Senior Space Software Architect & Systems Engineer

Quantum Space; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 160,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Equity participation

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Quantum Space is a leader in high-mobility spacecraft platforms. We seek an experienced Software Systems Engineer III to manage software architectures, mission operations capabilities, and system-level solutions across the spacecraft lifecycle.

You will bridge software and systems engineering, guide interfaces among Flight Software, Ground Software, autonomy, GNC, and mission operations, and mentor teams while driving robust, autonomous spacecraft operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline
• 8+ years of relevant engineering experience in aerospace, defense, or high-reliability systems
• Demonstrated experience developing complex spacecraft or aerospace systems
• Experience developing Flight Software (FSW) and designing spacecraft software architectures
• Experience defining and managing interfaces between FSW, GSW, mission operations systems, and spacecraft hardware
• Strong systems engineering principles including requirements development, interface management, verification, validation, and configuration management
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical efforts across software and hardware
• Experience supporting spacecraft development, integration, testing, launch preparation, or mission operations
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and presentation skills in a fast-paced development environment

Responsibilities

• Architect and design spacecraft software and system-level solutions
• Develop and manage system requirements, interfaces, baselines, verification plans, and traceability
• Define interfaces between FSW, GSW, mission ops systems, and spacecraft hardware
• Collaborate with flight software, GNC, autonomy, communications, avionics, and mission ops teams
• Conduct system architecture trade studies and design analyses
• Lead technical reviews, risk assessments, and architecture evaluations
• Support mission planning, ConOps development, and mission execution planning
• Mentor engineers and promote systems engineering best practices
• Support customer interactions, briefings, and design reviews
• Drive resolution of complex technical issues across software and spacecraft systems
• Support continuous improvement initiatives for software architecture and mission execution

Skills

Software architecture

Systems engineering

Requirements development

Interface management

Verification & validation

Leadership

Education

B.S./M.S./Ph.D. in aerospace/engineering/computer science

Job description

Quantum Space is a leader in high-mobility spacecraft platforms. We seek an experienced Software Systems Engineer III to manage software architectures, mission operations capabilities, and system-level solutions across the spacecraft lifecycle.

You will bridge software and systems engineering, guide interfaces among Flight Software, Ground Software, autonomy, GNC, and mission operations, and mentor teams while driving robust, autonomous spacecraft operations.