{"id":259676,"url":"https://alion.io/job/blacksky-principal-space-systems-research-and-development-engineer","title":"Principal Space Systems Research and Development Engineer","company":{"id":63425,"name":"BlackSky","domain":"blacksky.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/blacksky","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":89,"open_postings":4,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.25,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":92,"computed_at":"2026-10-14T06:34:16Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"lead","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Herndon, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":180000,"max":215000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":215000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":12,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-08-25T21:31:30Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-08-27","last_verified_at":"2026-10-14T13:14:35Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":49,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":49},"description":"Principal Space Systems Research and Development Engineer\nAbout Us:\nBlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.\nAs a principal engineer in the Space Systems R&D group, you will lead the technical development of a portfolio of innovative satellite-related technologies to deliver validated, high-impact prototypes that are ready for integration into BlackSky’s operational capabilities. This portfolio will be a mixture of ideas, some of which BlackSky asks you to lead and some of which you yourself originate. Your portfolio will also have a mixture of time horizons. Some ideas will be small, low-risk, and concrete with an expectation of improving BlackSky’s offerings within ~12-18 months. Other ideas will be big, risky, and aspirational, offering the opportunity to massively improve BlackSky’s offerings on a ~3-4 years horizon. You are the champion for your portfolio and will be asked to bring it to life in partnership with other engineering and customer-facing roles. This position reports to the VP, Imaging and due to classified support requires a candidate being near our Herndon, VA office or another location if the candidate has access to a local SCIF.\nResponsibilities:\nIdentify satellite technologies of strategic interest to the business; vet these ideas with senior leaders at BlackSky and down select to a focused set of pursuits (aka your portfolio).\nWork with Sales/BD and Customer Program Managers to source R&D funds for your portfolio; this will include writing whitepapers, making pitch slides, and meeting with prospective customers, oftentimes at their facilities.\nOnce an idea has funding, you will drive the technical execution on the funded program. While you are executing on the program, you will also continue to assess the idea’s impact and feasibility. You may continue to evangelize an idea or you may realize a showstopping issue, such is the life of R&D! You aren’t beholden to a particular idea; you are beholden to positive impact and mission utility.\nOnce you have a validated prototype that is ready for integration into BlackSky’s operational architecture, you will work with Engineering to ensure a timely and effective transition from Advanced Concepts to the appropriate Engineering team.\nMentor other engineers to bring your extensive knowledge of exciting technologies and/or capabilities to BlackSky.\nOther job-related duties as assigned.\nRequired Qualifications:\nBachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a comparable field.\nExtensive experience as a systems engineer developing space systems (at least 12 years).\nDirect work experience on multiple (5+) distinct flight programs to develop space hardware\nDirect work experience as a tech lead on multiple (5+) space hardware development efforts\nExperience working across multiple engineering disciplines, including electrical, mechanical, and software systems.\nMultiple (5+) distinct experiences successfully capturing government contracts and working with US government customers to develop space systems.\nProven ability to drive cross-functional efforts and deliver results in fast-paced, schedule-critical environments.\nExcellent organizational, communication, and writing skills for both technical and non-technical audiences.\nActive Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility. \nPreferred Qualifications:\nDirect work experience on multiple distinct flight programs that cover a range of both cost and complexity; this could include anything from delivering a new component to delivering an entire satellite.\nDirect work experience developing space systems for international government customers.\nDirect work experience as a project manager.\nDepth of knowledge in at least one of the following specialty areas:Space-based optical systems\nOther (ie non-optical) remote sensing phenomonologies\nSpace-based communications systems\nOn-board processing\nSecurity and/or resiliency of space-based systems\nSpace-based guidance, navigation, and control systems\nIntegration & test of precision systems\nSpace mechanisms and advanced structures\n\nLife at BlackSky for full-time US benefits eligible employees includes:\nMedical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance\nBlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses!\n15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more\n401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match\nFlexible Spending Accounts\nEmployee Stock Purchase Program\nEmployee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs\nEmployer matching donations\nProfessional development\nMac or PC? Your choice!\nAwesome swag\nThe anticipated salary range for candidates is $180,000-$215,000 per year. The final compensation package offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on specific background and education. BlackSky is a multi-state employer and this pay scale may vary based on location.\nBlackSky is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.\nTo conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. #LI-Hybrid\nEEO/Pay Transparency Statements:\nhttps://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf\nhttps://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/OFCCP_EEO_Supplement_Final_JRF_QA_508c.pdf","description_format":"text","description_chars":6800,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":12,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Parental leave","Professional development"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Space & Aerospace","Earth Observation"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-05T11:44:39Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":77,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":0.9,"age_days":49,"expected_fill_days":92,"reasons":["conf:2","velocity","win:mid"],"computed_at":"2026-10-14T06:34:16Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":215000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/blacksky-principal-space-systems-research-and-development-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/blacksky-principal-space-systems-research-and-development-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-14T16:52:28Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":21447,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-15T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":63425},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=63425"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fblacksky-principal-space-systems-research-and-development-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fblacksky-principal-space-systems-research-and-development-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fblacksky-principal-space-systems-research-and-development-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/blacksky-principal-space-systems-research-and-development-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fblacksky-principal-space-systems-research-and-development-engineer"}]}