Vehicle Engineering Lead

Rendezvous Robotics•Golden, CO

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Rendezvous Robotics is hiring a Vehicle Engineering Lead to own the vehicle-level technical baseline for a low Earth orbit in-space assembly mission. The role integrates work across GNC, Mechanical Systems, Avionics, Software, and Manufacturing & Test, with decision authority over cross-subsystem tradeoffs. The lead is accountable to the CTO for mission schedule, budget, and performance, and owns vehicle-level requirements verification through launch readiness. The position is onsite in Golden, Colorado, and requires U.S. Person status.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
At least 7 years of spacecraft engineering experience, including development of flight hardware or flight software that has flown, and at least one vehicle taken from design through launch. Candidates with less experience may be considered when it was gained on high-tempo programs with multiple vehicles delivered.
Engineering experience in at least two of the following areas: structures, thermal, power, propulsion, GNC, avionics, and flight software; working knowledge of the remaining areas sufficient to evaluate subsystem designs and challenge them on technical merits.
Direct experience writing and closing ICDs with launch providers or payload customers.
Direct experience with spacecraft environmental test campaigns, including vibration, thermal vacuum, and EMI/EMC.
U.S. Person status required.
Must meet the stated ITAR eligibility requirements or be eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Nice To Haves

Experience on first-of-kind flight demonstration programs.
Rideshare integration experience with SpaceX Transporter or a comparable provider.
On-orbit anomaly resolution experience.
Early-stage startup experience.

Responsibilities

Own the vehicle-level technical baseline for a LEO in-space assembly mission, including requirements definition, subsystem flowdown, and traceability through verification, launch, and on-orbit operations.
Integrate work across GNC, Mechanical Systems, Avionics, Software, and Manufacturing & Test, and make decisions on cross-subsystem tradeoffs.
Own and maintain vehicle budgets for mass, power, link, pointing, thermal, propellant, and data, and drive margin decisions with subsystem leads.
Hold and manage the integrated mission schedule and cost baseline; be accountable to the CTO for mission schedule, budget, and performance.
Own vehicle-level requirements verification through launch readiness.
Lead mission-level trade studies and concept of operations development.
Run design reviews, failure investigations, and cross-disciplinary root cause analysis.
Act as technical point of contact for the launch provider, including rideshare accommodation, requirements compliance, and integration.
Act as technical point of contact for hosted payloads from interface control document (ICD) through integration and test.