Director, Payload Electronics, Space Communications Systems

E-Space

Santa Clara (CA)

On-site

USD 140,000 - 210,000

Full time

5 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Health and wellness care options

Optional legal services (US only)

Job summary

E-Space, based in Saratoga, CA (preferred) or Arlington, TX, is hiring a project manager for the Antenna Systems Team. You will drive the antenna system development program end to end—from design through qualification and delivery—and coordinate RF, mechanical, and manufacturing workstreams.

The role requires 8+ years in aerospace hardware programs, hands-on RF and mechanical familiarity, and proven gated lifecycle management.

Qualifications

8+ years managing hardware development programs in aerospace or a comparable regulated industry.

Responsibilities

Own the integrated program schedule across RF, mechanical, and manufacturing workstreams.
Plan and run the gated lifecycle: SRR, PDR, CDR, qualification and acceptance reviews, with real entry/exit criteria, action tracking, and closure.
Maintain the risk register and drive mitigations to closure.
Coordinate suppliers, contract manufacturers, and machine shops: quotes, lead times, quality escapes, and schedule recovery when a part slips.
Interface with systems engineering on requirements flow-down, verification planning, and interface control, so the program plan and the technical baseline stay in step.
Keep design, build, and test cycles short: unblock the team, sequence the work, and make sure prototypes and test articles show up when the engineers need them.
You will work daily with RF, mechanical, and manufacturing engineers.

Skills

Program management

RF systems

Mechanical development

Gated lifecycle

Systems engineering

Fast prototyping

Clear communication

Job description

Ready to make connectivity from space universally accessible, secure and actionable? Then you’ve come to the right place!

E-Space is bridging Earth and space to enable hyper-scaled deployments of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and services. We are building a highly-advanced low Earth orbit (LEO) space system that will fundamentally change the design, economics, manufacturing and service deliveryassociated with traditional satellite and terrestrial IoT systems.

We're intentional, we're unapologetically curious and we're 100% committed to innovate space-based communications and deliver actionable intelligence that will expand global economies, protect space and our planet and enhance our overall quality of life.

The Antenna Systems Team owns its hardware end to end: RF electronics, structures, mechanisms, and their integration into the spacecraft. The work is interdisciplinary by nature, and a decision on one side routinely moves assumptions on the other. We are looking for a project manager who can operate comfortably in that environment.

This position will be based out of our Saratoga, CA (preferred) or Arlington, TX location.

What you will do:

You will drive the antenna system development program end to end, from early design through qualification and delivery. Concretely, that means:

Own the integrated program schedule across RF, mechanical, and manufacturing workstreams, and keep it honest against reality on the floor
Plan and run the gated lifecycle: SRR, PDR, CDR, qualification and acceptance reviews, with real entry/exit criteria, action tracking, and closure
Maintain the risk register and drive mitigations to closure rather than letting them age
Coordinate suppliers, contract manufacturers, and machine shops: quotes, lead times, quality escapes, and schedule recovery when a part slips
Interface with systems engineering on requirements flow-down, verification planning, and interface control, so the program plan and the technical baseline stay in step
Keep design, build, and test cycles short: unblock the team, sequence the work, and make sure prototypes and test articles show up when the engineers need them

You will work daily with RF, mechanical, and manufacturing engineers. You need enough technical depth to challenge an estimate, spot a risk before it appears in a status report, and make sensible trades without waiting for an engineer to translate. You do not need to design the hardware, but you need to understand what the designers are telling you and notice when two disciplines are quietly assuming different things.

What you bring to this role:

8+ years managing hardware development programs in aerospace or a comparable regulated industry
Hands-on familiarity with RF and electronic systems: PCB development cycles, board bring-up, RF test campaigns and what makes them slip
Hands-on familiarity with mechanical development: machining, tolerancing, prototyping workflows, and the practical lead times behind each
A track record running gated program lifecycles with formal reviews, and the judgment to know when a gate is genuinely passed versus passed on paper
Working knowledge of systems engineering practice: requirements flow-down, verification and validation planning, interface management
Comfort in a fast prototyping environment where the plan changes weekly and the project manager is the one keeping it coherent
Clear, direct communication up and down: engineers get context, leadership gets truth

Nice to have:

Spacecraft or satellite payload experience, especially through a qualification campaign
Familiarity with phased arrays or antenna hardware specifically
Experience managing contract manufacturers and international suppliers
Exposure to constellation-scale production thinking (design for rate, not just design for one)

Additional Requirements

This is a fast-paced, high-impact environment - flexibility to occasionally work extended hours or weekends during critical periods is expected.

$140,000 - $210,000 a year

This is a full time, exempt position, based out of our Saratoga, CA or Arlington, TX office. The target base pay for this position is $140,000 - $210,000 annually. The total compensation packaged will be determined by various factors such as your relevant job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

E-Space is not currently able to provide employment sponsorship for candidates who do not hold work authorization for the location of this role.

Why E-Space is right for you:

As a member of our team, you will play a crucial role in driving our success. Our team members have a strong sense of dedication and responsibility; this includes a strong commitment to our mission to create an entirely new suite of global capabilities to improve lives, business efficiencies and build a smarter planet. This means that there will be times when extra hours, including nights and weekends, may be needed to meet critical deadlines and mission goals. In return, we offer a dynamic work environment with opportunities for professional growth and development and the chance to make a meaningful impact in a high-growth industry.

We want you to make the most of your journey at E-Space. That's why we support and invest in the physical, emotional and financial well-being of our team members and their families.

Some of what you can expect when working at E-Space: