with program and product management.
• Write interface specifications, CONOPS definitions, and other design documents with your team.
• Work directly with customers and internal leaders to shape requirements and write the core architecture for key proposals.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, such as software, computer, electrical, aerospace, mechanical, or another technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in the aerospace industry.
• Experience supporting satellite or spacecraft development programs.
• Ability to obtain and keep a TS/SCI security clearance.
• US citizenship is required because of program requirements.
• Nice to have: active TS/SCI clearance.
• Nice to have: master's or PhD in engineering, such as software, computer, electrical, aerospace, mechanical, or another technical discipline.
• Nice to have: understanding of key spacecraft subsystems and their components, including attitude determination and control (ADCS), electrical power systems (EPS), space-ground communications, on-orbit command and data handling (C&DH), and thermal control.
• Nice to have: thorough knowledge of the space environment, orbital mechanics, and rigid body dynamics.
• Nice to have: highly effective, professional verbal and written communication with team members and internal and external customers.
• Nice to have: experience writing proposals and technical volumes.
• Nice to have: experience with MATLAB, Python, and STK.
• Nice to have: experience with CAD modeling and drawing.
• Nice to have: experience with requirement management tools such as JAMA or DOORS.
• Nice to have: experience with satellite operations.
• Nice to have: ability to work in a dynamic environment with competing priorities.

Conditions

Base location is the Long Beach, CA headquarters.

Base pay range for California: $124,000 - $171,000 USD. Final level and pay are decided case by case, based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

The role may involve long periods of sitting, standing, walking, and computer work, with occasional exposure to moderate noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.

For US offices, employees must be a US citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee or asylee admitted to the US, or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the US Department of State or Department of Commerce, under the ITAR export rules.

For New Zealand offices, background checks, including nationality checks, are completed before any offer. You must be eligible to access ITAR-regulated equipment and data. You may be ineligible if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a NATO member country, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality.

Benefits

• Company stock as part of total compensation, giving you a direct stake in the company's growth.
• Employee Stock Purchase Program with a 15% discount on company stock.
• Medical plans: HMO, PPO, and a zero-cost HDHP option with a significant company contribution to an HSA.
• Dental and vision coverage.
• Paid vacation and sick time, plus 11 paid holidays.
• Flexible spending and dependent care accounts.
• Paid parental leave.
• Disability and life insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
• Subsidized EV charging.
• Onsite fitness centers where available, and discounted gym memberships.
• Complimentary snacks and beverages.
• 50% employee discount on the company merch store, plus other employee discounts.