Senior Spacecraft Command and Data Handling (C&DH) Engineer

Moseley Technical Services, Inc.; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 146,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Moseley Technical Services, Inc. is hiring a Senior Spacecraft Command & Data Handling Engineer to lead C&DH architecture, design, and integration of avionics and electrical hardware for space vehicles.

You will drive trade studies, define interfaces, and ensure system performance across life cycles in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. The role requires extensive experience with SpaceWire, Ethernet, RS-422/485, LVDS, and fault management, with leadership responsibilities and mentorship

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship required by Federal Law.
• Ability to obtain a final U.S. Security Clearance after start.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Computer, Aerospace Engineering, or related field, or equivalent.
• 9+ years in spacecraft, aerospace, avionics, or related electrical systems.
• 7+ years designing, analyzing, and integrating spacecraft electrical hardware or complex avionics.
• 9+ years with spacecraft comms protocols incl. SpaceWire, Ethernet, RS-422/485, LVDS.

Responsibilities

• Architect C&DH subsystem solutions aligned with mission objectives and requirements.
• Lead avionics architecture trade studies to optimize performance and cost.
• Define ICDs, verification plans, and validation activities across lifecycles.
• Perform analyses including data budgets, timing, jitter, and EMI/EMC for robust designs.
• Lead vendor evaluations and make-vs-buy trade studies balancing risk and cost.
• Provide technical leadership during design, integration, test, and mission readiness.
• Collaborate on FDlR strategies to improve spacecraft resiliency.
• Support mission operations with health assessment and anomaly resolution.

Skills

C&DH architecture

SpaceWire

Ethernet

RS-422/485

LVDS

Fault management

EMI/EMC analysis

FDIR

Education

Bachelors in Electrical/Computer/Aerospace Engineering or related field

Tools

SpaceWire

Ethernet

RS-422/485

LVDS

Job description

Senior Spacecraft Command & Data Handling Engineer

Avionic Systems

On-site in El Segundo, CA

$146,200 - $260,000/Yearly

We are hiring a Senior Spacecraft Command & Data Handling (C&DH) Engineer to lead the architecture, design, and integration of spacecraft avionics and electrical hardware for advanced space vehicle programs. This role supports complex aerospace and defense missions by driving spacecraft command and data handling system design, avionics architecture trade studies, SpaceWire, Ethernet, RS-422/485, LVDS integration, fault management, EMI/EMC analysis, and spacecraft electrical system performance while collaborating across multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Architect spacecraft Command & Data Handling (C&DH) subsystem solutions that align with mission objectives, system requirements, fault management strategies, and vehicle-level architecture.
• Lead avionics architecture trade studies to optimize system performance, power, mass, reliability, manufacturability, schedule, and cost.
• Define subsystem requirements, interface control documents (ICDs), verification plans, and validation activities throughout the system lifecycle.
• Perform and direct high-fidelity engineering analyses including data budgets, signal integrity, clock drift, jitter, timing analysis, and EMI/EMC compatibility to ensure robust design margins.
• Lead vendor evaluations, component selection, and make-versus-buy trade studies while balancing technical risk, lifecycle support, schedule, and cost.
• Provide technical leadership in resolving complex spacecraft avionics and electrical hardware issues during design, integration, test, and mission readiness activities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to develop Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR) strategies that improve spacecraft resiliency and operational reliability.
• Support mission operations by providing technical expertise for spacecraft health assessment, anomaly resolution, and system performance.
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers, promote engineering best practices, and contribute to the continued growth of the C&DH engineering organization.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Level 4 Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical lead and Subject Matter Expert (SME) for spacecraft C&DH systems on assigned programs.
• Lead complex technical trade studies and provide engineering oversight throughout integration and environmental testing activities.

Level 5 Responsibilities

• Serve as the organization's primary technical authority for spacecraft C&DH architectures across multiple programs.
• Establish engineering standards, technical roadmaps, and organizational best practices for spacecraft avionics development.
• Mentor engineering teams while driving long-term technical strategy and innovation.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship is required by Federal Law
• Ability to obtain a final U.S. Security Clearance after start.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 9+ years of professional engineering experience in spacecraft, aerospace, avionics, or related electrical systems.
• 7+ years of experience designing, analyzing, and integrating spacecraft electrical hardware or complex avionics systems.
• 9+ years of experience with spacecraft communication protocols including:SpaceWireEthernetRS-422/485LVDSExperience developing spacecraft avionics architectures, subsystem requirements, interface definitions, verification activities, and system integration.
• Experience performing electrical analyses including signal integrity, timing, data throughput, EMI/EMC, and system reliability.

Preferred Qualifications

• Level 5: 14+ years of related engineering experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience serving as a Responsible Engineering Authority (REA) or Lead Engineer on complex spacecraft or national security space programs.
• Strong knowledge of aerospace industry standards and DoD cybersecurity implementation for space systems.
• Experience supporting high-rate manufacturing or production environments.
• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience presenting technical information to engineering leadership, customers, and executive stakeholders.

Moseley Technical Services, Inc. is an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabled Employer

What to Expect

Moseley Technical Services, Inc. (Moseley) was incorporated in 1994 to provide engineering and professional services to the aerospace/defense, manufacturing, government, and commercial industries. Our Mission is to deliver superior service to our customers and employees. We have achieved our vision by building long-term relationships with customers and employees through integrity, transparency, and appreciation.

We stand by our 30-year-old commitment of "World Class Service. World Class Company."