Senior Spacecraft Command and Data Handling (C&DH) Engineer - Millennium Space Systems

The Boeing Company; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 146,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company, seeks a Senior Spacecraft Command and Data Handling Engineer to drive the electrical hardware and avionics architectures critical to space vehicle design. You will lead strategic design choices, balancing performance, manufacturability and cost with autonomy.

The role emphasizes technical leadership across programs, verification activities, and collaboration with stakeholders to ensure mission success. Occasional travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Computer, Aerospace, or related discipline.
• 9+ years of experience with spacecraft electrical hardware or avionics systems.
• Experience with spacecraft communication protocols and interfaces.
• Ability to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance and U.S. Citizenship.

Responsibilities

• Architect C&D subsystem architectures to drive system-level design decisions.
• Lead avionics architecture trade studies balancing mission needs with performance and cost.
• Define requirements, interface control documents, and verification activities.
• Perform high-fidelity analyses for data budgets, signal integrity, EMI/EMC.
• Own vendor selection and make/buy trade studies balancing risk and lifecycle support.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to technical roadmap.

Skills

SpaceWire

Ethernet

RS-422/485

LVDS

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Computer, Aerospace, or related discipline

Job description

Job Description

At Boeing, we innovate and collaborate to make the world a better place. We’re committed to fostering an environment for every teammate that’s welcoming, respectful and inclusive, with great opportunity for professional growth. Find your future with us.

Millennium Space Systems, a part of Boeing Defense, Space and Security (BDS), is a fast, agile small satellite company focused on national security space. Our missions have direct impact to global security, like missile warning and Earth observation.

Our team is curious, bold and innovative. We take risks, innovate and explore new techniques and technologies. We influence change because we challenge the status quo. And when we watch our satellites launch, we know each one of us made it happen.

Job Summary:

As a Senior Spacecraft Command and Data Handling (C&DH) Engineer, you will serve as a primary technical authority for the electrical hardware and avionics architectures critical to Millennium’s space vehicles. You will drive the strategic design of vehicle architectures, ensuring they meet complex mission requirements while optimizing for performance, manufacturability, and cost. You thrive with a high degree of autonomy and responsibility and can communicate technical concepts clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

This position's internal job code is EE Sys Design Engineer. Our team is currently hiring for Levels 4-5.

• Level 4: Focuses on technical leadership of specific programs/portfolios. You will act as a subject matter expert (SME) for C&DH, driving complex technical designs, managing high-stakes trade studies, and providing critical technical oversight during integration and testing to ensure mission success
• Level 5: Focuses on technical strategy and organizational impact of the C&DH group. You will serve as a primary technical authority across multiple programs, establishing engineering best practices, defining long-term technical roadmaps, and mentoring the next generation of engineers to scale the company's technical capabilities

Position Responsibilities:

• Architect C&DH subsystem architectures that drive system-level design decisions and ensure alignment with mission objectives, constraints, and fault management requirements
• Lead the selection and trade analysis of avionics architectures to balance mission requirements with performance, power, mass, and cost
• Drive the definition of requirements, interface control documents, and verification activities
• Direct high-fidelity analyses for data budgets, signal integrity, clock drift, jitter, and EMI/EMC compatibility to guarantee design margins and reliability
• Own vendor selection and trade studies, producing make/buy recommendations that balance technical risk, schedule, cost, and long-term lifecycle support
• Lead the identification and resolution of complex technical issues related to avionics and electrical hardware throughout the design, integration, and testing phases
• Collaborate on Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR) strategies, ensuring architectures are resilient and providing technical expertise for mission operations and system health assessment
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers to foster technical excellence and scale the group's engineering capabilities
• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills/Experience):

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Computer, Aerospace, or a related discipline and 9 or more years' related work experience or an equivalent combination of technical education and experience
• 9+ years of experience with spacecraft communication protocols such as SpaceWire, Ethernet, RS-422/485, LVDS
• 7+ years of experience in the design, analysis, and integration of spacecraft electrical hardware or complex avionics systems
• This position requires the ability to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance for which the U.S. Government requires U.S. Citizenship. A final U.S. Security Clearance Post-Start is required

Preferred Qualifications (Desired Skills/Experience):

• Level 5: 14 or more years' related work experience or an equivalent combination of technical education and experience
• Experience as a Responsible Engineering Authority (REA) or Lead Engineer on complex space programs
• Deep familiarity with industry standards and DoD/government cybersecurity implementation for space assets
• Experience in high-rate manufacturing environments
• Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in a relevant engineering discipline
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills

Conflict of Interest:

Successful candidates for this job must satisfy the Company’s Conflict of Interest (COI) assessment process.

Drug Free Workplace:

Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company, is a Drug Free Workplace (DFW) where post offer applicants and employees are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria is met as outlined in our policies.

Total Rewards:

At Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company, we strive to deliver a Total Rewards package that will attract, engage and retain the top talent. Elements of the Total Rewards package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities.

Millennium Space Systems also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work.

The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

Pay is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

Summary pay range:

• Level 4: $146,200 - $215,000
• Level 5: $176,800 - $260,000

Millennium is DDTC-registered, ITAR-compliant Company. This position is located at a facility that requires special access. Applicants MUST be U.S. citizens and eligible for a security clearance. Additionally, applicants must be willing to apply for and maintain a security clearance. We encourage all interested candidates to apply for any open position for which they feel they are qualified.

Category = Engineering

Applications for this position will be accepted until Oct. 30, 2026

Export Control Requirements:

This position must meet U.S. export control compliance requirements. To meet U.S. export control compliance requirements, a “U.S. Person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.62 is required. “U.S. Person” includes U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee.

Export Control Details:

US based job, US Person required

Education

Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Required

Relocation

Relocation assistance is not a negotiable benefit for this position.

Security Clearance

This position requires the ability to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance for which the U.S. Government requires U.S. Citizenship. An interim and/or final U.S. Secret Clearance Post-Start is required.

Visa Sponsorship

Employer will not sponsor applicants for employment visa status.

Shift

This position is for 1st shift

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Boeing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.