Principal Responsible Engineer I - Space Payloads

CesiumAstro • Westminster, CO

10d • $130,000 - $180,000

About The Position

At CesiumAstro , we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team. We are seeking a highly skilled Space Payload Responsible Engineer (RE) to lead the design, development, integration, test, and flight qualification of advanced spaceborne payloads. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with phased array systems , RF receivers , power and control architectures , and spacecraft-level interfaces . In this role, you will serve as the technical authority for the payload, guiding multidisciplinary engineering teams from concept through on-orbit activation. You will be responsible for technical execution, schedule and risk management, cross-functional coordination, and delivering a fully qualified payload to spacecraft integration. This position requires strong leadership, deep engineering knowledge, and the ability to operate in a fast-paced mission environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or related technical field. (Master’s or Ph.D. preferred.)
• 9 years of engineering experience in space payload development or RF/antenna systems.
• Direct experience designing and testing phased array antennas for space or high-reliability applications.
• Hands-on experience with RF receivers, including front-end architectures, downconverters, filtering, and RF system modeling.
• Demonstrated understanding of payload control systems, digital interfaces, command & data handling, and embedded hardware/software interactions.
• Experience with space power systems, including DC-DC converters, load analysis, protections, and spacecraft power interfaces.
• Proven experience executing or overseeing flight qualification and environmental test campaigns (TVAC, vib/shock, EMC, radiation considerations).
• Leadership experience, including mentoring or leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Proficiency with engineering tools such as RF simulation packages (HFSS, CST, ADS, MATLAB), schematic/PCB tools, or systems engineering tools (Doors, Cameo).
• Strong knowledge of space systems engineering practices, requirements flowdown, verification/validation, and configuration management.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to present complex technical information to diverse audiences.

Nice To Haves

• Experience managing projects for government and commercial customers.
• Experience with radiation-tolerant design, proton/total-dose analysis, and EEE parts selection.
• Experience with high-rate manufacturing, rapid development cycles, or NewSpace ecosystems.
• Prior role as a Responsible Engineer, Technical Lead, IPT Lead, or Chief Engineer on flight hardware.
• Experience with ground test setups, RF test equipment, phased array calibration, and antenna range measurement.
• Background in digital signal processing, beamforming algorithms, or embedded firmware for payload control.
• Experience mentoring less experienced project engineers and design engineers in associated discipline
• High energy and a “get it done” attitude

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Payload Responsible Engineer (RE) and primary technical point of contact for the payload throughout the mission lifecycle.
• Lead the end-to-end engineering effort for the payload, including architecture, design, prototyping, integration, test, environmental qualification, and flight readiness.
• Coordinate and direct a team of RF, digital, mechanical, thermal, software, and systems engineers to ensure consistent and timely technical execution.
• Develop and review payload control schemes, internal data interfaces, command & telemetry architecture, and firmware/software integration as needed.
• Oversee development and performance of phased array antennas including beamforming, calibration, and environmental considerations.
• Manage all flight qualification activities, including environmental test planning (thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, EMC), margin assessment, and final acceptance testing.
• Generate and maintain payload-level documentation: requirements, ICDs, block diagrams, test plans, verification matrices, risk registers, and design reviews.
• Interface with spacecraft systems engineering, mission assurance, manufacturing, vendors, and test facilities.
• Drive root cause analysis, anomaly resolution, and technical risk mitigation throughout development and test campaigns.
• Communicate status, technical trades, risks, and design decisions to internal leadership and external customers.

Benefits

• Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees