Senior Spacecraft Systems Engineer - Payload

CesiumAstro•Westminster, CO

About The Position

CesiumAstro is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Systems Engineer to support payload systems engineering across spacecraft programs. The role analyzes customer, mission, and system-level requirements; defines and manages payload-to-space-vehicle interfaces; and maintains traceability from customer requirements through system architecture and CONOPS. It collaborates with multidisciplinary engineering teams on architecture, technical analyses, risks, configuration control, and program execution. The engineer develops verification and validation strategies and documentation, partners with Integration & Test teams on integration and verification activities, and evaluates test results and discrepancies. The role also participates in technical reviews and customer meetings, mentors junior engineers, and drives improvements in engineering processes and documentation. The position requires compliance with U.S. Government Space Technology Export Regulations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline with typically 5–8 years of relevant experience; or a related technical master’s degree with typically 3–6 years of relevant experience; or a related technical PhD with typically 0–3 years of relevant experience.
Strong knowledge of systems engineering principles and the systems development lifecycle.
Experience developing, managing, and verifying system and subsystem requirements.
Knowledge of systems architecture, interface management, systems integration, and configuration management.
Understanding of verification, validation, and systems integration processes.
Ability to interpret customer requirements, CONOPS, and technical specifications to develop engineering solutions.
Experience or proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio), requirements management tools (Jama, IBM DOORS, or similar), MBSE tools (CATIA Magic/Cameo, MagicDraw, or similar), systems modeling and simulation tools, collaboration platforms (Confluence, SharePoint, or similar), configuration management and version control tools (Git, GitLab, Bitbucket, or similar), and issue tracking tools (Jira or similar).
Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Effective written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, conditional resident, asylee, or refugee, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with spacecraft mission planning, launch support, and on-orbit operations.
Experience supporting spacecraft system integration, mission readiness, and operational activities.
Experience supporting aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated engineering programs.

Responsibilities

Analyze customer, mission, and system-level requirements and decompose them into clear, verifiable system and subsystem requirements.
Establish definitions for hardware and software interfaces between the payload and the space vehicle.
Maintain end-to-end requirements traceability to customer requirements, system architecture, and Concept of Operations (CONOPS).
Define and manage hardware, software, electrical, mechanical, and data interfaces between system elements.
Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to refine requirements for completeness, feasibility, technical accuracy, and manufacturability.
Support requirements management, configuration management, baseline control, and engineering change activities.
Identify technical risks, requirement gaps, ambiguities, and design issues early in the development lifecycle.
Support system architecture development, technical trade studies, and engineering analyses to evaluate design alternatives and optimize system performance.
Develop system verification and validation strategies, including verification methods, acceptance criteria, and verification levels aligned with program requirements.
Define verification configurations, including hardware, software, firmware, and test environments.
Develop and maintain verification documentation, verification cross-reference matrices (VCRM), requirements traceability matrices, and verification evidence packages.
Partner with Integration & Test teams to plan, coordinate, and support system integration and verification activities.
Evaluate test results, resolve technical discrepancies, and support corrective actions to ensure compliance with system requirements.
Support technical planning, Program Increment (PI) planning, staffing assessments, and engineering execution activities.
Prioritize systems engineering activities to meet technical, cost, schedule, and program milestones.
Participate in technical reviews, design reviews, customer meetings, and engineering milestone activities.
Mentor junior engineers on systems engineering best practices, requirements development, traceability, verification, and technical documentation.
Drive continuous improvement of engineering processes, systems engineering rigor, and technical documentation.
Collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering teams to support successful program execution.
Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.