(Fastwater Staffing) Staff Systems Engineer, SAR Missions (Fully Remote)

Hikinex; Sacramento (CA); Remote; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Hikinex seeks a Staff Systems Engineer to lead end-to-end SAR mission engineering for Earth-observation satellites. You will oversee concept of operations, budgets, and high-level specs, guiding design across beam modes, validation, and mission risk management.

The role requires deep radar/SAR experience, a strong background in space systems, and proven leadership. This position offers remote work from the United States with potential relocation later.

Qualifications

• 15+ years with radar, SAR or similar active imaging systems
• 10+ years in a space systems engineering environment
• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Math or Physics
• US citizen or permanent resident (export-control and Controlled Goods requirements)
• Strong communicator across technical, sales, executive and customer audiences

Responsibilities

• Provide end-to-end oversight of SAR engineering across the full lifecycle of a SAR space mission
• Own the mission concept of operations and high-level mission specs, including spacecraft budgets that drive the SAR payload
• Lead technical solutions for current and future SAR missions: beam mode design, mission concept design, SAR image quality modelling
• Lead mission-level risk management, integration, verification and validation
• Run design trade-offs across spacecraft systems, coverage and access, SAR payload, SAR processor and end-user applications
• Own the SAR side of commissioning, calibration and early operations
• Advise senior management and new business; mentor the team

Skills

Strong communicator

Team leadership

Radar/SAR experience

Space systems engineering

Education

Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Math or Physics

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Our client, a global leader in Earth-observation satellites, is hiring a Staff Systems Engineer for its Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) missions. Fully remote from the US is fine for the first couple of years; relocation to the Vancouver, BC area later is optional, not required.

What you will do

• End-to-end oversight of SAR engineering across the full lifecycle of a SAR space mission
• Own the mission concept of operations and high-level mission specs, including spacecraft budgets that drive the SAR payload
• Lead technical solutions for current and future SAR missions: beam mode design, mission concept design, SAR image quality modelling
• Lead mission-level risk management, integration, verification and validation
• Run design trade-offs across spacecraft systems, coverage and access, SAR payload, SAR processor and end-user applications
• Own the SAR side of commissioning, calibration and early operations
• Advise senior management and new business; mentor the team

What you need

• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Math or Physics (or equivalent experience)
• 15+ years with radar, SAR or similar active imaging systems (hardware, processors and/or data products)
• 10+ years in a space systems engineering or similar complex systems environment
• SAR remote sensing experience: system design, operation, applications/exploitation and/or calibration
• Strong communicator across technical, sales, executive and customer audiences
• US citizen or permanent resident (export-control and Controlled Goods requirements)

Nice to have

Nice to have : MATLAB, Python; satellite SAR payload design and operations; space mission design (coverage and access, orbital dynamics); spacecraft design (thermal, power, pointing); geospatial data.