Senior Systems Engineer

Spire Global, Inc.; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Spire Global, Inc. is looking for a Senior Systems Engineer in Glasgow. In this role, you will take technical ownership of complex space missions, manage requirements and risks, and act as the primary technical contact for global customers. You will benefit from a hybrid work model and be part of a company dedicated to operational excellence. A strong background in engineering and extensive experience in space systems is essential for this position.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a technical engineering discipline or as a systems engineer.
• Comprehensive understanding of space systems and remote operation.
• Experience working across engineering disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Take overall technical ownership of Spire Space/Ground Systems.
• Lead requirements management and technical risk management.
• Serve as the primary technical POC to customers and contractors.

Skills

Technical leadership

Communication skills

Requirements management

Risk management

Education

BSc in Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent

Tools

RF and optical payloads

Satellite platforms

Job description

Spire Global is a leading provider of space-based data, analytics, and services, helping organizations make better decisions with insights from our constellation of satellites. We are committed to operational excellence, compliance, and maintaining the highest standards of internal control.

As a Senior Systems Engineer, you will be responsible for the technical outcome of complex space missions. During mission contracting and requirements development, you may work with the sales engineering org to ensure mission requirements are valid and mission scope is adequately defined. Systems Engineers translate higher level requirements down to lower-level requirements, consulting and collaborating with discipline team‑leads and subject matter experts where necessary.

You will be the overall technical lead responsible for "building the right thing" and "building it right". This will include the management of system requirements, technical budgets, and sub‑system interfaces. Your responsibility extends to ensuring there is sufficient verification and testing of the system, and you will take ownership of the technical performance outcomes for the mission. You will be the mission's technical lead for both Spire‑internal and external (customer, contractor, etc) teams, working collaboratively with others to resolve technical discrepancies in requirements, specifications, or system performance.

You will also act as the technical point of contact for Spire's global customers during mission development phases and through on‑orbit validation of the space systems, working with Spire project and program managers to provide effective communication where required.

Your knowledge and experience working across multiple technical disciplines will help you coordinate Spire's technical efforts to ensure ultimate mission success.

Role Responsibilities

• Take overall technical ownership of Spire Space and/or Ground Systems from technical development through on‑orbit verification; ensure that we are "building the right thing" and "building it right".
• Lead requirements management for a given mission or program – including development, validation, verification, and change management.
• Lead technical risk management for a given mission or program – including identification, qualification, mitigation, and resolution.
• Develop top‑level requirements and then flow‑down to lower‑levels, consulting and collaborating with discipline team‑leads and subject matter experts where necessary.
• Serve as the primary Spire technical POC to customers and contractors – communicating and advocating on behalf of internal technical teams where necessary.
• Serve as the customer's technical representative to Spire‑internal teams – communicating and sometimes advocating for customer requirements, expectations, and experiences.
• Develop working knowledge of Spire's satellite platforms, operations systems, and payloads (both Spire and customer‑developed) – including customer APIs and software service interfaces.
• Proactively communicate to program/project managers where changes in scope, requirements, expected system performance, or development outcomes impact the mission.
• Develop, deliver, and maintain mission documentation required to support programs or missions, including both internal and external (customer‑ or contractor‑facing) documentation.
• Support the sales engineering team in the development of technical concepts and budgets, feasibility assessments, requirements, scope, and documentation needed during the sales cycle.

Basic Qualifications

• BSc in Engineering, Computer Science, equivalent STEM‑related subject, or equivalent work experience.
• 5+ years of experience working in a technical engineering discipline (Mechanical, Electrical, Software, Controls, RF Communications, etc.) or as a systems engineer for complex integrated systems.
• Comprehensive understanding of space systems, concepts of operations, and remote systems operation.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience as a space systems engineer working across engineering disciplines (Mechanical, Electrical, Software, Controls, Radio/Comms, etc.)
• Experience developing or integrating RF and optical payloads.
• Experience participating in architecture and design of digital systems including ground station networks, data distribution and data processing systems, and spacecraft data handling systems.
• Experience coordinating or leading diverse technical teams spanning multiple engineering disciplines and time zones.
• Strong interpersonal skills for building relationships with clients and effectively communicating with other members of cross‑functional teams.
• Strong comprehension skills to enable timely understanding of complex customer requirements and identification of thorough and sometimes unique solutions.
• Experience in satellite mission design, development, and testing with a clear understanding of major mission design trades and scope drivers (power / payload duty cycle, communications systems / data budgets, ground stations, launch and environmental loads, EMI/EMC, thermal management, etc.).

Benefits & Work Arrangement

Spire operates a hybrid work model, and this position will require you to work a minimum of three days per week in the office.

Access to US export‑controlled software and/or technology may be required for this role. If needed, Spire will arrange the necessary licenses – this is not something candidates need to have before applying.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Spire is Global and our success draws upon the diverse viewpoints, skills and experiences of our employees. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status.

To help maintain a safe and secure workplace for Spire employees, all candidates who receive a conditional offer will be required to complete a background check. This may include criminal history and employment verification.