Spacecraft Mission Systems Engineer

Quantum Space•Rockville, MD

3d•$175,000 - $260,000

About The Position

Quantum Space is seeking a technically strong, mission-focused Spacecraft Mission Systems Engineer to define, architect, analyze, and integrate mission capabilities for next-generation spacecraft platforms. The engineer will translate customer objectives and mission needs into spacecraft mission architectures, concepts of operations, performance requirements, and mission design solutions. The role works across spacecraft systems engineering, propulsion, guidance, navigation and control, flight software, avionics, ground systems, and mission operations to align spacecraft capabilities with mission objectives and operational requirements. The position connects mission-level objectives with spacecraft design and implementation. It evaluates mission feasibility, develops operational scenarios, assesses spacecraft performance, and maintains technical alignment throughout the mission lifecycle, from early concept development and architecture through detailed design, integration, verification, and flight operations readiness. The engineer collaborates with engineering teams, program leadership, customers, and mission stakeholders on national security, civil, and commercial space missions. The role is based in Rockville, Maryland, or Hawthorne, California. The stated base salary range is $175,000 to $260,000. The company also describes competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field.
10 or more years of experience in spacecraft systems engineering, mission engineering, mission analysis, spacecraft design, or space operations.
Experience translating mission objectives and customer requirements into spacecraft architectures, mission concepts, operational requirements, and technical specifications.
Strong understanding of orbital mechanics, spacecraft dynamics, mission design, and spacecraft operational concepts.
Experience performing or supporting mission analysis, including orbital trajectory analysis, maneuver planning, delta-V budgeting, and mission performance assessments.
Understanding of spacecraft subsystems, including propulsion, GNC, avionics, flight software, power, communications, payloads, and ground systems.
Experience developing CONOPS, mission scenarios, operational timelines, and mission-level technical documentation.
Ability to evaluate mission feasibility, identify technical constraints, and assess spacecraft performance against mission requirements.
Experience coordinating technical requirements and interfaces across multidisciplinary spacecraft engineering teams.
Familiarity with mission-level requirements development, requirements traceability, verification planning, and technical reviews.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, technical writing, and communication skills.
Ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively with engineers, program leadership, customers, and mission stakeholders.
Ability to manage multiple technical activities and work independently in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary engineering environment.
To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree.
Experience supporting national security, civil, or commercial space mission development and execution.
Experience developing mission architectures for highly maneuverable spacecraft, orbital mobility platforms, or responsive space missions.
Experience with high-delta-V mission design, orbital transfers, rendezvous and proximity operations, and advanced orbital maneuvering concepts.
Experience with spacecraft mission planning, constellation architectures, orbital servicing, or multi-spacecraft mission operations.
Proficiency with mission analysis and simulation tools such as STK, FreeFlyer, GMAT, MATLAB, Python, or equivalent software.
Experience developing mission simulations, trajectory optimization models, orbital propagation tools, or performance analysis scripts.
Familiarity with spacecraft propulsion systems, propellant budgets, maneuver execution, and GNC performance constraints.
Experience supporting mission operations, operational rehearsals, ground systems integration, launch campaigns, or on-orbit spacecraft operations.
Familiarity with systems engineering and requirements management tools such as Jama, DOORS, JIRA, and Confluence.
Experience supporting major technical reviews, customer design reviews, and government program milestones.
Experience supporting U.S. Space Force, Space Systems Command, NASA, NRO, SDA, AFRL, or other national security space programs.
Active U.S. security clearance or ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

Translate customer mission objectives, operational needs, and constraints into spacecraft mission architectures, CONOPS, and technical requirements.
Develop and evaluate mission architectures, operational scenarios, and spacecraft employment concepts across orbital regimes and mission phases.
Conduct mission analysis and trade studies covering orbital mechanics, maneuverability, propulsion performance, delta-V budgets, mission timelines, and spacecraft operational constraints.
Assess spacecraft capabilities and performance against mission objectives, including orbit transfer, rendezvous and proximity operations, orbital maneuvering, and constellation operations, as applicable.
Develop and maintain mission-level and operational requirements, mission performance budgets, and technical interfaces between spacecraft systems and mission objectives.
Collaborate with GNC and propulsion engineers on trajectory design, maneuver planning, propellant utilization, orbital transfers, and spacecraft mobility requirements.
Work with flight software, avionics, and systems engineering teams to translate mission scenarios into functional requirements, operational modes, command sequences, and system-level behaviors.
Evaluate mission feasibility and performance through analytical modeling, simulation, and multidisciplinary engineering assessments.
Develop mission timelines, operational sequences, scenario analyses, and mission event definitions for spacecraft design and mission planning.
Support spacecraft mission architecture development by assessing payload requirements, communications constraints, ground segment capabilities, operational dependencies, and mission resource requirements.
Conduct system-level trade studies of mission performance, operational flexibility, spacecraft utilization, and mission effectiveness.
Develop and maintain CONOPS, mission requirements documentation, architecture diagrams, operational scenarios, and technical performance assessments.
Serve as a technical liaison among mission stakeholders, customers, program leadership, and engineering teams.
Support SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and other mission- and spacecraft-level reviews.
Support mission simulations, operational rehearsals, spacecraft integration and test, launch campaign activities, and mission readiness assessments.
Coordinate with mission operations and ground systems teams so mission concepts and operational requirements are reflected in spacecraft design and operational planning.
Identify mission-level technical risks, constraints, and performance gaps, and work with multidisciplinary teams on mitigation strategies.
Contribute to improvements in mission engineering methodologies, analysis tools, operational concepts, and systems engineering practices.