Principal Space Vehicle System Design Lead

About the role

This role is part of the Blue National Security business unit, which is focused on addressing two of the most compelling challenges in spaceflight today: space infrastructure and increasing mobility on-orbit. We are looking for someone to apply their vision, passion, technical expertise, leadership skills, and dedication to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight.

Responsibilities

• Own the architectural technical baseline development for the assigned program; define and drive the technical vision, architecture, and long-term engineering roadmap for that program’s spacecraft solution for a unique customer mission
• Lead decomposition and allocation of requirements; establish and maintain system-level requirements, interface control documents, and design standards spacecraft subsystems
• Provide thought leadership and technical direction for mission CONOPS development and detailed mission planning
• Function as a technical lead for milestone reviews; participate as a non-advocate reviewer for cross-program architectural decisions
• Lead identification, assessment, and mitigation of complex system-level technical risks across all mission phases; drive technology maturation and identify emerging technology opportunities within the spacecraft development team
• Develop and maintain model-based design frameworks, simulation environments, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and software-in-the-loop (SIL) test capabilities to accelerate verification and validation
• Collaborate with program leadership, chief engineers, and functional managers to align technical execution with cost, schedule, and mission objectives
• Champion engineering best practices, design criteria, and lessons learned
• Mentor and develop engineers at all levels; actively contribute to a culture of technical excellence, safety, and continuous learning
• Support and provide technical oversight during critical test campaigns and mission operations, both on-site and remotely
• Partner with Enterprise functions (Operations, Supply Chain, Mission Assurance) to ensure producibility, reliability, and cost-effectiveness spacecraft system designs

Requirements

• Minimum of a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or closely related technical field
• 10+ years of experience in spacecraft design, command & control systems, space communications, avionics systems, or a closely related engineering field, with demonstrated progression to senior/lead technical roles
• Proven track record of leading complex, cross-functional technical programs or subsystems from concept through qualification and operational deployment
• Strong working knowledge of control theory, digital signal processing, and closed-loop system design for spacecraft systems
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence technical teams and stakeholders
• Proficiency in model-based design and simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink) and scripting languages (Python or equivalent)
• Direct experience with spacecraft communication protocols and emerging technologies
• Familiarity with, or experience in, Model-Based Systems Engineering, such as System Models and/or System Architecture diagrams
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex technical topics to audiences including senior leadership and customer organizations

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum

Skills

• Technical Expertise — deep domain knowledge in space vehicle systems engineering, electronics, embedded software, controls algorithms, sensors, actuators, power systems, and data networks, combined with systems-level thinking that anticipates downstream impacts of design decisions
• Technical Leadership — sound judgment that balances innovation with reliability, fluency in design reviews, failure analysis acumen, and confident decision-making under uncertainty
• People & Team Dynamics — mentorship mindset, cross-functional influence, composure under pressure, and a collaborative style that fosters innovation and resilience
• Strategic Vision & Organizational Impact — tying technical decisions to mission success and business goals, identifying organizational gaps before they escalate, and communicating a compelling technical vision across all levels

Benefits

• Base Pay Range For CA applicants is $169,624.00 - $237,473.25 CO applicants is $160,618.00 - $224,864.85 WA applicants is $169,624.00 - $237,473.25 VA applicants is $169,624.00 - $237,473.25
• Other Site Ranges May Differ