Satellite Autonomy Engineer

Darwin Recruitment; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Darwin Recruitment is seeking a Lead/Senior Autonomy Engineer in Los Angeles, California, to oversee fault management systems for sophisticated spacecraft. You will lead a team through defining satellite operations and validating fault responses.

The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience in satellite design, particularly with FDIR and autonomy software. Familiarity with on-orbit mission operations and US person status is required for clearance eligibility.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of satellite design and/or operations experience.
• Hands-on experience with spacecraft FDIR design.
• Experience with spacecraft autonomy software or configuration.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Autonomy Responsible Engineering Authority.
• Define satellite states and lead requirements decomposition.
• Support operations for on-orbit missions.

Skills

Satellite design experience

Fault detection and isolation (FDIR)

Spacecraft autonomy software

Multidisciplinary team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Job description

Lead / Senior Autonomy Engineer

Satellites fail silently, and the engineers who stop that from happening are among the most critical people in the industry. Our client builds some of the most sophisticated spacecraft in operation and they need a senior autonomy engineer who can architect the fault management systems that keep them alive on orbit. If you have deep experience in onboard FDIR, spacecraft autonomy, and the ability to lead across a full program lifecycle, this role was designed for you.

The role

You will serve as the Autonomy Responsible Engineering Authority on programmes and proposals, owning fault detection, isolation and response architecture end to end. Day to day, that means defining satellite states, modes and transitions; designing and validating onboard fault responses; leading requirements decomposition; and supporting on console operations for on orbit missions. You will work across disciplines, often guiding a multidisciplinary team, and will have real influence on CONOPS and architecture trade studies from early programme phases through to validation and test.

What you’ll need

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field with 5 or more years of satellite design and/or operations experience
• Hands on experience designing, developing and verifying spacecraft FDIR
• Experience developing and verifying spacecraft autonomy software or configuration
• Familiarity with one or more satellite subsystems and/or system level analysis
• Familiarity with satellite testing and/or on orbit mission operations
• US Person status required (US Citizenship required for clearance eligibility)

What sets candidates apart

• 9 or more years of satellite design and/or operations experience, particularly in a mission or systems engineering capacity
• Experience designing mission CONOPS and deriving fault and autonomy requirements directly from them
• Technical leadership experience including setting programme direction, building processes and guiding engineering standards
• Active TS/SCI clearance
• Background in GNC, systems engineering or ex mission operations is strongly valued