Space System Payload Engineer - Level 4
LV8D Solutions, LLC
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Job summary
LV8D Solutions is seeking a Space System Payload Engineer to support design, integration, testing, calibration, and operation of space payload systems across government, commercial, and defense programs, with emphasis on EO/IR sensors and scientific instrumentation.
The role covers requirements development, verification/validation, mission integration, and payload performance analysis, using tools like MATLAB, Python, STK, LabVIEW, DOORS, and Cameo. Domestic travel is expected.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in STEM or related discipline with 8-12 years of relevant experience.
- Understanding of DOD/IC satellite systems and architecture.
- Excellent interpersonal, leadership, team-building, and problem-solving skills in government/contractor environments.
- Experience in DOD/IC acquisition and program management processes.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated sustained superior performance.
- Available to travel domestically.
Responsibilities
- Support design, integration, testing, and operation of space payload systems for government, commercial, or defense programs.
- Familiarity with spacecraft payload architectures including EO/IR sensors, imaging payloads, or scientific instrumentation.
- Knowledge of payload lifecycle processes: requirements development, verification, validation, mission integration.
- Perform payload performance analysis, link budgets, sensor modeling, or mission data analysis.
- Experience with environmental/qualification testing (vibration, thermal vacuum, EMI/EMC, functional tests).
- Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams across spacecraft bus, mission ops, and ground segment integration.
- Proficiency with MATLAB, Python, STK, LabVIEW, DOORS, Cameo or equivalent modeling tools.
- Understand space environment impacts: radiation, thermal, orbital dynamics, reliability.
- Support technical reviews: SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, mission readiness.
- Develop technical docs, ICDs, verification plans, test procedures.
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
LV8D Solutions supports national security space and intelligence customers delivering next-generation sensing and exploitation capabilities. The Space System Payload Engineer will support the design, integration, testing, characterization, calibration, validation, and operation of space payload systems across government, commercial, and defense space programs, with a focus on EO/IR sensors, imaging payloads, scientific instrumentation, and associated mission systems.
LV8D Solutions is seeking a Space System Payload Engineer*. The role requires knowledge of systems engineering processes throughout the payload lifecycle, including requirements development, verification and validation, mission integration, payload performance analysis, link budgets, sensor modeling, and mission data analysis. Responsibilities include supporting initialization and on-orbit calibration and validation activities; coordinating proposed requirements changes, mission analysis, and acquisition teams; attending segment-level design reviews and program management reviews to assess design maturity, requirements compliance, and technical risk; and reviewing acquisition milestone documentation for adequacy, accuracy, and completeness.
Interested candidates need to thrive in an innovative, fast-paced environment; are highly motivated and not afraid to take on uncharted territory; possess strong communication, leadership, and organizational skills; and be able to prioritize their time to be effective in a dynamic environment.
- Experience supporting the design, integration, testing, and operation of space payload systems for government, commercial, or defense space programs.
- Familiarity with spacecraft payload architectures including EO/IR sensors, imaging payloads, or scientific instrumentation.
- Knowledge of systems engineering processes throughout the payload lifecycle including requirements development, verification, validation, and mission integration.
- Experience conducting payload performance analysis, link budgets, sensor modeling, or mission data analysis.
- Familiarity with environmental and qualification testing including vibration, thermal vacuum, EMI/EMC, and functional testing for spaceflight hardware.
- Experience working within multi-disciplinary engineering teams supporting spacecraft bus, mission operations, and ground segment integration.
- Proficiency with engineering and analysis tools such as MATLAB, Python, STK, LabVIEW, DOORS, Cameo, or equivalent modeling and simulation environments.
- Understanding of space environment impacts including radiation effects, thermal constraints, orbital dynamics, and reliability considerations.
- Ability to support technical reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and mission readiness reviews.
- Experience developing technical documentation, interface control documents (ICDs), verification plans, and test procedures.
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills with the ability to work in fast-paced mission environments.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience presenting technical information to customers and program leadership.
- Support initialization and characterization activities across the NRO enterprise and with the development contractors.
- Coordinate proposed requirements changes across all SPO organizations and with mission analysis and acquisition teams to ensure completeness of review across the acquisition.
- Support initialization and on-orbit calibration and validation activities
- Attend Segment level design reviews and program management reviews to assess design maturity, requirements compliance and to provide informed technical recommendations to the customer.
- Review acquisition milestone design documentation for adequacy, accuracy and completeness, and identify cost, schedule and technical risks/opportunities, and provide mitigation strategies through formal and informal comments.
- Support technical and programmatic reviews and meetings, as required.
- Bachelor's degree in STEM (science, technical, engineering, math) or related discipline with 8-12 years of relevant experience
- Understanding of DOD/IC satellite systems and architecture
- Excellent interpersonal, leadership, team building, and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to be independent and effective in a government/contractor team environment
- Experience in DOD/IC acquisition and program management processes
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Demonstrated sustained superior performance
- Available to travel domestically
- Advanced degree in STEM (science, technical, engineering, math) or related discipline with emphasis on MBSE
- Prior Program Office experience
- Previous experience developing optical telescopes, or remote imaging systems
- U.S. Citizenship
- Active Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance
- Active Counterintelligence (CI) or Full Scope (FS) Polygraph
- On-site work in a government or contractor facility
- Occasional travel (25%)
*Position is contingent upon a contract seat being awarded*
LV8D Solutions is an elite Systems Engineering and Technical Advisory (SETA) company that delivers advanced systems engineering, integration, acquisition, mission operations, network communications, and cybersecurity support to our defense and intelligence customers. Founded in 2019, we apply our deep technical expertise, understanding, and mission-first mindset to design,acquire, and implement complex, high-impact solutions for our Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of War (DoW) customers. We specialize in every aspect of our customers’ space and ground mission systems while offering exceptional work-life balance and an exemplarycompensationand total rewards package designed to recruit, train, and retain top talent and committed to national defense and career growth.
LV8D Solutions LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, religion, gender, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other protected categories.
Performance-based bonus opportunities tied to contract or organizational performance.
Receive a payout for unused annual company contributions designated for health insurance premiums and professional training.
Earn up to $5,000 for each successful employee referral.
Bonus opportunities based on customer recognition received through Letters of Appreciation.
Celebrate your career achievements with anniversary awards on your 1st, 5th, 10th, and 20thyears of service.
Receive an annual contribution equal to 4% of your W-2 gross earnings into your 401(k), with immediate vesting.
The company matches your 401(k) contributions dollar-for-dollar up to 6% of your monthly contribution, with immediate vesting.
The company invests in your professional growth through:
- Annual financial support for professional training and industry certifications.
- Enhanced financial support for employees actively pursuing a degree at an accredited institution.
Support for a healthy work-life balance includes:
- Flexible work hours
- Competitive paid time off (PTO)
- Company holidays
The company offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you and your family.
Three comprehensive Medical/Rx insurance plan options to meet the unique and individualized benefit needs of our employees
- Comprehensive dental insurance for employees and eligible dependents.
- Comprehensive vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents.
- 100% Company-Paid Short-Term Disability Insurance
- 100% Company-Paid Long-Term Disability Insurance
- 100% Company-Paid Basic Term Life Insurancewith Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
- Optional employee-paid Supplemental Voluntary Life Insurance
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