Senior Spacecraft Systems Engineer - Payload

ESSENTIAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Analyze customer, mission, and system-level requirements and decompose them into clear, verifiable system and subsystem requirements.
• Establish clear definitions for all hardware and software interfaces between the payload and the space vehicle
• Ensure requirements maintain end-to-end traceability to customer requirements, system architecture, and Concept of Operations (CONOPS).
• Define and manage hardware, software, electrical, mechanical, and data interfaces between system elements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to refine requirements for completeness, feasibility, technical accuracy, and manufacturability.
• Support requirements management, configuration management, baseline control, and engineering change activities.
• Identify technical risks, requirement gaps, ambiguities, and design issues early in the development lifecycle.
• Support system architecture development, technical trade studies, and engineering analyses to evaluate design alternatives and optimize system performance.
• Develop system verification and validation strategies, including verification methods (test, analysis, demonstration, and inspection), acceptance criteria, and verification levels aligned with program requirements.
• Define verification configurations, including hardware, software, firmware, and test environments required to support verification activities.
• 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 support system integration and verification activities.
• Evaluate test results, resolve technical discrepancies, and support corrective actions to ensure compliance with system requirements.
• Support technical planning, Program Increment (PI) planning, staffing assessments, and engineering execution activities.
• Prioritize systems engineering activities to meet technical, cost, schedule, and program milestones.
• Participate in technical reviews, design reviews, customer meetings, and engineering milestone activities.
• Mentor junior engineers on systems engineering best practices, requirements development, traceability, verification, and technical documentation.
• Drive continuous improvement of engineering processes, systems engineering rigor, and technical documentation.
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering teams to support successful program execution.
• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.

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 with typically 5-8 years of relevant experience; Master’s degree in a related technical discipline with typically 3-6 years of relevant experience; or PhD in a related technical discipline with typically 0-3 years of relevant experience.
• Strong knowledge of systems engineering principles and the systems development lifecycle.
• Experience developing, managing, and verifying system and subsystem requirements.
• Knowledge of systems architecture, interface management, systems integration, and configuration management.
• Understanding verification, validation, and systems integration processes.
• Ability to interpret customer requirements, Concept of Operations (CONOPS), and technical specifications to develop engineering solutions.
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio)
• Requirements Management tools (Jama, IBM DOORS, or similar)
• Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools (CATIA Magic/Cameo, MagicDraw, or similar)
• Systems modeling and simulation tools
• Collaboration platforms (Confluence, SharePoint, or similar)
• Configuration management and version control tools (Git, GitLab, Bitbucket, or similar)
• Issue tracking tools (Jira or similar)
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Effective written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary engineering teams.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Familiarity with spacecraft mission planning, launch support, and on-orbit operations.
• Experience supporting spacecraft system integration, mission readiness, and operational activities.
• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated engineering programs.