Senior Payload Architect for Nuclear Space Missions

Antares; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Antares in Los Angeles develops mass-producible, safe microreactors for terrestrial, underwater, and space use. The role leads payload development from ideation to prototype, balancing physics, engineering and customer needs across mission concepts.

You will work with Mission Architect to integrate payloads, perform simulations, and drive trade‑offs while coordinating with DOW/DOE/IC programs to bring technologies to market.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s in an engineering discipline or physics.
• 10+ years of technical experience, 5+ years of leadership on a project or research team.
• Experience with DoD, DOE, and Intelligence Community.
• Knowledge of space operations, payload concepts, and sensing physics.

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of technical product development for Antares payloads.
• Regularly build simulation tools and models for payload concepts.
• Ideate new development programs for DOW, NASA, IC, and DOE funding sources.
• Perform market research on use cases for future Antares payload systems.
• Develop processes around licensing technologies from USG and National Labs.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure end-to-end mission success.
• Plan and drive reviews to align engineering and stakeholders.

Skills

Payload development

Systems engineering

Trade-off decisions

Customer engagement

Education

PhD or Master’s in engineering or physics

Job description

Antares in Los Angeles develops mass-producible, safe microreactors for terrestrial, underwater, and space use. The role leads payload development from ideation to prototype, balancing physics, engineering and customer needs across mission concepts.

You will work with Mission Architect to integrate payloads, perform simulations, and drive trade‑offs while coordinating with DOW/DOE/IC programs to bring technologies to market.