Spacecraft Mission Systems Engineer

Quantum Space; Rockville, Hawthorne (MD, CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Generous leave

HSA options

401(k) matching

Equity sharing

Job summary

Quantum Space is hiring a Spacecraft Mission Systems Engineer to define architectures, analyze mission feasibility, and translate customer needs into mission concepts. You will work across propulsion, GNC, avionics, flight software, and ground systems to ensure alignment with mission objectives.

The role spans early concept work through flight operations readiness, collaborating with leadership and customers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in a technical field; Master's preferred.
• 10+ years in spacecraft systems engineering or related fields.
• Translate objectives into architectures and technical specs.
• Strong grasp of orbital mechanics and mission design.
• Experience with trajectory analysis, delta‑V budgeting, and performance assessments.
• Understand propulsion, GNC, avionics, software, power, comms, and ground systems.
• Develop CONOPS, mission scenarios, timelines, and docs.
• Evaluate feasibility and constraints against requirements.
• Coordinate requirements across multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Define and translate mission objectives into architectures and requirements.
• Develop mission concepts across orbital regimes and phases.
• Perform mission analysis, trade studies, and timelines.
• Assess performance against objectives including orbit transfers and RPO.
• Maintain mission requirements, budgets, and interfaces.
• Collaborate with GNC and propulsion to evaluate trajectory design.
• Translate scenarios into functional requirements and modes.
• Support feasibility studies, risk mitigation, and reviews.
• Contribute to CONOPS and technical documentation.
• Serve as liaison among stakeholders to align objectives with solutions.
• Support SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and mission readiness activities.

Skills

Orbital mechanics

Systems engineering

Mission analysis

CONOPS development

Requirements traceability

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Technical writing

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Jama

DOORS

JIRA

Confluence

STK

FreeFlyer

GMAT

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly.

Who We're Looking For

We are seeking a technically strong and mission-focused Spacecraft Mission Systems Engineer to help define, architect, analyze, and integrate mission capabilities for our next-generation spacecraft platforms.

In this role, you will translate customer objectives and mission needs into spacecraft mission architectures, operational concepts, performance requirements, and mission design solutions. You will work across spacecraft systems engineering, propulsion, guidance, navigation and control (GNC), flight software, avionics, ground systems, and mission operations to ensure spacecraft capabilities align with mission objectives and operational requirements.

You will play a critical role in connecting mission-level objectives with spacecraft design and implementation, evaluating mission feasibility, developing operational scenarios, assessing spacecraft performance, and ensuring technical alignment throughout the mission lifecycle. Your responsibilities will span early mission concept development and architecture through detailed design, integration, verification, and flight operations readiness.

This position is ideal for an engineer who combines strong spacecraft systems knowledge with mission analysis and operational expertise, enjoys solving complex multidisciplinary challenges, and understands how spacecraft capabilities translate into successful mission execution. You will collaborate closely with engineering teams, program leadership, customers, and mission stakeholders to develop innovative solutions for demanding national security, civil, and commercial space missions.

Where You'll Make an Impact

• Translate customer mission objectives, operational needs, and mission constraints into spacecraft mission architectures, concepts of operations (CONOPS), and technical requirements.
• Develop and evaluate mission architectures, operational scenarios, and spacecraft employment concepts across different orbital regimes and mission phases.
• Perform mission analysis and trade studies evaluating orbital mechanics, maneuverability, propulsion performance, delta‑V budgets, mission timelines, and spacecraft operational constraints.
• Assess spacecraft capabilities and performance against mission objectives, including orbit transfer, rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), orbital maneuvering, constellation operations, and other mission‑specific activities, as applicable.
• Develop and maintain mission‑level requirements, operational requirements, mission performance budgets, and technical interfaces between spacecraft systems and mission objectives.
• Collaborate with GNC and propulsion engineers to evaluate trajectory design, maneuver planning, propellant utilization, orbital transfers, and spacecraft mobility requirements.
• Work with flight software, avionics, and systems engineering teams to translate mission scenarios into spacecraft functional requirements, operational modes, command sequences, and system‑level behaviors.
• Evaluate mission feasibility and performance through analytical modeling, simulation, and multidisciplinary engineering assessments.
• Develop mission timelines, operational sequences, scenario analyses, and mission event definitions to support spacecraft design and mission planning.
• Support the development of spacecraft mission architectures by evaluating payload requirements, communications constraints, ground segment capabilities, operational dependencies, and mission resource requirements.
• Perform system‑level trade studies to assess mission performance, operational flexibility, spacecraft utilization, and overall mission effectiveness.
• Develop and maintain mission CONOPS, mission requirements documentation, architecture diagrams, operational scenarios, and technical performance assessments.
• Serve as a technical liaison between mission stakeholders, customers, program leadership, and engineering teams to ensure mission objectives are understood and translated into executable technical solutions.
• Support major engineering reviews, including System Requirements Reviews (SRR), Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR), Critical Design Reviews (CDR), Test Readiness Reviews (TRR), and other mission and spacecraft‑level reviews.
• Support mission simulations, operational rehearsals, spacecraft integration and test, launch campaign activities, and mission readiness assessments.
• Collaborate with mission operations and ground systems teams to ensure mission concepts and operational requirements are reflected in spacecraft design and operational planning.
• Identify mission‑level technical risks, constraints, and performance gaps, and work with multidisciplinary engineering teams to develop mitigation strategies.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of mission engineering methodologies, mission analysis tools, operational concepts, and systems engineering practices.

What It Takes

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field. Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in spacecraft systems engineering, mission engineering, mission analysis, spacecraft design, or space operations.
• Experience translating mission objectives and customer requirements into spacecraft architectures, mission concepts, operational requirements, and technical specifications.
• Strong understanding of orbital mechanics, spacecraft dynamics, mission design, and spacecraft operational concepts.
• Experience performing or supporting mission analysis, including orbital trajectory analysis, maneuver planning, delta‑V budgeting, and mission performance assessments.
• Understanding of spacecraft subsystems, including propulsion, GNC, avionics, flight software, power, communications, payloads, and ground systems.
• Experience developing concepts of operations (CONOPS), mission scenarios, operational timelines, and mission‑level technical documentation.
• Ability to evaluate mission feasibility, identify technical constraints, and assess spacecraft performance against mission requirements.
• Experience coordinating technical requirements and interfaces across multidisciplinary spacecraft engineering teams.
• Familiarity with mission‑level requirements development, requirements traceability, verification planning, and technical reviews.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, technical writing, and communication skills.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively with engineers, program leadership, customers, and mission stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple technical activities and work independently within a fast‑paced, multidisciplinary engineering environment.

Nice-to-Have Experience

• Experience supporting national security, civil, or commercial space mission development and execution.
• Experience developing mission architectures for highly maneuverable spacecraft, orbital mobility platforms, or responsive space missions.
• Experience with high‑delta‑V mission design, orbital transfers, rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), and advanced orbital maneuvering concepts.
• Experience with spacecraft mission planning, constellation architectures, orbital servicing, or multi‑spacecraft mission operations.
• Proficiency with mission analysis and simulation tools such as STK, FreeFlyer, GMAT, MATLAB, Python, or equivalent software.
• Experience developing mission simulations, trajectory optimization models, orbital propagation tools, or performance analysis scripts.
• Familiarity with spacecraft propulsion systems, propellant budgets, maneuver execution, and GNC performance constraints.
• Experience supporting mission operations, operational rehearsals, ground systems integration, launch campaigns, or on‑orbit spacecraft operations.
• Familiarity with systems engineering and requirements management tools such as Jama, DOORS, JIRA, and Confluence.
• Experience supporting major technical reviews, customer design reviews, and government program milestones.
• Experience supporting U.S. Space Force, Space Systems Command (SSC), NASA, NRO, SDA, AFRL, or other national security space programs.
• Active U.S. security clearance or ability to obtain one.

What You'll Get

• Ownership – Help define and shape mission architectures, operational concepts, and spacecraft capabilities from early mission development through flight operations.
• Innovation – Help develop next‑generation spacecraft that redefine mobility and maneuverability in space.
• Impact – Work on mission‑critical programs supporting national security, civil, and commercial space customers.
• Growth – Collaborate with experienced spacecraft engineers, mission architects, and technical leaders in an environment focused on rapid execution, technical excellence, and continuous innovation.
• Compensation – Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, HSA, 401(k) matching, and equity sharing.

Base Salary: $175,000 to $260,000

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors. Actual salary offers may vary based on (but are not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full‑time offers and are considered part of Quantum Space's total compensation package.

Additional Requirements

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Quantum Space’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.