{"id":3045329,"url":"https://alion.io/job/blacksky-principal-systems-engineer-space-vehicle","title":"Principal Systems Engineer - Space Vehicle","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":92,"open_postings":6,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.333,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":57,"computed_at":"2026-10-28T05:59:10Z"}},"role":"Aerospace","role_family":"Aerospace","seniority":"lead","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Tukwila, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":115000,"max_usd":232000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":89},"experience_years_min":12,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"Confluence","optional":true},{"name":"GitLab","optional":true},{"name":"IBM DOORS","optional":true},{"name":"Jira","optional":true},{"name":"MATLAB","optional":true},{"name":"Python","optional":true},{"name":"Simulink","optional":true},{"name":"STK","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-21T22:47:11Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-21","last_verified_at":"2026-10-28T16:01:02Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":6,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":6},"description":"Principal Systems Engineer - Space Vehicle \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.\nSystems Engineers at BlackSky are the glue that ensures that all the components, subsystems, parts, hardware, software come together to produce best-in-class spacecraft. BlackSky is seeking a proven spacecraft systems engineer to provide a key role in the definition, verification, assembly, and delivery of our industry-defining spacecraft. You will be involved throughout the engineering lifecycle, from creating and understanding mission needs through design, integration, test, and ultimately the operation of spacecraft in orbit. Success in the role requires daily collaboration with a diverse set of team members - mechanical, electrical, software, and test engineers, operators, and program managers.\nReporting to the Director, Systems Engineering, this role works in our Tukwila, WA office with a hybrid on-site schedule of 3 days per week with significant flexibility for part-time remote work.\nResponsibilities:\nOrganize, lead, and/or support development of internal and customer-facing Systems Engineering deliverables\nLead system-level trade studies, mission analysis, and architecture development to guide key program decisions\nDefine and decompose system CONOPS into Space vehicle, subsystem and component requirements\nCommunicate technical information (analysis results, finding, trades) to peers, the Program Chief Engineer, program management, and customers\nCreate and maintain space vehicle technical budget and analysis templates\nRepresent Systems Engineering within one or more subsystem-oriented Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) to ensure IPT needs are met, and sound SE practices are used within those IPTs\nDevelop system, subsystem, and component verification and test plans\nConduct independent technical assessments of key subsystems or program decisions\nDrive identification, tracking, and mitigation of system-level risks, issues, and anomalies throughout the program lifecycle\nSupport major program technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, PSR) as a system engineering authority\nProvide technical oversight of component/unit suppliers and support supply chain activities\nOther job-related duties as assigned.\nRequired Qualifications: \nBachelor of Science in Engineering (Electrical, Aerospace, Mechanical, or Computer Science preferred) or a related field.\nMinimum of 12 years of experience in the Spacecraft or Launch Vehicle industry\nDeep understanding of spacecraft and subsystem behaviors and dependencies\nStrong foundational knowledge across multiple engineering disciplines, including electrical, mechanical, and software engineering.\nDemonstrated expertise in developing system requirements, CONOPS, architecture, and verification & validation plans for complex space systems\nDemonstrated technical depth in at least one spacecraft subsystem or payload\nProven ability to drive cross-functional efforts and deliver results in fast-paced, schedule-critical environments.\nExcellent communication skills with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to diverse audiences, including executives and customers\nPreferred Qualifications:\nMinimum of six years of experience working on satellite design, test, or operations\nStrong understanding of spacecraft avionics, the space environment, basic astrodynamics, and corresponding considerations for spacecraft design including relevant industry standards (NASA, MIL-STD, etc)\nExperience with satellite operations, launch vehicle interfaces, or commissioning activities\nExperience with software and/or modeling and simulation tools (Python, MATLAB/Simulink, STK, or similar)\nExperience with requirements tracking tools (e.g. Jama, DOORS)\nExperience with Jira, Confluence, GitLab and other similar tools\nExperience mentoring junior engineers and shaping engineering processes, methods, or best practices\nExperience interfacing with suppliers and/or external partners\nLife at BlackSky for full-time 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\nAwesome swag\nThe anticipated salary range for candidates in the Great Seattle Area, WA is 185,000 - 200,000 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 not reflect salary ranges in other states or locations outside of the Great Seattle Area.\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.\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":6702,"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":"2026-10-22T00:12:46Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":90,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.903,"p_room":1,"age_days":6,"expected_fill_days":57,"reasons":["conf:4","velocity","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-28T05:59:10Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/blacksky-principal-systems-engineer-space-vehicle","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/blacksky-principal-systems-engineer-space-vehicle.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-28T19:36:58Z","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":27179,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-29T00:00:00Z"}},"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-systems-engineer-space-vehicle"},{"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-systems-engineer-space-vehicle"},{"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-systems-engineer-space-vehicle"},{"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-systems-engineer-space-vehicle\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fblacksky-principal-systems-engineer-space-vehicle"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3045329}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"blacksky.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3045329},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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