Mission Systems Engineer

Actalent; United States; Remote; USD 96,000 - 156,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Disability (short and long-term)

HSA

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

PTO / Vacation

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Mission Systems Engineer to design and optimize SAR missions for space-based or airborne platforms. You will translate user needs into robust technical solutions for SAR payloads, processors, and ground software, focusing on performance modeling, system-level trade studies, and calibration to ensure high-quality imaging.

The role supports international space-focused programs and offers fully remote work with quarterly travel to British Columbia.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of SAR theory and imaging performance.
• Experience linking user needs to technical SAR solutions.
• Proven ability to model SAR system performance end-to-end.
• Experience in SAR payloads, processors, and ground software.
• Ability to write clear technical specifications.

Responsibilities

• Translate user needs into system and mission requirements.
• Develop specifications for SAR payloads and processors.
• Model SAR system performance across payload, processor, and ground segments.
• Conduct trade studies for SAR theory, payload, processors, and software.
• Define calibration strategies to ensure image quality.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams for system integration.
• Support mission design and validation of SAR-enabled programs.
• Prepare technical reviews, docu­mentation, and presentations.

Skills

SAR theory

System-level modeling

Trade studies

Image quality analysis

Payloads & processors

Ground software integration

Calibration strategies

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Technical documentation

Space mission design

Job description

Job Title: Mission Systems Engineer

The Mission Systems Engineer designs and optimizes synthetic aperture radar (SAR) missions by translating user needs into robust technical solutions for payloads, processors, and ground software. This role focuses on performance modeling, system-level trade studies, and calibration to ensure high-quality imaging and mission success for space-based or airborne radar platforms. It offers the opportunity to contribute to advanced satellite and radar programs within an international space-focused environment.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with users and stakeholders to understand application needs and translate them into clear system and mission requirements.
• Develop detailed specifications for SAR payloads and processors, ensuring alignment with mission objectives and user applications.
• Perform performance modeling of SAR systems, including payload, processor, and ground segments, to predict and optimize system behavior.
• Conduct system-level trade studies between SAR theory, payload design, processor architecture, and ground software to achieve optimal performance and cost-effectiveness.
• Define and support calibration strategies for SAR systems to ensure accurate and consistent image quality.
• Analyze and improve SAR image quality by applying deep knowledge of SAR theory and system behavior.
• Work closely with multidisciplinary teams involved in applications, payload, processor, and space mission design to ensure system integration and mission readiness.
• Contribute to the design and validation of space missions that incorporate SAR payloads, including consideration of end-to-end system performance.
• Support technical reviews, documentation, and presentations related to mission concepts, system specifications, and performance analyses.

Essential Skills

• Mastery of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) theory, including principles of SAR imaging and system performance.
• Proven experience with SAR applications, processors, and payloads, with the ability to connect user needs to technical solutions.
• Hands-on experience with satellite-based SAR systems or airborne radar systems performing SAR functions.
• Strong background in space mission design, particularly missions that include SAR payloads.
• Demonstrated ability to perform performance modeling for SAR systems, including payload, processor, and ground software components.
• Experience conducting trade studies between theoretical models, hardware payloads, processors, and ground software implementations.
• Expertise in SAR calibration and image quality assessment.
• Ability to write clear, detailed technical specifications for payloads and processors.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a systems engineering mindset.
• Effective communication skills to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with multifunctional radar systems, including radar platforms where SAR is one of several modes.
• background in airborne radar systems that implement SAR capabilities.
• Familiarity with end-to-end space mission architectures involving radar payloads.
• Ability to bridge theoretical concepts with practical implementation in hardware and software.
• Comfort working in an international, space-focused environment supporting satellite and radar programs.

Work Environment

This role is fully remote, with quarterly travel to British Columbia, Canada for team collaboration, reviews, and on-site activities. You will work with international teams focused on satellite and radar missions, engaging in advanced SAR and space mission design projects. The position involves a modern, technology-driven environment with extensive collaboration across applications, payload, processor, and ground software teams.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Denver, CO.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $70.00 - $113.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your jobclassification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may besubject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefitsavailable for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully remote position.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 13, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.