Lead Payload Systems Engineer for Stratospheric Platforms

Sceye, Inc.; San Francisco, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Lunch program

Wellness gym access

Dog-friendly office

Health insurance

401(k) with match

Collaborative culture

Job summary

The Lead Payload Systems Engineer at Sceye will serve as the technical authority and systems/integration lead for all payloads onboard our High-Altitude Platform. You will own end-to-end payload lifecycle from requirements to flight readiness, guiding interdisciplinary teams and vendors to deliver reliable sensor and communications payloads.

This role requires hands-on engineering, strong systems thinking, and proven leadership across multi-sensor payload projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 10+ years in payload systems design, integration, and operations.
• Proven track record managing complex payloads with multiple interfaces.
• Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and verification.
• Experience with CAD tools and system modeling tools.
• Leadership of multi-disciplinary aerospace or satellite projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead payload system ownership and integration of EO, telecom, hyperspectral, LiDAR, radar or custom sensors.
• Define payload-to-platform interface requirements (mechanical, electrical, data, thermal, RF).
• Develop IV&V plans for lab, ground, and flight environments.
• Coordinate payload testing and drive root-cause analysis during campaigns.
• Collaborate with Systems Engineering, Avionics, Flight Ops, and Mission Planning teams.

Skills

Payload systems design

Systems engineering

Interface management

Leadership

Requirements definition

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

SolidWorks

CATIA

DOORS

Cameo

SysML

Job description

The Lead Payload Systems Engineer at Sceye will serve as the technical authority and systems/integration lead for all payloads onboard our High-Altitude Platform. You will own end-to-end payload lifecycle from requirements to flight readiness, guiding interdisciplinary teams and vendors to deliver reliable sensor and communications payloads.

This role requires hands-on engineering, strong systems thinking, and proven leadership across multi-sensor payload projects.