Mission Architect - Space Communications Systems

About the role

Vantor is seeking a Mission Architect – Communications Systems to join our Spacewrx team in Westminster, CO. The role will help define, architect, and optimize next-generation satellite missions.

Responsibilities

• Translate customer objectives into practical, executable mission architectures.
• Drive communications architecture decisions across spacecraft, payload, ground, and operational systems.
• Perform mission-level trades that optimize performance, operational effectiveness, resiliency, cost, and schedule.
• Shape communications strategies for current flight programs and future mission concepts.
• Partner closely with engineering teams while remaining technically engaged in implementation and execution.
• Contribute beyond your primary specialty area as opportunities arise and mission priorities evolve.
• Help build a culture of ownership, technical excellence, speed, collaboration, and practical problem solving.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in satellite communications, space systems engineering, mission architecture, systems engineering, or related technical leadership roles.
• Demonstrated experience developing and evaluating RF communications architectures for satellite systems.
• Strong understanding of RF link budget development, performance analysis, and communications system trades.
• Working knowledge of communications hardware commonly used in LEO satellite systems, including: RF transmitters and receivers, antennas and antenna subsystems, gimbals and pointing systems, modems and communications electronics.
• Experience evaluating mission-level communications performance and translating customer objectives into executable system architectures.
• Understanding of RF spectrum management and regulatory processes, including FCC licensing, ITU filings and coordination, spectrum allocation and assignment processes, interference analysis and mitigation considerations.
• Familiarity with LEO satellite communications architectures and operational concepts.
• Experience working effectively across spacecraft, payload, ground, operations, and business teams.
• Strong technical communication skills with customers, operators, leadership, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Ownership mentality and willingness to solve problems outside traditional role boundaries when mission success requires it.
• Ability to apply for and obtain a Top Secret USG security clearance after hire.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience serving as a Mission Architect, Chief Systems Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, Communications Architect, or similar technical leadership role.
• Direct experience with small satellite or LEO constellation development programs.
• Experience designing, analyzing, or operating inter-satellite crosslink architectures.
• Experience with optical communications systems, optical terminals, or hybrid RF/optical network architectures.
• Experience supporting spacecraft development through integration, test, launch, commissioning, and on-orbit operations.
• Experience developing mission concepts and architectures from early customer engagement through operational deployment.
• Experience with communications security architectures, encryption standards, key management concepts, and secure satellite communications systems.
• Familiarity with commercial, civil, national security, or defense communications security requirements and implementation considerations.
• Experience with spacecraft Command and Data Handling (C&DH) architectures, telemetry, command processing, onboard networking, data routing, and storage systems.
• Experience evaluating interfaces and tradeoffs between communications subsystems, spacecraft avionics, payload systems, and mission operations.
• Understanding of spacecraft resource management, including power, thermal, pointing, command and data handling, and network performance impacts on communications architectures.
• Experience with commercial, civil, national security, or defense space missions.
• Familiarity with mission analysis, communications modeling, simulation, and digital engineering environments.
• Active U.S. Secret or Top Secret security clearance.

Skills

• Strong RF communications knowledge.
• Practical satellite development experience.
• Effective communication skills.

Benefits

• Roth 401(k) with company match.
• Mental health resources.
• Student loan repayment assistance.
• Pet insurance.
• Adoption reimbursement.
• Unique perks.

Pay

The starting pay for this role will fall within the listed range and will be based on factors such as experience, qualifications, skills, location, and market conditions. Candidates who meet the minimum requirements for the role should not expect to receive compensation at the top of the range. The base pay for this position within Colorado is: $124,000.00 - $165,000.00 - $181,500.00 annually. For all other states, we use geographic cost of labor as an input to develop market-driven ranges for our roles, and as such, each location where we hire may have a different range.

Application

To apply, submit your application via Vantor's Career page.