Senior Systems Engineer

Matter Intelligence • El Segundo, CA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

About Matter Intelligence Welcome to Matter, where we are building the future of vision AI: pairing a world-first sensor that sees molecular chemistry, temperature, and 3D shape with a Large World Model that will be the most powerful intelligence engine for our physical world. This system doesn't just see what something looks like; it understands everything from a single pixel. We call this Superintelligent Vision. You'll join a team that has delivered technologies to Mars for NASA/JPL, co-founded and led infrastructure for OpenAI, designed cutting-edge sensors for U.S. Defense, and invented core algorithms for spectral and 3D imaging. We've come together to build the next infrastructure for vision and intelligence in the physical world. About the Role We are seeking an experienced Senior Systems Engineer to own the end-to-end technical architecture, integration, and mission assurance of a complete remote-sensing space system. This role is the technical authority ensuring all mission elements—from payload through spacecraft, launch, ground, and operations—come together coherently to deliver transformative Earth-observation capability. You will lead mission systems engineering, orchestrate subsystem integration, maintain the technical baseline, drive major design and verification decisions, and guide the engineering team across the full lifecycle. Your work will directly shape mission feasibility, performance, and long-term operational success.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or related discipline.
• 12+ years in spacecraft or remote-sensing systems engineering
• Demonstrated leadership on multi-disciplinary spacecraft or payload development programs.
• Deep understanding of spacecraft subsystems (GN&C, power, thermal, avionics, comms, propulsion, data handling).
• Proven experience with systems architecture, requirements flowdown, modeling, and interface management.
• Hands-on experience with integration & test, design verification, and environmental qualification.
• Experience with on-orbit operations, commissioning, or anomaly resolution.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership skills.
• U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field.
• Experience building or operating EO/IR, hyperspectral, SAR, or other remote-sensing missions.
• Familiarity with simulation environments (Python/MATLAB) or mission modeling tools.
• Experience in rapid development or startup environments.
• Experience contributing to technical proposals (NASA, DoD, SBIR, commercial).

Responsibilities

• Serve as the top technical authority for an integrated remote-sensing space mission.
• Define and maintain mission architecture, technical baseline, and system-of-systems design from concept through operations.
• Lead mission-level trade studies, performance modeling, and system analyses (SNR/radiometric budgets, pointing/jitter, downlink/data budgets, etc.).
• Establish mission-level CONOPS for deployment, commissioning, calibration, tasking, autonomous ops, and contingencies.
• Ensure the spacecraft, payload, launch vehicle, ground segment, and data systems meet mission requirements.
• Own requirements definition, flowdown, allocation, and verification across all mission elements.
• Develop and manage system budgets (power, mass, thermal, pointing, link, data volume, reliability, etc.).
• Define and validate Interface Control Documents (ICDs) across payload, spacecraft, ground, and external partners.
• Coordinate closely with subsystem leads to ensure alignment and uncover cross-system issues early.
• Lead spacecraft and payload integration planning with a focus on clean, testable interfaces.
• Develop system-level V&V plans including simulation, hardware testing, environmental qualification, and operational validation.
• Oversee payload, spacecraft, and ground system integration and test operations.
• Drive anomaly resolution with rigor, ensuring root-cause closure and prevention of recurrence.
• Collaborate with mission operations engineers to define autonomy, tasking, data handling, and commissioning procedures.
• Ensure the mission design supports operational automation, low-latency data flows, and robust health & safety monitoring.
• Lead and support Mission Readiness Rehearsals.
• Identify mission-level risks early, propose mitigations, and guide engineering execution.
• Partner with program management to align technical progress with schedule, budget, and customer needs.
• Communicate technical decisions clearly to leadership, partners, and external stakeholders.
• Mentor junior engineers to grow high-functioning mission-systems capability.

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Competitive total package based on experience.
• Early-stage equity package.
• Opportunities to expand into leadership, strategic accounts, or cross-functional roles as we scale.

What This Job Offers

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