Chief Engineer - Payload Systems Engineering

sesengin

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

As a Payload Systems Engineer, you will serve as the technical lead for the end‑to‑end design, development, integration, test, deployment, and on‑orbit commissioning of hosted payloads and payload‑centric missions on GEO and MEO spacecraft. Operating as a payload‑focused Chief Engineer, you will own payload performance, payload‑to‑bus interfaces, and overall mission success across a broad range of payload types—including communications, sensing, compute, and advanced technology demonstrators.
You will collaborate closely with heritage spacecraft primes and next‑generation spacecraft manufacturers to drive requirements, manage interfaces, lead verification and validation efforts, and retire technical risk across all subsystems (mechanical, thermal, structural, electrical, power, RF/communications, TT&C, avionics, and flight software).

Requirements

• BS + 15 years or MS + 12 years in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering (or related) with extensive spacecraft payload engineering experience.
• US Citizenship with ability to obtain up to TS/SCI clearance
• Demonstrated team player with a willingness to mentor, train, and uplift other team members, openly sharing knowledge and ensuring the team gains exposure to all relevant technical areas.
• Demonstrated payload ownership across at least one spacecraft mission (requirements → I&T → launch → on‑orbit commissioning).
• Deep expertise across mechanical packaging and alignment, thermal interfaces and heat‑rejection design, structural dynamics and vibe/shock, and electrical power interfaces including PCDU behavior, power quality, and protection.
• Strong command of data and timing interfaces (Ethernet, SpaceWire, 1553, CAN, discretes), RF/communications compatibility and colocation, TT&C constraints, radiation effects (TID/SEE) and degradation planning, and EMI/EMC/ESD test planning.

Nice To Haves

• Direct GEO and/or MEO mission experience (radiation environments, long‑life thermal considerations, operational modes)
• Experience with hosted payloads or multi‑tenant spacecraft models
• Familiarity with advanced RF comms, sensing/observation systems, onboard compute/edge processing
• Proficiency in CAD/FEA tools, thermal modeling, RF/link analysis, requirements tools, and automated test workflows
• Experience working with both traditional primes and commercial spacecraft bus providers

Responsibilities

• Lead Payload Architecture & Accommodation Trades: Guide payload technical decisions for hosted payloads, dedicated free‑flyers, and proliferated constellation missions.
• Manage payload requirements, define ICDs, maintain configuration control in SESSD MBSE systems, and drive change management.
• Serve as Payload–Bus Integration Authority: Oversee mechanical, thermal, structural, electrical, RF/EMI/EMC, contamination, and radiation interface considerations to ensure seamless payload accommodation.
• Develop & Execute V&V Plans: Lead functional, EMI/EMC, thermal‑vacuum, vibration/shock, RF performance, and end‑to-end mission validation testing.
• Drive Integration Planning & Execution: Ensure integration readiness across MGSE/EGSE, cleanroom workflows, spacecraft‑level integration, and anomaly resolution.
• Own Commissioning & On‑Orbit Payload Checkout: Lead on‑orbit calibration, checkout, and performance validation while coordinating with mission operations.
• Shape & Manage Hosted Payload Opportunities: Evaluate technical feasibility, accommodation impacts, schedules, and risk posture while engaging suppliers and customers.
• Author & Maintain Mission‑Critical Documentation: Prepare technical deliverables, customer documentation, and inputs for SRR/PDR/CDR/TRR/FRR, as well as lead technical interchange meetings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level