Vehicle Engineering Lead
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 31, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 28, 2026. Rendezvous Robotics scores A on the Alion truth index.
About Rendezvous Robotics
Rendezvous Robotics is building a new category of high-performance spacecraft, replacing rigid, single-use satellites with modular systems that can grow and adapt in orbit. Rendezvous’ spacecraft launch as compact tiles that autonomously self-assemble in space. This first-of-its-kind technology makes it possible to build beyond the dimensions of a rocket fairing and to expand, upgrade, or reconfigure a spacecraft without replacing the entire system. Based in Golden, Colorado, Rendezvous serves commercial, civil, and national security missions. More information can be found at: www.rdvrobotics.com.
Responsibilities
- Own the vehicle-level technical baseline for a LEO in-space assembly mission, including requirements definition, flowdown to subsystems, and traceability maintained through verification, launch, and on-orbit operations
- Integrate the work of the GNC, Mechanical Systems, Avionics, Software, and Manufacturing & Test leads into a vehicle that meets its mission requirements, holding decision authority on cross-subsystem tradeoffs
- Own and maintain the vehicle budgets for mass, power, link, pointing, thermal, propellant, and data, driving margin decisions with the subsystem leads
- Hold and manage the integrated schedule and cost baseline for the mission, accountable to the CTO for mission schedule, budget, and performance
- Own vehicle-level requirements verification through launch readiness
- Lead mission-level trade studies and concept of operations development
- Run design reviews, failure investigations, and root cause analysis across disciplines
- Serve as the technical point of contact for the launch provider, covering rideshare accommodation, requirements compliance, and integration
- Serve as the technical point of contact for any hosted payload on the mission, from ICD through integration and test
Basic Qualifications
- BS in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering or a related field
- 7+ years of spacecraft engineering experience, including development of flight hardware or flight software that has flown, and at least one vehicle taken from design through launch. Candidates with less experience will be considered where it was gained on high-tempo programs with multiple vehicles delivered
- Engineering experience in at least two of structures, thermal, power, propulsion, GNC, avionics, and flight software, with enough working knowledge of the rest to evaluate subsystem designs and challenge them on the technical merits
- Experience writing and closing ICDs with launch providers or payload customers
- Direct experience with spacecraft environmental test campaigns including vibration, thermal vacuum, and EMI/EMC
- Golden, Colorado onsite
- U.S. Person status required
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience on first-of-kind flight demonstration programs
- Rideshare integration experience with SpaceX Transporter or a comparable provider
- On-orbit anomaly resolution experience
- Early-stage startup experience
Compensation and Benefits
Vehicle Engineering Lead: $170,000 - $200,000
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. In addition to the base salary, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options. You will receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, short- and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and paid parental leave. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year.
ITAR Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
Equal Opportunity
Rendezvous Robotics is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Rendezvous Robotics is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.