Spacecraft Bus, Avionics & Systems Engineer

Space Systems Integration; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

401k

Job summary

SSI in Chantilly, VA is seeking a Spacecraft Bus, Avionics & Systems Engineer to join our team. The role focuses on evaluating contractor bus design, subsystem trade studies, radiation-hardening strategies, flight software architecture, and environmental testing within a collaborative, small-team environment.

The ideal candidate holds a BS in a technical field, 12–15 years of space experience, and an active Top Secret/SCI clearance with polygraph ability.

Qualifications

• BS in a technical field (engineering, math, physics, software, CS).
• 15 years’ spacecraft bus/subsystems experience or 12 years with Master’s.
• DOD/IC space experience preferred.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• On-site at LAAFB; travel ~10% within CONUS.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and assessment for the ESS Program Office in the delivery of the space vehicle (Mechanical/Electrical/Test).
• Lead trades for unit/subsystem designs, integration, and testing into the spacecraft bus, payload, and space vehicle.
• Ensure design interfaces within the space vehicle and with ground/terminal segments.
• Support component/unit test programs, including space qualification testing; develop test docs.
• Support the space vehicle test program; ensure survivability in space environments. Develop test plans/reports.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with government customers, contractors, and FFRDC teammates.

Skills

TS/SCI clearance

Spacecraft bus exp

Radiation hardening

Thermal controls

Flight software/RTOS

Communication

Education

Bachelor of Science in a technical field

Tools

Thermal Desktop

TVAC testing

RTOS environments

Job description

SSI is seeking an Spacecraft Bus, Avionics & Systems Engineerto join our team in Chantilly, VA.

We seek technical individuals who will thrive in a highly collaborative work environment of small teams, using the most modern tools and methodologies to tackle the challenges of integrating complex space and ground communications systems.

This role evaluates contractor bus design, subsystem trade studies, radiation- hardening strategies, flight software architecture, and environmental testing.

Role and Responsibilities include:

• Provide the technical leadership and assessment for the ESS Program Office in the prime contractor delivery of the space vehicle in the area of Mechanical, Electrical, or Test.
• Lead the trades for unit and subsystem designs if necessary, integration and testing into the spacecraft bus, payload, and space vehicle.
• Ensure thetechnical designand interfaces within the space vehicle, along with the ground and terminal segments.
• Support all component and unit test programs, including space qualification testing, ensuring survivability in the space environment. Develop test documentation, e.g., test plans and reports as necessary.
• Support the space vehicle test program, ensuring survivability in the space environments. Develop test documentation, e.g., test plans and reports as necessary.
• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with various government customer organizations, contractors, and FFRDC teammates.

Required Qualifications:

• Must possess an active Top Secret/SCI clearance with the ability to obtain a Polygraph.
• Bachelor of Science in a technical field, such as engineering, mathematics, physics, software, or computer science.
• 15 years’ experience with spacecraft bus or subsystems, or Master’s degree and 12 years’ experience.
• Previous provencoordinationexperience.
• Effectivecommunication(both written and oral), andinterpersonal skills.
• Ability to perform in highly visible and stressful situations.
• DOD or IC space experience preferred.
• Space systems engineering experience desired at the unit, subsystem, spacecraft, or space vehicle levels.
• Key Technical & Capability Requirements:
  • Radiation Hardening: Deep Understanding of Beyond Low Earth Orbit (BLEO)radiation environments, single-event effects (SEE/SEU), total ionizing dose (TID),and mitigation strategies for Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) and Solar ParticleEvents (SPE).
  • Thermal & Environmental Controls: Evaluation of thermal architectures
    designed for extreme lunar eclipses, long thermal soak periods, and deep-spacesinks (using thermal modeling tools like Thermal Desktop).
  • High- v Propulsion: Technical oversight of liquid bipropellant, monopropellant,or high-power electric propulsion (EP) systems required for lunar orbit insertionand station keeping.
  • Avionics & Flight Software: Review of rad-hard FPGAs, power processing units (PPU), and flight software framework architectures (e.g., NASA, cFS, VxWorks, RTOS) featuring autonomous fault management.
  • SETA Oversight Duties: Leads technical review of contractor Assembly
    Integration & Test (AI&T) plans, Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) test matrices, andvendor verification cross-reference matrices (VCRM).
• Requirement to work on site atLAAFB100%. Remote work unavailable.
• Approximately 10% travel within Southern California and CONUS, depending on prime contractor selection of unit suppliers.

$180,000 - $240,000 a year

Target salary range: $180,000 - $240,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.

• We offer medical/dental/vision benefits and 401k contribution.