Spacecraft Design Engineer

Apex Space, Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Shared equity

Health care (medical, dental, vision)

Generous PTO 15–20 days + holidays

401(k) with company match

Parental leave

Daily catered lunch

Office in Playa Vista

Stock options eligibility

Job summary

Apex Space, Inc. is seeking a Spacecraft Design Engineer to define the future of its satellite buses.

You will work at the design and development phase to shape architectures balancing performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost for mass-produced buses enabling access to Earth orbit. You will translate mission needs into system requirements and interfaces, collaborate across propulsion, avionics, power, structures, thermal, software, and manufacturing, and prepare designs for

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical or systems engineering.
• 6+ years in complex hardware systems, space preferred.
• Strong system-level analyses, interfaces, and trade studies.
• Strong communication and documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Define end-to-end satellite system architectures across mission profiles.
• Perform system-level trade studies to optimize performance, reliability, cost, mass, and schedule.
• Allocate system requirements to subsystems and define/maintain ICDs.
• Collaborate with propulsion, avionics, power, structures, thermal, software and manufacturing teams.

Skills

System architecture

Trade studies

Requirements definition

Interface management

Analytical skills

Documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical or Systems Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

SysML

Jira

Excel

Job description

Spacecraft represent the most pressing unmet need across the entire aerospace industry. As more launch vehicles come online and the cost to orbit decreases, more companies launching payloads to space continue to emerge.

For the first time in history, this influx of payload companies combined with reduced launch costs has resulted in a massive increase in need for commercial spacecraft platforms, known as satellite buses. These buses hold the payloads of our customers and are flown on launch vehicles.

Apex manufactures these satellite buses at scale using a combination of software, vertical integration, and hardware that is designed for manufacturing. Our spacecraft enable the future of society: ranging from earth observation to communications and more.

We’d love for you to join us on our mission of providing humankind access to the galaxy beyond our planet.

About the Role

As a Spacecraft Design Engineer, you will be a foundational team member responsible for defining the future of Apex’s satellite platforms. You will operate at the design and development phase of the product lifecycle, shaping system architectures that balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost for mass-manufactured satellite buses that enable access to Earth orbit and beyond.

You will act as a platform-level integrator and architect—translating mission needs into clear system requirements, interfaces, and design trades that downstream teams can execute with confidence.

Responsibilities

System Architecture & Design

• Define and evolve end-to-end satellite system architectures across multiple mission profiles

• Perform system-level trade studies to optimize performance, reliability, cost, mass, and schedule

• Analyze and allocate system requirements to spacecraft subsystems

• Define and maintain system interfaces and interface control documents (ICDs)

Requirements & Technical Ownership

• Define, document, and manage platform-level requirements during early lifecycle phases

• Maintain traceability between customer needs, system requirements, and subsystem designs

• Identify technical risks early and develop mitigation strategies

• Perform system-level analyses (margins, sensitivities, FMEA) to inform design decisions

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with propulsion, avionics, power, structures, thermal, software, and manufacturing teams

• Translate mission concepts into executable platform designs

• Support internal design reviews and customer technical discussions

• Prepare designs for transition into integration, test, and qualification

Requirements

• U.S. Person status (ability to access export-controlled data)

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred)

• 6+ years of experience working on complex hardware systems (spacecraft preferred)

• Strong understanding of satellite subsystems and their interactions

• Experience with system-level trade studies, requirements definition, and interface management

• Strong analytical, communication, and documentation skills

Preferred

• Experience developing satellite platforms or spacecraft buses

• Familiarity with requirements management or modeling tools (e.g., SysML, Jira, Excel)

• Experience supporting early validation or risk-reduction testing

• Familiarity with aerospace systems engineering best practices

#LI-JC1

Why Join Apex?

Apex believes in creating a work environment that you look forward to embracing every day. Our employees love working at Apex, and we want you to love it too. We're a fast-growing startup that has raised more than $500M in funding, and we invest heavily in our people from day one.

What We Offer For Full-time Employees:

• Shared upside: Receive equity in Apex, letting you benefit from the work you create

• Best‑in‑class healthcare: 100% company‑paid medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents, plus $100k life insurance at no cost

• Comprehensive PTO package to reset and recharge - starting at 15 days vacation, growing to 20+ days annually, plus 10 paid holidays

• Competitive 401(k) plan with generous matching - 100% match on first 3%, 50% on next 2%

• 8 weeks paid parental leave plus childcare reimbursement up to $350/day for work‑related travel

• Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks to keep you fueled throughout the day

• Vibrant community: Monthly office socials, pickleball tournaments, run club, and gatherings for you and your family

• Your dream desk setup and all the tools you need to be your most productive self

• World‑class Playa Vista office with the benefit of in‑person collaboration with amazing coworkers and flexibility to integrate work and life

• Real impact opportunity: Work alongside experts from aerospace, new space, and other cutting‑edge industries to make a lasting difference

Additional Information:

Compensation ranges are set by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. A candidate's specific level and base pay are determined case by case and may vary with job‑related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities, and internal equity. Beyond base salary, full‑time hires are also eligible for long‑term incentives in the form of stock options, along with medical, dental, and vision coverage and a 401(k) retirement plan.

ITAR Requirements

Apex's work is governed by U.S. export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). To be eligible for this role, applicants must either (1) qualify as a U.S. Person, meaning a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), a refugee admitted under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or an individual granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or (2) be able to obtain the required export authorizations from the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, or another applicable U.S. government agency. You can learn more about ITAR here.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Apex Technology, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.