Chief Engineer, Space

DRS Global; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) retirement plan

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Paid vacation and leave

Job summary

SES Space & Defense in Reston, VA, part of SES S.A., seeks a Chief, Space Systems Architecture to lead the technical conceptualization and evaluation of spacecraft and hosted payload solutions. You will coordinate a matrixed team spanning spacecraft, payloads, systems engineering, mission assurance, and external partners to meet mission objectives while balancing performance, cost, and schedule.

You will help shape next-generation hosted payload, sensing, and communications architectures for

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience designing, developing, integrating, or delivering spacecraft and payloads.
• Experience as Chief Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, IPT Lead, or Technical Director.
• Strong background in spacecraft architecture and hosted payloads.
• Experience integrating subsystems including communications payloads and RF systems.
• Extensive knowledge of systems engineering processes (requirements, architecture, interfaces, verification, risk management).
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams in a matrixed environment.
• Experience across the full system lifecycle from concept to on-orbit operations.
• Strong communication with government customers, leadership, suppliers.
• Experience with national security, defense, civil government, or commercial space programs.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical authority for exploration and evaluation of spacecraft and hosted payload solutions.
• Lead technical proposals and evaluations to meet mission performance objectives.
• Collaborate with a matrixed engineering organization spanning systems engineering, spacecraft engineering, payload engineering, mission assurance, specialty engineering, suppliers, and external mission partners.
• Define overall spacecraft and payload architectures, system interfaces, integration strategies, and technical baselines.
• Support program milestones including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, launch readiness, and early on-orbit operations.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical, integration, schedule, and mission risks throughout the program lifecycle.
• Partner with government customers, mission partners, and suppliers to translate requirements into executable technical solutions.
• Collaborate with engineering and mission operations to ensure successful end-to-end system integration.
• Support strategic growth by shaping technical solutions for future hosted payload, communications, sensing, and space mission opportunities.

Skills

Spacecraft architecture

Payload systems

Systems engineering

Technical leadership

Requirements development

Risk management

Matrixed organization leadership

Program lifecycle

Government/customer communication

National security/space programs

Education

Bachelor's in Aerospace/Systems Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Who We Are:

At SES Space & Defense, we deliver secure, resilient connectivity and integrated space solutions for customers operating in the world's most demanding environments. As part of SES S.A., a global leader in satellite-enabled communications, we combine capabilities across all orbits with extensive global ground infrastructure, managed networks, hosted payload solutions, and mission integration services to support communications, sensing, data transport, and operational resilience worldwide.

Our vertically integrated space and ground capabilities bring together satellite capacity, terrestrial infrastructure, advanced network technologies, and deployed user terminals to support mission-critical government operations around the world. We are a trusted partner to the U.S. Federal Government and national security community, allied governments, NATO, NASA, and other civilian agencies, delivering reliable, high-performance solutions when mission success is critical.

At SES Space & Defense, our people are our competitive advantage. You'll work alongside a mission-driven team committed to integrity, innovation, accountability, and delivering real-world impact for customers whose missions matter most.

What You'll Do

As the Chief, Space Systems Architecture, you will serve as a technical authority responsible for exploring new payloads and architectures, conceptualizing new constellations and systems, and evaluating spacecraft and hosted payload solutions across SES Space & Defense programs. You will lead the technical conceptualization and evaluation of complex, mission-critical space systems while coordinating with a matrixed engineering organization spanning spacecraft, payloads, systems engineering, mission assurance, and external partners. Working closely with Strategic Initiatives General Managers, Chief Engineers, customers, suppliers, and government stakeholders, you will conceive and develop technical solutions that meet mission objectives while balancing performance, cost, schedule, and risk. This role plays a central part in expanding SES Space & Defense's space capabilities, helping shape next-generation hosted payload, sensing, communications, and mission-enabled space architectures supporting national security customers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a technical authority for the exploration, conceptualization, and evaluation of spacecraft, hosted payload, and emerging space system solutions.
• Lead technical proposals and evaluations of space system programs, payloads, and concepts to meet mission performance objectives.
• Collaborate with a matrixed engineering organization spanning systems engineering, spacecraft engineering, payload engineering, mission assurance, specialty engineering, suppliers, and external mission partners.
• Define overall spacecraft and payload architectures, system interfaces, integration strategies, and technical baselines.
• Support program-level review milestones including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, launch readiness, and early on-orbit operations.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical, integration, schedule, and mission risks throughout the program lifecycle.
• Partner directly with government customers, mission partners, and suppliers to translate mission requirements into executable technical solutions.
• Collaborate with engineering and mission operations organizations to ensure successful integration of the full end-to-end system concept.
• Support strategic growth initiatives by shaping technical solutions for future hosted payload, communications, sensing, and emerging space mission opportunities.

Who You Are

You are a systems-level engineering leader with a demonstrated ability to conceptualize and architect complex spacecraft, payload, and mission solutions. You understand how mission requirements translate into system architectures and how multidisciplinary engineering disciplines come together to turn emerging concepts into technically credible, executable solutions. You are comfortable operating in the early stages of complex programs, evaluating technical approaches, conducting trades, assessing feasibility and risk, and shaping architectures that balance mission performance with cost, schedule, and execution considerations. You naturally build credibility with customers, engineering teams, executive leadership, and industry partners by combining deep technical expertise with strong systems thinking and sound engineering judgment. Whether exploring next-generation payload architectures, evaluating new mission concepts, or helping mature an emerging capability toward program execution, you remain focused on developing practical space system solutions that address customer mission needs.

Key Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience designing, developing, integrating, or delivering spacecraft, payloads, satellite systems, or other complex aerospace systems.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a Chief Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, IPT Lead, Technical Director, or equivalent technical leadership role.
• Strong background in spacecraft architecture, payload systems, hosted payloads, satellite subsystems, or mission systems engineering.
• Experience integrating spacecraft subsystems including communications payloads, RF systems, onboard processors, and other mission-specific payloads.
• Extensive knowledge of systems engineering processes including requirements development, architecture definition, interface management, verification and validation, and technical risk management.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering organizations within a matrixed environment while influencing without direct authority.
• Experience supporting the complete system lifecycle including concept development, design, integration, environmental test, launch preparation, commissioning, and on-orbit operations.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with government customers, executive leadership, engineering teams, suppliers, and mission partners.
• Experience supporting national security, defense, civil government, or commercial space programs.

SES Space & Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law

The final base salary offered will be determined based on factors such as the position's location, the candidate's relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.

Where applicable, this position may also be eligible for an annual bonus. Employees are eligible to participate in SES Space & Defense's benefits programs, which include paid vacation, sick and personal leave; medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; a 401(k)-retirement plan; and others.