Spacecraft Platform Architect

Infinite Orbits; Toulouse; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Infinite Orbits in Toulouse is seeking a Spacecraft Platform Architect to define and lead the architecture of the spacecraft bus, ensuring performance, cost, schedule, and compliance across missions.

You will bridge mission needs with subsystem capabilities, drive architecture trades, define interfaces with payloads, and guide integration, verification, and technology roadmap efforts for multiple missions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in spacecraft design, systems engineering, or platform development.
• Strong technical understanding of all major spacecraft subsystems.
• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary engineering efforts and manage architectural trade-offs.
• Familiarity with space standards (ECSS, NASA, MIL-STD, CCSDS).

Responsibilities

• Define end-to-end architecture of the spacecraft platform, including structures, power, thermal, propulsion, avionics, attitude control, and data handling.
• Lead system trade-offs, design synthesis, and architecture down-selection based on mission requirements, performance, and risk.
• Define platform interfaces with payloads, launchers, and ground systems.
• Develop and manage system-level specifications, block diagrams, and interface control documents (ICDs).
• Identify and evaluate new technologies for platform evolution and roadmap development.

Skills

Spacecraft knowledge

Systems engineering

Leadership

Space standards

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Aerospace or Systems Eng

Tools

Cameo

SysML

Job description

About the Company

Established in 2017, Infinite Orbits is a NewSpace company, based in Toulouse, pushing the boundaries of in-orbit services with cutting-edge spacecraft driven by its own Rendez-Vous solution, an advanced Autonomous Vision-Based Navigation Solution. IO has two generations of missions

• "Orbit Guard" provides Inspection and Space Situational Awareness services in GEO. Our first, OG-1 was launched on 1 May 2023, the second is launching in 2025 and the third third launching in 2026.

• "Endurance" is a docking service capable of extending the life of GEO telecom satellites, by taking over AOCS takeover for 5 years.

About the Role

To complete our dynamic and international team, we are looking for a Spacecraft Platform Architect. He/She is responsible for defining and leading the architecture of the spacecraft platform (bus), ensuring it meets mission requirements across performance, cost, schedule, and compliance dimensions. This role bridges mission needs with subsystem capabilities, ensuring an optimized, integrated, and scalable spacecraft platform that supports payloads and mission objectives.

Job Description

Architectural Design & Definition

• Define the end-to-end architecture of the spacecraft platform, including structures, power, thermal, propulsion, avionics, attitude control, and data handling.

• Lead system trade-offs, design synthesis, and architecture down-selection based on mission requirements, performance, and risk.

• Define platform interfaces with payloads, launchers, and ground systems.

Systems Engineering Leadership

• Develop and manage system-level specifications, block diagrams, and interface control documents (ICDs).

• Ensure platform architecture supports modularity, reuse, and scalability across multiple missions or product lines.

• Lead technical baseline definition and evolution through major milestones (SRR, PDR, CDR).

Technical Coordination

• Collaborate with subsystem leads to ensure proper integration and mutual compatibility of all platform elements.

• Interface with mission systems engineering to flow down mission needs into platform requirements and constraints.

• Support payload integration teams in optimizing payload-to-platform compatibility.

Analysis & Validation

• Oversee system-level performance assessments (mass, power, thermal, link budgets).

• Support verification and validation planning, including platform-level testing and simulation campaigns.

• Conduct design reviews, risk assessments, and support fault management strategy.

Technology & Innovation

• Identify and evaluate new technologies for platform evolution (e.g., electric propulsion, advanced avionics, advanced autonomy).

• Support roadmap development for future platform generations aligned with business and mission needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field.

• 7+ years of experience in spacecraft design, systems engineering, or platform development.

• Strong technical understanding of all major spacecraft subsystems.

• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary engineering efforts and manage architectural trade-offs.

• Familiarity with space standards (e.g., ECSS, NASA, MIL-STD, CCSDS).

Good to have:

• Experience with smallsats, GEO/LEO platforms, or bus product lines.

• Knowledge of model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools (e.g., Cameo, SysML).

• Experience interfacing with customers (commercial, government, institutional).

• Familiarity with mission analysis tools and system modeling frameworks.

• Experience with agile systems engineering and concurrent design approaches.

What we offer

• The opportunity to be part of an international team transforming the space industry.

• A creative and innovative work environment where ideas turn into reality.

• Competitive salary and benefits.