Principal Communication Systems Engineer I

CesiumAstro; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 148,500 - 199,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company stock options

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plans

Job summary

CesiumAstro is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer I to develop advanced phased arrays for satellites and aerospace systems. This role requires a strong background in system engineering, particularly in space-based communication.

The ideal candidate will work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams to drive program success while ensuring robust communication with external customers. A bachelor's degree and 9 years of relevant experience are essential.

The position offers an annual salary of $148,500 - $199,000 along with company stock options and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 9 years of experience with emphasis on space-based communication payloads.
• Experience working with product/component developers and vendors.
• Proficiency with requirements management tools.
• Strong background in system engineering.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate customer and operational needs to define requirements.
• Collaborate with the program management team for project scheduling.
• Act as liaison between program management, engineering, and manufacturing.
• Perform risk analysis and develop mitigation strategies.

Skills

System engineering

Technical communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Experience with RF systems

Ability to work under pressure

Experience in space technology

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related field

Tools

DOORS

Jama

Job description

To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out‑of‑the‑box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross‑functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands‑on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward‑thinking individuals to join our team.

We are looking to add a Principal Systems Engineer I to our team. If you enjoy working in a startup environment and are passionate about developing leading‑edge phased arrays for satellites, spacecraft, and aerospace systems, we would like to hear from you.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in system engineering, experience in space technology, and the ability to be the technical point of contact for our communication programs. In this position, you will help develop space architecture concepts, sub‑system design, payload design, requirements development, analysis and decomposition, high‑level software and hardware system architecture design, concept of operations (CONOPS) development, and risk assessment. You will coordinate activities across multi‑discipline engineering teams, raise issues at the program level, and help drive complex programs to success.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

• Evaluate customer and operational needs to define requirements, integrate technical parameters, and assure compatibility of all physical, functional, and program interfaces.
• Collaborate with the program management team to support project scheduling and coordination.
• Partner with program management to be the primary outward‑facing team with external customers for technical baseline discussions.
• Act as the liaison between program management, engineering, and manufacturing ensuring effective and organized communications.
• Participate in the development of system engineering processes for requirements management, flow down, and traceability.
• Perform risk analysis and develop mitigation strategies.
• Identify and resolve issues that may impede the progress of engineering teams.
• Foster a culture of efficiency and continuous improvement within our programs.

Job Requirements And Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field.
• A minimum of 9 years of experience with emphasis on space‑based communication payloads.
• Practical experience with antenna and RF systems.
• Experience working with product/component developers and vendors who provide critical functionality to the overall system.
• Excellent written and verbal technical communication skills.
• Proficiency with a requirements management tool such as DOORS or Jama.
• Ability to define work direction, track milestones, and demonstrate progress on large open‑ended projects.
• Sense of urgency, with the ability to work well under pressure.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and analytical abilities, with the capability to identify, assess, and resolve complex technical challenges and design issues.
• The ability to work well with multifunctional teams.

$148,500 - $199,000 a year

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills. Full‑time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.

CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.