Flight Director

The Flight Director leads the systems engineering activities required to define, develop, integrate, verify, and operate complex spacecraft and aerospace systems throughout the product lifecycle. This role translates customer requirements, mission objectives, and system architecture into technical solutions while providing technical leadership for mission execution, operational readiness, and on-orbit spacecraft operations.

Working within a multidisciplinary engineering environment, the Senior Systems Engineer collaborates with software, hardware, electrical, mechanical, integration and test, ground systems, and program teams to ensure systems meet technical, operational, cost, and schedule objectives. This role supports programs from concept development through launch and mission operations, driving system integration, technical decision-making, and mission success.

ESSENTIAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Analyze customer, mission, and system-level requirements and decompose them into clear, verifiable system and subsystem requirements.
• Ensure requirements maintain end-to-end traceability to customer requirements, system architecture, and Concept of Operations (CONOPS).
• Define and manage hardware, software, electrical, mechanical, thermal, and data interfaces across spacecraft systems.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to refine requirements for completeness, feasibility, technical accuracy, and manufacturability.
• Support system architecture development, technical trade studies, requirements management, configuration management, and engineering change activities.
• Identify technical risks, integration challenges, requirement gaps, and design issues throughout the development lifecycle.
• Develop system verification and validation strategies, including verification methods, acceptance criteria, verification levels, and compliance evidence.
• Define verification configurations including hardware, software, firmware, and operational test environments.
• Develop and maintain verification documentation, Verification Cross Reference Matrices (VCRM), requirements traceability matrices, and verification evidence packages.
• Partner with Integration & Test teams to plan, coordinate, and execute system integration and verification activities.
• Evaluate test results, resolve technical discrepancies, and support corrective actions.
• Lead mission readiness reviews, launch readiness activities, operational rehearsals, and mission certification efforts.
• Lead spacecraft mission operations through launch, commissioning, routine operations, anomaly response, and end-of-life activities to ensure safe and successful mission execution.
• Serve as the technical authority during mission execution by monitoring spacecraft health, directing operational decision-making, and coordinating responses to off-nominal events.
• Develop and execute mission timelines, operational procedures, flight rules, and mission readiness activities, including simulations and contingency planning.
• Collaborate with engineering, flight software, ground systems, and mission operations teams to resolve technical issues, support anomaly investigations, and improve operational performance.
• Drive continuous improvement of mission operations processes, operational tools, and mission readiness while ensuring compliance with mission objectives and operational requirements.
• Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams throughout system development, integration, launch, and mission operations.
• Support technical planning, Program Increment (PI) planning, staffing assessments, and engineering execution activities.
• Prioritize engineering and mission operations activities to meet technical, operational, schedule, and program objectives.
• Participate in customer reviews, design reviews, mission readiness reviews, and technical decision boards.
• Mentor engineers on systems engineering, mission operations, requirements development, verification planning, and operational best practices.
• Drive continuous improvement of engineering processes, operational excellence, and technical rigor.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
• Advanced knowledge of systems engineering principles, the systems development lifecycle, and spacecraft system architecture.
• Experience developing, managing, and verifying system and subsystem requirements, interfaces, and verification strategies.
• Strong understanding of systems integration, configuration management, verification and validation, and technical risk management.
• Experience supporting spacecraft mission planning, launch campaigns, mission operations, anomaly resolution, and on-orbit operations.
• Ability to interpret customer requirements, Concept of Operations (CONOPS), and technical specifications to develop engineering and operational solutions.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and systems-thinking skills with the ability to make sound technical decisions in dynamic environments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio.
• Experience with requirements management tools such as Jama, IBM DOORS, or equivalent platforms.
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools, including CATIA Magic/Cameo, MagicDraw, or similar.
• Familiarity with systems modeling, analysis, and simulation tools.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to collaborate and provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated engineering programs.