Senior Engineer, Payload Systems, meoSphere

SES Satellites; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

SES Satellites in Long Beach, CA is seeking a highly capable Payload Systems Engineer to join its engineering team. This role involves designing and analyzing satellite systems, focusing on payload design and performance optimization.

The ideal candidate will have a strong engineering background, hands-on simulation experience, and proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or C++. A proactive mindset and excellent collaboration skills are essential for success in this challenging position.

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant engineering field.
• Strong understanding of satellite subsystems.
• Hands-on experience in system modeling and simulation.
• Proficiency in programming for analysis and tool development.

Responsibilities

• Design payload for satellite systems and key subsystems.
• Analyze mission requirements and translate them into specifications.
• Conduct trade-off analyses for optimal system configurations.
• Optimize performance by maximizing payload efficiency.

Skills

Analytical skills

Hands-on simulation experience

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Telecommunications, or Physics

Tools

Python

MATLAB

C++

Job description

meoSphere is SES’s next-generation Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite constellation, designed to deliver secure connectivity services to government agencies, enterprises, and commercial customers. It will also provide high-speed broadband internet to eliminate global connectivity dead zones.

Requisition Number: 19749

Contract Type: Permanent

Location(s): Betzdorf, LU; Long Beach, CA, US

Programme Description

meoSphere is SES’s next-generation Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite constellation, designed to deliver secure connectivity services to government agencies, enterprises, and commercial customers. It will also provide high-speed broadband internet to eliminate global connectivity dead zones.

To accelerate development timelines, reduce costs, and ensure quality, SES is internalizing a critical segment of the satellite supply chain: the final integration of partner satellite platforms with SES’s software‑defined payloads, all within a cutting‑edge manufacturing and test facility.

Role Description Summary

We are looking for a highly capable Payload Systems Engineer to join our engineering team. In this role, you will contribute to the design, analysis, integration, and validation of satellite systems for next‑generation missions. You will work across spacecraft platform engineering, payload design, system performance analysis, and mission operations to ensure that our satellites deliver industry‑leading performance and reliability.

This position is ideal for an engineer with strong analytical skills, hands‑on simulation experience, and the ability to bridge payload, bus, and full system‑level design.

Key Responsibilities

• Design payload for satellite systems, including key subsystems such as communication, networking, power, and navigation.
• Support design trades involving payload capacity, system mass, power optimization, spectral resources, and overall mission‑level performance.
• Analyse mission requirements and translate them into technical specifications, system‑level requirements, and engineering constraints.
• Conduct trade‑off analyses to define optimal system configurations aligned with mission and service objectives.
• Optimise the performance of satellite systems by maximising payload efficiency, minimising satellite mass and volume, and improving power use and duty cycles.
• Build and execute simulations and models to evaluate spacecraft and payload behaviour under various operating and environmental conditions.
• Use analytical tools and scripting (Python, MATLAB, C++) to assess performance, run Monte‑Carlo analyses, and validate design assumptions.
• Develop test plans, procedures, and verification strategies to validate system and payload performance.

Soft Skills

• Excellent communication and documentation abilities.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration mindset, working across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Ability to drive tasks independently with attention to detail and technical rigor.

Mindset & values

• Owner’s mindset: ships, learns, iterates; knows when to prototype and when to harden
• Pragmatic rigor: uses reviews and verification to go faster, not slower
• Talent magnet: attracts and develops exceptional engineers; low‑ego collaborator across disciplines

Required Qualifications

• Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Telecommunications, Physics, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of satellite subsystems, particularly payloads, RF systems, and spacecraft platforms.
• Hands‑on experience in system modelling, simulation, and performance assessment.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, and/or C++ for simulation, analysis, and tool development.
• Experience with requirements development, ConOps definition, and system‑level design processes.
• Solid analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex system interactions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a satellite operator or satellite manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of model‑based system engineering (MBSE) tools or standards.
• Familiarity with digital payloads, phased arrays, and advanced communication system architectures.
• Experience with environmental testing, satellite integration, or in‑orbit payload commissioning.

Other Key Requirements

• Eligibility for ESA/EU/NATO/National SECRET personnel security clearances. Candidates must be prepared to undergo a security clearance procedure, as this position may require holding such clearance, is considered an asset.
• Willing to work at least 60% onsite from office.
• Able to travel nationally & internationally.

SES and its Affiliated Companies are committed to providing fair and equal employment opportunities to all. We are an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law.