Payload Systems Engineer I

Responsibilities

• Support integration of payload systems into spacecraft buses
• Develop and maintain understanding of assigned payload hardware, including operating modes, power requirements, command and telemetry interfaces, thermal limits, mechanical constraints, data interfaces, and fault responses
• Review supplier documentation including ICDs, drawings, test reports, qualification data, acceptance data packages, user manuals, and nonconformance reports
• Support definition and tracking of payload requirements, interfaces, verification methods, risks, and open technical issues
• Work with electrical, software, mechanical, thermal, networking, mission operations, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and test teams to resolve integration issues
• Affiliate with payload interface definition, including power, harnessing, grounding, command and telemetry, data links, mechanical mounting, thermal constraints, timing, and operational limits
• Develop and execute payload test procedures, test scripts, checkouts, and verification activities
• Support vehicle-level functional testing, environmental testing, integrated system testing, mission simulations, and end-to-end payload testing
• Support troubleshooting payload-related issues during integration and test and support root-cause investigations
• Participate in technical meetings with payload suppliers and drive assigned actions to closure
• Support payload hardware acceptance reviews and verification of delivered data packages
• Maintain accurate technical documentation, test records, interface definitions, and engineering status
• Support launch-site preparation, commissioning planning, and on-orbit operations as required

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, systems engineering, computer engineering, physics, or another relevant technical discipline
• Engineering internship, academic project, laboratory, student spacecraft, robotics, communications, remote sensing, or early-career experience involving complex hardware systems
• Ability to understand and work from engineering drawings, requirements documents, interface control documents, test procedures, and technical reports
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional engineering environment
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage assigned work independently, raise issues early, and follow tasks through completion