Space Vehicle & Payload Engineer — Satellite Lead

Spacesystemsintegration; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Space Systems Integration (SSI) is seeking a Space Vehicle and Payload Engineer in El Segundo, CA. You will support Government mission managers across lifecycle phases and champion integration of autonomous operations for a constellation of satellites.

Responsibilities include planning, deployment readiness, ECP management, and collaboration with contractors to ensure space assets meet mission objectives. Travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field with 10+ years of experience.
• Hands-on experience managing multi-satellite constellation operations, logistics, or deployment schedules.
• Direct technical experience with optical, RF, or radar payloads; experience with communication payloads and link budgets.
• Experience developing long-term vehicle sustainment plans, orbital maneuvers, or end-of-life disposal strategies.
• Active TS clearance with in-scope T5/SSBI, SCI eligibility and Continuous Evaluation; polygraph readiness.
• Must meet all requirements for SCI and SAP access.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive payload and space vehicle engineering support to Government mission managers across lifecycle phases.
• Develop, maintain, and execute detailed program plans to guide constellation deployment and readiness.
• Define, identify, monitor, and verify mission-unique requirements to align spacecraft capability with objectives.
• Provide mission integration services for space vehicle and payload operations, logistics and sustainment and launch.
• Develop and review technical assessments and presentations for senior leadership reviews.
• Generate mission status reports and presentations for staff meetings and reviews.
• Review and provide technical evaluations to contractual documentation for sustainment contracts.
• Support development and future operations of a satellite constellation for space-based surveillance and reconnaissance.
• Manage the Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) process with clear change definitions and technical evaluations.
• Collaborate with contractors and government stakeholders to review design modifications for payload compatibility.
• Perform risk assessments on proposed hardware and software changes; present findings to leadership.

Skills

Satellite operations

Payload integration

Link budgets

Vehicle sustainment

Security clearance

Polygraph readiness

SCI/SAP access

Orbital maneuvers

Risk assessment

Government liaison

Education

Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering

Systems Engineering

Job description

Space Systems Integration (SSI) is seeking a Space Vehicle and Payload Engineer in El Segundo, CA. You will support Government mission managers across lifecycle phases and champion integration of autonomous operations for a constellation of satellites.

Responsibilities include planning, deployment readiness, ECP management, and collaboration with contractors to ensure space assets meet mission objectives. Travel may be required.