VP of Satellite

Xona Space Systems • Burlingame, CA

12d

About The Position

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth. With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection. As VP of Satellite, you will own the design, build, and delivery of the spacecraft that power the Pulsar service. You’ll lead the satellite organization end-to-end accountable for performance, cost, schedule, and staffing while cultivating a culture of technical curiosity, deep system understanding, cross-disciplinary awareness, and shared ownership of the mission. Working closely with the broader teams, you’ll ensure the satellite functions as a tightly integrated part of the Pulsar service ecosystem from space to ground to deliver reliable performance at scale. This role combines deep systems experience and judgment with organizational leadership: you’ll guide technical direction, shape how decisions are made, and ensure every subsystem integrates into a coherent, high-performing spacecraft that delivers on our service from orbit. What You’ll Do Own the satellite platform – responsible for technical performance, cost, schedule, and staffing across all subsystems. Serve as Chief Engineer for the satellite, defining and maintaining the technical baseline, interfaces, and system-level budgets. Balance performance, cost, and time through system-level trades that connect engineering decisions to service-level impact. Oversee verification and validation, ensuring analytical, environmental, and flight tests close the loop on system performance. Lead and develop subsystem REs and Directors, fostering an environment of transparency, accountability, collaboration, and systems-level awareness. Drive design-for-manufacture and design-for-operations practices to ensure the satellite can be built, tested, and operated efficiently at scale. Manage the satellite budget and schedule, forecast resources, and report progress and risk transparently to executive leadership. You’d Be a Good Fit For This Role If You Thrive at the intersection of multiple disciplines and enjoy solving complex integration problems. Think like a systems engineer, but lead like a general manager - balancing technical depth with organizational leadership. Can dive deep technically when needed, but also step back to manage resources, process, and people. Balance analytical rigor with a bias for action in a fast-moving startup environment. Can communicate complex technical trade-offs in a clear, concise way to both engineers and executives. Take pride in enabling subsystem experts to own their areas while ensuring the full system comes together. Are motivated by building satellites that enable an end-to-end service, not just a piece of hardware.

Requirements

• Deep experience in spacecraft development.
• Demonstrated success leading satellite or complex space programs through design, integration, and on-orbit operations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead system-level trades and integration efforts.
• Strong communication skills, both technical and executive-level.

Nice To Haves

• 5+ years of experience in spacecraft systems engineering or technical leadership roles.
• Direct experience leading or supporting the design and integration of a satellite through multiple lifecycle phases (e.g., concept, PDR/CDR, I&T, launch, operations).
• Strong grounding in multiple subsystems (payload, GNC, power, comms, thermal, structures) with depth in at least one.
• Experience developing and managing technical baselines, requirements flow-down, and system verification strategies.
• Familiarity with constellation design considerations and ground-segment integration.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional technical teams without direct authority.

Responsibilities

• Own the satellite platform – responsible for technical performance, cost, schedule, and staffing across all subsystems.
• Serve as Chief Engineer for the satellite, defining and maintaining the technical baseline, interfaces, and system-level budgets.
• Balance performance, cost, and time through system-level trades that connect engineering decisions to service-level impact.
• Oversee verification and validation, ensuring analytical, environmental, and flight tests close the loop on system performance.
• Lead and develop subsystem REs and Directors, fostering an environment of transparency, accountability, collaboration, and systems-level awareness.
• Drive design-for-manufacture and design-for-operations practices to ensure the satellite can be built, tested, and operated efficiently at scale.
• Manage the satellite budget and schedule, forecast resources, and report progress and risk transparently to executive leadership.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 51-100 employees