Staff Avionics Engineer (C&DH)

BlackSky•Tukwila, WA

7d•$165,000 - $180,000•Hybrid

About The Position

BlackSky is seeking a proven systems engineer to help define, verify, assemble, and deliver spacecraft, with a focus on command and data handling (C&DH) and compute systems. The role spans the engineering lifecycle, from understanding mission needs through design, integration, testing, and spacecraft operation in orbit. The engineer collaborates daily with mechanical, electrical, software, and test engineers, operators, and program managers. The position is based in BlackSky’s Tukwila, Washington office, with a hybrid on-site schedule and significant flexibility for part-time remote work.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Engineering; Computer Science, Aerospace, Systems, or Electrical Engineering is preferred.
At least 10 years of experience in the Aerospace or Defense Industry, including at least 2 years developing hardware and software systems.
Strong foundation in compute hardware and subsystem development lifecycle.
Strong understanding of spacecraft and subsystem behaviors and associated dependencies.
Demonstrated ability to produce satellite budgets related to compute systems, such as compute overhead, data throughput, and data storage.
Proficiency with requirements management practices.
Experience developing systems engineering artifacts, including Interface Control Documents, internal block diagrams, activity diagrams, sequence diagrams, and state machines.
Experience coordinating with supply chain as a technical point of contact for hardware suppliers.
Strong sense of ownership, innate sense of urgency, and bias toward eliminating waste and inefficiency.
Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations to comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated technical depth in high-speed digital communications and compute systems.
Proficiency developing and troubleshooting high-speed hardware interfaces such as 10G and 25G Ethernet, PCIe, and various SerDes interfaces.
Experience with requirements tracking tools such as Jama or DOORS.
Experience with Jira, Confluence, GitHub, or similar tools.
Strong understanding of spacecraft avionics, the space environment, basic astrodynamics, and related spacecraft design considerations.
Experience working within a Scaled Agile or comparable Agile framework.

Responsibilities

Organize, lead, and support development of Systems Engineering deliverables.
Define and decompose mission CONOPS into avionics subsystem and component requirements.
Build and maintain tools to rapidly generate space-vehicle technical budgets and analysis products.
Develop system, subsystem, and component verification and test plans.
Communicate technical information, including analysis results, findings, and trade studies, to peers, the Program Chief Engineer, program management, and customers.
Work with software developers to facilitate understanding of the system and component capabilities.
Participate in Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) as a subject matter expert in compute systems.
Provide technical oversight of component and unit suppliers and support supply chain activities.
Build and refine automated tools for analyzing test, analysis, and other verification data at component, subsystem, vehicle, and constellation levels.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, and voluntary life and AD&D insurance.
BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only medical, dental, and vision premiums and contributes $100 per month for out-of-pocket expenses.
15 days of PTO, 11 company holidays, four floating holidays (prorated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, and parental leave.
401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match.
Flexible Spending Accounts.
Employee Stock Purchase Program.
Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs.
Employer matching donations.
Professional development.
Company swag.