Senior System Engineer

Space Systems Lead - Hybrid | San Francisco Bay - Flight Hardware

I’m looking for a Space Systems Lead for an early-stage space company moving quickly while building genuine flight hardware.

The team is developing optical communications technology for spacecraft applications, and they need an engineer who can take ownership from architecture and requirements through qualification, AIT, launch and commissioning.

The sweet spot is someone who understands rigorous space systems engineering but thrives in a smaller organisation where engineers are expected to solve problems themselves.

Key Responsibilities

• Define architecture for flight optical terminals and supporting spacecraft electronics.
• Own requirements development and subsystem flow-down.
• Manage mass, power, thermal, link and pointing budgets.
• Lead SRR/PDR/CDR/TRR activity.
• Develop V&V and qualification strategies.
• Lead environmental testing including vibration, shock, TVAC, EMC and radiation-related activity.
• Coordinate interfaces with spacecraft buses, launch providers and external partners.
• Own AIT campaigns and support launch-site operations.
• Help troubleshoot flight hardware and support commissioning/anomaly resolution.

Key Requirements

You could come from a spacecraft prime, NewSpace manufacturer, constellation business, payload developer or similarly fast-moving space hardware environment.

We’re looking for:

• Demonstrable experience with flight hardware.
• End-to-end understanding of the spacecraft development and test lifecycle.
• Strong systems architecture and requirements experience.
• Practical environmental test and qualification knowledge.
• Experience with spacecraft AIT.
• Understanding of radiation effects, parts selection and mitigation.
• Ability to operate with substantial autonomy.
• Optical payload, laser communications, hosted payload or precision pointing experience is advantageous.
• Startup/small-team experience is useful but not essential.
• Must be a U.S. Person as defined under ITAR.

This isn't a narrow requirements-management position. You’ll be expected to architect, build, test and deliver, working alongside a highly technical team on hardware intended for demanding operational missions.

If your background sits somewhere between systems architect and hands-on spacecraft engineer, I’d like to hear from you.

📩 Interested? Apply now or get in touch directly with Chloe @ EVONA – [email protected]

I look forward to hearing from you!☺