Director of System Engineering

Auxo Talent; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Auxo Frontier in Houston is seeking a Director of Space Systems Engineering to own the architectural integrity and technical execution of next‑generation space systems, satellite platforms, and orbital infrastructure.

You will anchor a multidisciplinary organization and steer teams through massive scaling milestones, while collaborating with launch providers and commercial customers to ensure mission success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in a related engineering field.
• Proven leadership in a space technology or aerospace company.
• Experience directing complex space systems from concept to launch.
• Hands-on experience building and scaling multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Fluency in spacecraft architecture and subsystem interdependencies.
• Experience with hardware qualification and environmental testing.
• Ability to align roadmaps with commercial milestones and growth strategy.
• Familiarity with aerospace compliance standards and flight safety frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and technical leadership across all engineering disciplines.
• Establish baselines and system-level architectures for complex space platforms.
• Operationalize engineering workflows with strict verification, validation, and qualification processes.
• Mentor and scale a world-class engineering organization.
• Collaborate with launch providers, strategic partners, and customers to secure mission success.

Skills

Leadership

Space systems architecture

Systems integration

Strategic planning

Technical mentorship

Cross-functional collaboration

Compliance & safety

Education

Bachelors or Masters in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering

Job description

Confidential Search ( NDA required during process )

This is an exclusively retained search managed with absolute confidentiality. Qualified candidates ready to steer the engineering architecture for the next chapter of commercial spaceflight are invited to initiate a private dialogue to arrange a confidential briefing.

The Position Overview

While engineering execution defines daily progress, true market leadership requires a leader who can synthesize complex aerospace vision into flight operational reality. A hyper growth space technology pioneer in Houston has retained Auxo Frontier to secure a Director of Space Systems Engineering. This is a high visibility leadership appointment. The successful candidate will own the architectural integrity and technical execution of next generation space systems, satellite platforms, and orbital infrastructure. You will serve as the organizational anchor steering multidisciplinary engineering teams through massive scaling milestones. This position offers a definitive platform to shape the future of commercial space exploration within the nation’s fastest growing space tech hub.

Core Responsibilities

You will provide strategic and technical leadership across all engineering disciplines, including structures, propulsion, avionics, flight software, and systems integration. Your mandate involves establishing technical baselines and system level architectures for complex space platforms while ensuring strict compliance with mission performance requirements. You will operationalize engineering workflows, implementing rigorous verification, validation, and qualification processes without sacrificing company velocity. As a key leader, you will mentor and scale a world class engineering organization, cultivating a culture of engineering excellence, rapid iteration, and absolute accountability. Additionally, you will collaborate with launch providers, strategic partners, and commercial customers to secure mission success.

Detailed Experience Profile

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a highly related technical field is required.
• Proven leadership experience within a space technology or aerospace company, with a track record of running engineering teams or distinct hardware segments.
• A definitive background directing complex space systems, satellite constellations, or orbital hardware from initial conceptual design through successful launch and flight operations.
• Hands on experience building, mentoring, and scaling multidisciplinary engineering teams in a fast paced environment.
• Deep technical fluency in spacecraft architecture, vehicle subsystem interdependencies, and the engineering trade offs between mass, power, thermal, and telemetry constraints.
• Extensive background overseeing hardware qualification, including environmental testing, vibration profiling, thermal vacuum testing, or hardware in the loop simulations.
• Strong capability to align engineering roadmaps directly with commercial milestones, launch manifests, and company growth strategy.
• Demonstrated capability navigating aerospace compliance standards, flight safety protocols, and technical verification frameworks.