Space System Payload Engineer - Level 4

LV8D Solutions; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

LV8D Solutions in Chantilly, VA seeks a Space System Payload Engineer to lead design, integration, testing, and operation of payload systems for government and defense space programs. You will apply systems engineering across requirements, verification, validation, and mission integration.

Experience with EO/IR sensors, link budgets, sensor modeling, and mission data analysis is valued, along with collaboration across multiple teams and clear technical documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 8–12 years of relevant experience.
• Understanding of DOD/IC satellite systems and architecture.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, and problem-solving skills; independently effective in a government/contractor team.
• Experience in DOD/IC acquisition and program management processes.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Willingness to travel domestically.

Responsibilities

• 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 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.
• Support technical and programmatic reviews and meetings, as required.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Problem-solving

Travel domestically

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

MATLAB

Python

STK

LabVIEW

DOORS

Cameo

Job description

Mission Context:

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.

Position Overview:

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.

Key Responsibilities:

• 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.

Qualifications:

• 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

Desired Attributes:

• 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

Security Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship
• Active Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance
• Active Counterintelligence (CI) or Full Scope (FS) Polygraph

Work Environment:

• On-site work in a government or contractor facility
• Occasional travel (25%)

*Position is contingent upon a contract seat being awarded*

About LV8D Solutions

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 talentandcommitted to national defense and career growth.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

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 & Recognition

Period of Performance (PoP) Bonus Opportunities
Performance-based bonus opportunities tied to contract or organizational performance.

Retention Incentive Benefit Bounty
Receive a payout for unused annual company contributions designated for health insurance premiums and professional training.

Referral Bonus
Earn up to $5,000 for each successful employee referral.

Customer Recognition Letter of Appreciation (LoA) Bonus Opportunities
Bonus opportunities based on customer recognition received through Letters of Appreciation.

Milestone Rewards
Celebrate your career achievements with anniversary awards on your 1st, 5th, 10th, and 20thyears of service.

Financial & Retirement Benefits

Profit Sharing
Receive an annual contribution equal to 4% of your W-2 gross earnings into your 401(k), with immediate vesting.

401(k) Company Match
The company matches your 401(k) contributions dollar-for-dollar up to 6% of your monthly contribution, with immediate vesting.

Career Development

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.

Work-Life Balance

Support for a healthy work-life balance includes:

• Flexible work hours
• Competitive paid time off (PTO)
• Company holidays

Health & Wellness Benefits

The company offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you and your family.

Medical Coverage

Three comprehensive Medical/Rx insurance plan options to meet the unique and individualized benefit needs of our employees

Dental & Vision

• Comprehensive dental insurance for employees and eligible dependents.
• Comprehensive vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents.

Income Protection

• 100% Company-Paid Short-Term Disability Insurance
• 100% Company-Paid Long-Term Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

• 100% Company-Paid Basic Term Life Insurancewith Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
• Optional employee-paid Supplemental Voluntary Life Insurance