Lead Space Systems Engineer - Autonomy & Flight Units

EraDrive; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

EraDrive is seeking an experienced systems engineering leader to own end-to-end development for Era-Node flight units. You will define architecture, interfaces, and verification plans while coordinating across GNC, software, AI/ML, mechatronics, hardware, and test teams.

You will act as the primary technical interface to vendors, host spacecraft, and government sponsors, driving technical reviews and risk management across mechanical, thermal, electrical, data, and software domains.

Qualifications

• Experience leading end-to-end development for satellite buses or flight hardware.
• Multidisciplinary understanding of mechanical, thermal, electrical, data, timing, software, autonomy, and operations interfaces.
• Experience with system trades, interface control, requirements and verification management, risk management, and formal technical reviews.
• Experience managing the technical baseline for multiple flight units or a small production run.
• Experience planning and executing functional and environmental test campaigns, including anomaly investigation and verification closure.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, qualification, integration, and operational readiness of Era-Node flight units.
• Translate mission objectives into system architecture, requirements, and acceptance criteria.
• Define and control interfaces across mechanical, thermal, power, data, timing, software, autonomy, and operations domains.
• Coordinate GNC, software, AI/ML, mechatronics, hardware, and test teams; lead reviews and decisions.
• Serve as technical interface to suppliers, bus providers, sponsor, and customers; lead technical meetings and tracking.
• Develop and execute assembly, integration, and V&V strategy for engineering and flight units.
• Plan environmental qualification and acceptance campaigns.
• Own system-level risk management for multiple flight units.
• Lead integration with the host spacecraft and ground segment; plan flight readiness activities.
• Support launch, commissioning, and operations by reviewing telemetry and anomalies.

Skills

Leadership

Multidisciplinary coordination

Technical communication

System-level thinking

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace/ systems/ electrical/ mechanical engineering or related field

Tools

Model-based systems engineering tools

Interface control and requirements management

Job description

EraDrive is seeking an experienced systems engineering leader to own end-to-end development for Era-Node flight units. You will define architecture, interfaces, and verification plans while coordinating across GNC, software, AI/ML, mechatronics, hardware, and test teams.

You will act as the primary technical interface to vendors, host spacecraft, and government sponsors, driving technical reviews and risk management across mechanical, thermal, electrical, data, and software domains.