{"id":1742547,"url":"https://alion.io/job/cesiumastro-senior-staff-electrical-engineer-payload","title":"Senior Staff Electrical Engineer - Payload","company":{"id":5315,"name":"CesiumAstro","domain":"cesiumastro.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/cesiumastro","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Lever","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":85,"open_postings":42,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.619,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":47,"computed_at":"2026-10-27T05:46:45Z"}},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","seniority":"staff","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Westminster, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":184000,"max":225000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":225000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":12,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-02T14:21:16Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-02","last_verified_at":"2026-10-27T07:15:08Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":24,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":24},"description":"We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Staff ElectricalEngineer to lead the design, development, integration, test, and flight qualification of advanced spaceborne payloads.\nThis post focuses on the role ofPayload Lead Engineer (aka Responsible Engineer) in our Phased Array product line, focusing on Ka-band Active Electronically Steered Arrays (AESAs). CesiumAstro AESAs are state-of-the-art electronics assemblies consisting of an antenna element array, RF electronics, digital array control, and power conversion - engineered into a single box using a modular but optimized approach.\nThe Payload Lead is responsible for the technical development of a new payload productconsisting of a phased array (AESA) and a processing unit (RPU). This combines deep, multi-disciplinary technical accountability with responsibility for on-time schedule execution.\nThe Payload Lead is the leader of the multidisciplinary technical team, the primary point of contact for the program manager, and often a key interface point for our customers. Success in this role requires deep expertise in technical topics as well as project management, leadership, and communication in a fast-paced startup environment.\nJOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES\nServe as the Payload Lead Engineer and primary technical point of contact for the payload throughout the product development lifecycle. \nLead the end-to-end engineering effort for the payload, including architecture, design, prototyping, integration, test, environmental qualification, and flight readiness.\nCoordinate and direct Unit Leads developing AESA and RPU boxes for the payload, as well as engineers working directly on the combined payload. \nHold schedule accountability for the payload development. \nDevelop and review payload control schemes, internal data interfaces, command & telemetry architecture, and firmware/software integration as needed.\nManage all flight qualification activities, including environmental test planning (thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, EMC), margin assessment, and final acceptance testing.\nOwn the transition to volume production, including manufacturability, testability, and customer-facing documentation.\nGenerate and maintain payload-level documentation: requirements, ICDs, block diagrams, test plans, verification matrices, risk registers, and design reviews.\nInterface with spacecraft systems engineering, mission assurance, manufacturing, vendors, and test facilities.\nDrive root cause analysis, anomaly resolution, and technical risk mitigation throughout development and test campaigns.\nCommunicate status, technical trades, risks, and design decisions to internal leadership and external customers.\nJOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS\nBachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or a related field.\n12+ years of engineering experience in electronics hardware development.\nHands-on experience with related technologies such as active phased array antennas.\nExpertise in antennas and board-level RF electronics.\nStrong familiarity with power/digital support circuitry and design for manufacturability. \nLeadership experience, including mentoring or leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.\nStrong knowledge of systems engineering practices, requirements flowdown, verification/validation, and configuration management.\nExcellent communication skills with ability to present complex technical information to diverse audiences.\nPREFERRED EXPERIENCE\nProven experience executing or overseeing flight qualification and environmental test campaigns (TVAC, vib/shock, EMC, radiation considerations).\nExperience testing active antennas, including measuring EIRP and G/T. \nExperience managing hardware/software product development projects.\nExperience with radiation-tolerant design.\nExperience with high-rate manufacturing, rapid development cycles, and/or NewSpace ecosystems.\nPrior role as a Responsible Engineer, Technical Lead, IPT Lead, or Chief Engineer on flight hardware.\nExperience in high-frequency antenna design e.g. Ka band.\nExperience mentoring less-experienced project engineers and design engineers in associated discipline\nHigh energy and a “get it done” attitude","description_format":"text","description_chars":4172,"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":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Embedded & Electronics Design","Satellite Communications","RF & Wireless Hardware"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-03T03:49:05Z"},{"event":"close","at":"2026-10-09T16:08:39Z"},{"event":"reopen","at":"2026-10-09T19:16:51Z"},{"event":"close","at":"2026-10-23T12:34:38Z"},{"event":"reopen","at":"2026-10-23T17:28:09Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 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