Expert Solution Architect Engineer (Space Programs)

Mercury Systems; Hudson (NH); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Mercury Systems seeks an Expert Systems/Solution Architect Engineer to design scalable, open architectures for spaceborne radiation-hardened EO/IR and RF sensing systems. You will define data pathways, lead customer engagements, and architect AI-enabled on-orbit processing while addressing stringent mission constraints.

You will drive Advanced Concepts Group Space initiatives, interact with end customers, and contribute to white papers, proposals, and technical presentations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 12+ years of systems engineering or architecture experience in spaceborne, radiation-hardened, RF, sensing, payload-processing, data-recording, or embedded-computing systems.
• Active U.S. Top Secret clearance; TS/SCI eligibility preferred. Clearances may be granted only to U.S. citizens.

Responsibilities

• Architect and evaluate open-standards-based EO/IR and RF payload-processing modules and subsystems.
• Define end-to-end data-path architectures, interfaces, requirements, and performance targets.
• Lead customer engagements and translate mission needs into hardware and software requirements.
• Design AI/ML-enabled on-orbit processing for target identification, data prioritization, feature extraction, sensor fusion, and selective data reduction.
• Address system-level constraints involving data rates, gain, noise, latency, throughput, synchronization, storage, power, thermal performance, radiation, and communications bandwidth.
• Assess technical risks, qualification requirements, costs, schedules, and long-term supportability.
• Mitigate Single Event Effects through component selection, circuit design, fault-tolerant architectures, and software controls.
• Lead trade studies involving heterogeneous processing, mixed-signal integration, and chip-scale packaging
• Monitor advances in radiation-hardened sensors, RF components, converters, processors, SSDRs, AI/ML, and data-reduction technologies.
• Advance EO/IR, RF, ADC, and DAC architectures for GEOINT, SIGINT, COMINT, ELINT, and electronic warfare systems across L, S, C, X, Ku, Ka, and W bands.
• Support white papers, proposals, RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, customer responses, and technical presentations.
• Provide technical support for space, naval, munitions, intelligence, and defense programs.
• Support space-related mergers and acquisitions by evaluating technical and strategic risks and opportunities.
• Establish partnerships with semiconductor manufacturers, research institutions, government agencies, universities, laboratories, and defense contractors.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Customer-facing

Technical leadership

Presentation

Technical writing

Proposal writing

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science / Electrical Engineering / Computer Engineering

Job description

As an Expert Systems/Solution Architect Engineer at Mercury, you will play a pivotal role in designing scalable, open architectures for spaceborne and strategic radiation-hardened EO/IR and RF sensing systems. You will define how payload data is acquired, conditioned, digitized, processed, fused, stored, recorded, and transmitted in constrained mission environments. In this highly visible role, you will lead crossfunctional teams, serve as the primary technical liaison with customers, and architect nextgeneration sensing solutions that shape Mercury's future product strategy. The position requires a strong investigative mindset, a polished customerfirst approach, and the ability to engage seamlessly in multifaceted customer environments. Success also depends on being an adaptable presenter, a thoughtful technical leader capable of managing strategic pursuits, and a skilled contributor to white papers, proposals, and formal customer requests. Your expertise will help drive innovation across the business and support sustained enterprise growth.

In addition to core architectural responsibilities, this role will lead the Advanced Concepts Group Space Strategic Initiative, focusing on market evaluations and alignment with Mercury's strategic operating plans. This includes assessing operational footprints, breaking down organizational silos, building collaborative partnerships, and standardizing offerings across business units. The role prioritizes scalability, adherence to open standards, expanded stakeholder engagement, and direct interaction with end customers to foster innovation and longterm growth.

Active Top Secret Clearance is Required

Job Responsibilities

• Architect and evaluate open-standards-based EO/IR and RF payload-processing modules and subsystems.
• Define end-to-end data-path architectures, interfaces, requirements, and performance targets.
• Lead customer engagements and translate mission needs into hardware and software requirements.
• Design AI/ML-enabled on-orbit processing for target identification, data prioritization, feature extraction, sensor fusion, and selective data reduction.
• Address system-level constraints involving data rates, gain, noise, latency, throughput, synchronization, storage, power, thermal performance, radiation, and communications bandwidth.
• Assess technical risks, qualification requirements, costs, schedules, and long-term supportability.
• Mitigate Single Event Effects through component selection, circuit design, fault-tolerant architectures, and software controls.
• Lead trade studies involving heterogeneous processing, mixed-signal integration, and chip-scale packaging
• Monitor advances in radiation-hardened sensors, RF components, converters, processors, SSDRs, AI/ML, and data-reduction technologies.
• Advance EO/IR, RF, ADC, and DAC architectures for GEOINT, SIGINT, COMINT, ELINT, and electronic warfare systems across L, S, C, X, Ku, Ka, and W bands.
• Support white papers, proposals, RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, customer responses, and technical presentations.
• Provide technical support for space, naval, munitions, intelligence, and defense programs.
• Support space-related mergers and acquisitions by evaluating technical and strategic risks and opportunities.
• Establish partnerships with semiconductor manufacturers, research institutions, government agencies, universities, laboratories, and defense contractors.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• A minimum of at least 12 years of systems engineering or architecture experience in spaceborne, radiation-hardened, RF, sensing, payload-processing, data-recording, OR embedded-computing systems.
• Expertise in requirements development, systems engineering, verification, validation, qualification, and deployment.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and technically directing complex programs.
• Strong customer-facing, investigative, problem-solving, communication, presentation, and technical-writing skills.
• Experience preparing technical publications, white papers, bids, and proposals.
• Ability to align differentiated EO/IR and RF edge processing solutions with customer and mission requirements.
• Active U.S. Top Secret clearance; TS/SCI eligibility preferred. Clearances may be granted only to U.S. citizens.
• Travel: Ability to travel roughly 25% to customer and Mercury sites is required. Reasonable accommodations may be provided for individuals with disabilities.

Job Locations

This position is hybrid and can be located at one of the following Mercury Systems Locations:

• Andover, MA
• Hudson, NH
• Phoenix, AZ
• Torrance, CA

Why should you join Mercury Systems?

Mercury Systems is a technology company that makes the world a safer, more secure place. We push processing power to the tactical edge, making the latest commercial technologies profoundly more accessible for today's most challenging aerospace and defense missions. From silicon to system scale, Mercury enables customers to accelerate innovation and turn data into decision superiority. Headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, Mercury employs more than 2,300 people in 24 locations worldwide. To learn more, visit mrcy.com

Our Culture

We are committed to making Mercury a great place to work, no matter where our employees are located. We offer a casual and enjoyable atmosphere that allows employees to learn and grow. We help and care for one another and work as one to achieve results for us and for our customers. We value communication and transparency, and strive to foster two-way dialogue at all levels of the organization. We are committed to lifelong learning, offering comprehensive skills training and tuition reimbursement. Whether you're just starting out on your career journey or you are an experienced professional, it's important to us that you feel recognized and rewarded for your contributions.

Mercury Systems is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, creed, citizenship, disability, protected veteran or marital status.

As an equal opportunity employer, Mercury Systems is committed to a diverse workforce. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact the number below for assistance.

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