Senior Engineer - Fault Management

AIRBUS U.S. Space & Defense•Merritt Island, FL

About The Position

The Senior Systems Engineer contributes to the development of Fault Management architectures for Airbus U.S. satellite systems, including the heritage Arrow platform. The role spans the full development lifecycle, from requirements definition through operations, and involves solving complex technical challenges in space technology. The position is based in Merritt Island, Florida; fully remote candidates located within the United States will also be considered. Periodic travel to Airbus U.S. facilities or partner companies is required (less than 20%). U.S. citizenship is required, and the employee must be able to obtain and maintain a government security clearance. An active DoD clearance at Secret level or above is highly desirable. Systems engineering activities make up approximately 75% of the role. These include defining, decomposing, flowing down, maintaining, and owning Fault Management requirements; conducting system analyses, developing designs, and performing trade studies; contributing to spacecraft Fault Management concepts of operations and system-level FDIR architecture; creating functional state machines for autonomous fault detection, isolation, and recovery; and evaluating ground-versus-onboard autonomy. The engineer also plans and supports Fault Management verification and testing by maintaining verification matrices and V&V plans, developing fault-injection scenarios, coordinating with Functional Validation on test procedures, and reviewing results. The role supports subsystem requirements and their flow-down to components and parts, particularly during integration, test, and mission operations, and may lead spacecraft, payload, or satellite bus activities. Roadmap development accounts for approximately 15% of the role. The engineer supports the Airbus spacecraft product roadmap, including design adjustments and alignment with schedule and cost targets for future business opportunities, as well as defining the spacecraft customization process for customer mission needs. Additional responsibilities (approximately 10%) include systems engineering work to build, maintain, and evolve Airbus spacecraft products and promoting cost savings by reusing heritage platform designs and manufacturing infrastructure. The role calls for a STEM bachelor's degree or a related scientific degree and at least eight years of experience; candidates with a STEM master's degree or related scientific degree need at least six years. Candidates should have a proven history of working on Fault Management for aerospace hardware and software across design, development, manufacture, integration, test, deployment, and operations. Airbus describes a fast-moving, complex, multifunctional, and multicultural work environment. Physical requirements include computer and document viewing, hearing conversations and safety warnings, operating office equipment, carrying and lifting items up to 40 lb, extended periods of sitting and standing, occasional squatting or kneeling, and walking through office and outdoor areas, including uneven surfaces.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in STEM or a related scientific area, with at least 8 years of experience; alternatively, a master's degree in STEM or a related scientific area, with at least 6 years of experience.
Proven track record working on Fault Management for aerospace hardware and software systems from conceptual design and tradeoffs through detailed design, development, manufacture, integration, test, deployment, and operations.
Experience in Fault Management design and implementation.
Familiarity with space mission architecture elements beyond the satellite platform, including launch, flight operations, mission CONOPS, and user interfaces.
Familiarity with spacecraft systems engineering software tools, including DOORS.
Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering, including SysML.
Experience with core spacecraft subsystems (EPS, ADCS, CDH, TTC, propulsion, and thermal) and their primary failure modes.
Experience defining and decomposing spacecraft requirements and performing requirements verification and validation, such as using Requirements Verification and Traceability Matrices.
Experience conducting or contributing to FMECA or Fault Tree Analysis for complex hardware/software systems.
Experience performing analyses for affordability, safety, reliability, maintainability, testability, human systems integration, survivability, vulnerability, susceptibility, system security, regulatory compliance, certification, product assurance, or other specialty engineering disciplines.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely across multiple levels.
Team-mindedness and readiness to work in a multifunctional, multicultural, fast-moving, and technically complex environment.
Flexible attitude, strong initiative, and demonstrated ability to deliver results.
U.S. citizenship.
Ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.
Ability to meet the stated physical requirements, including lifting and carrying up to 40 lb and periods of sitting, standing, and walking.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in STEM or a related scientific area.
Active DoD security clearance at Secret level or above.

Responsibilities

Develop Fault Management requirements, including initial definition, decomposition, flow-down, specification maintenance, and ownership.
Conduct Fault Management system analyses and develop designs and trade studies in coordination with Systems Engineering and subsystem teams.
Contribute to spacecraft Fault Management concepts of operations and system-level FDIR architecture.
Create functional state machines for autonomous fault detection, isolation, and recovery mechanisms.
Perform tradeoffs between ground and onboard autonomy.
Develop and maintain Fault Management verification matrices and the Fault Management V&V Plan.
Develop credible failure-mode fault-injection scenarios, coordinate with Functional Validation on test procedures, and review test results.
Support subsystem-level requirements and flow-down to components and parts throughout the development lifecycle, particularly during integration, test, and mission operations.
Drive multiple design activities across programs or missions, potentially leading spacecraft, payload, or satellite bus activities.
Participate in cross-functional planning, coordination, and execution across engineering and integration activities.
Support the spacecraft product roadmap, including design adjustments and alignment with future business capture schedule and cost targets.
Support definition of the spacecraft customization process for customer mission needs.
Perform systems engineering activities to build, maintain, and evolve Airbus spacecraft products.
Promote cost savings through reuse of heritage platform designs and manufacturing infrastructure.
Travel periodically (less than 20%) to Airbus U.S. facilities or partner companies.