Mission Architect - Space Communications Systems

Vantor•Westminster, CO

1d•$124,000 - $181,500•Onsite

About The Position

Vantor is seeking a mid-career Mission Architect – Communications Systems to join their team in Westminster, CO. This role involves defining, architecting, and optimizing next-generation satellite missions, sitting at the intersection of customer needs, mission design, space systems engineering, and communications architecture. The Mission Architect will translate customer objectives into technically feasible, operationally effective mission concepts and system architectures by working across engineering disciplines. The ideal candidate will understand how mission requirements drive design decisions for spacecraft, payloads, the ground segment, and communications systems. They should be comfortable with system-level trades, evaluating technical and operational risks, and balancing performance, schedule, cost, and regulatory constraints. This role requires strong RF communications knowledge, practical satellite development experience, and effective communication skills with customers, operators, and engineering teams. Unlike traditional contractors, Vantor owns and operates its missions throughout their operational lifetimes, allowing Mission Architects to influence mission evolution, operational performance, future capabilities, and follow-on architectures. This fosters opportunities to develop expertise across adjacent technical domains and contribute wherever skills, interests, and business needs align. The company operates with a small, highly collaborative team where ownership is prioritized over organizational boundaries. Engineers who are proactive and willing to solve problems outside their immediate specialty are encouraged to apply. Vantor currently has multiple satellite development programs underway, including two funded spacecraft programs in active execution and additional mission concepts progressing. This role offers the chance to shape both near-term flight systems and the next generation of mission capabilities.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
7+ years of experience in satellite communications, space systems engineering, mission architecture, systems engineering, or related technical leadership roles.
Demonstrated experience developing and evaluating RF communications architectures for satellite systems.
Strong understanding of RF link budget development, performance analysis, and communications system trades.
Working knowledge of communications hardware commonly used in LEO satellite systems, including: RF transmitters and receivers, Antennas and antenna subsystems, Gimbals and pointing systems, Modems and communications electronics.
Ability to evaluate mission-level communications performance and translate customer objectives into executable system architectures.
Experience performing architecture trades involving coverage, throughput, latency, availability, resiliency, spacecraft resources, and operational constraints.
Understanding of RF spectrum management and regulatory processes, including: FCC licensing, ITU filings and coordination, Spectrum allocation and assignment processes, Interference analysis and mitigation considerations.
Familiarity with LEO satellite communications architectures and operational concepts.
Ability to work effectively across spacecraft, payload, ground, operations, and business teams.
Strong technical communication skills with customers, operators, leadership, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Demonstrated ownership mentality and willingness to solve problems outside traditional role boundaries when mission success requires it.
Ability to apply for and obtain a Top Secret USG security clearance after hire.

Nice To Haves

Experience serving as a Mission Architect, Chief Systems Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, Communications Architect, or similar technical leadership role.
Direct experience with small satellite or LEO constellation development programs.
Experience designing, analyzing, or operating inter-satellite crosslink architectures.
Experience with optical communications systems, optical terminals, or hybrid RF/optical network architectures.
Experience supporting spacecraft development through integration, test, launch, commissioning, and on-orbit operations.
Direct on-orbit operational experience with satellite communications systems.
Experience developing mission concepts and architectures from early customer engagement through operational deployment.
Experience with communications security architectures, encryption standards, key management concepts, and secure satellite communications systems.
Familiarity with commercial, civil, national security, or defense communications security requirements and implementation considerations.
Working knowledge of spacecraft Command and Data Handling (C&DH) architectures, telemetry, command processing, onboard networking, data routing, and storage systems.
Experience evaluating interfaces and tradeoffs between communications subsystems, spacecraft avionics, payload systems, and mission operations.
Understanding of spacecraft resource management, including power, thermal, pointing, command and data handling, and network performance impacts on communications architectures.
Experience with commercial, civil, national security, or defense space missions.
Familiarity with mission analysis, communications modeling, simulation, and digital engineering environments.
Active U.S. Secret or Top Secret security clearance.
Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

Responsibilities

Define, architect, and optimize next-generation satellite missions.
Translate customer objectives into technically feasible, operationally effective mission concepts and system architectures.
Work across engineering disciplines to ensure mission requirements drive design decisions for spacecraft, payloads, the ground segment, and communications systems.
Make system-level trades, evaluating technical and operational risks, and balancing performance, schedule, cost, and regulatory constraints.
Evaluate mission-level communications performance and translate customer objectives into executable system architectures.
Perform architecture trades involving coverage, throughput, latency, availability, resiliency, spacecraft resources, and operational constraints.
Influence mission evolution, operational performance, future capabilities, and follow-on architectures.
Partner closely with engineering teams while remaining technically engaged in implementation and execution.
Contribute beyond primary specialty areas as opportunities arise and mission priorities evolve.
Help build a culture of ownership, technical excellence, speed, collaboration, and practical problem solving.