Spacecraft Systems Engineer (Associate, Experienced)

The Boeing Company; Seal Beach (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 168,000; Full time

Job summary

The Boeing Company seeks a Spacecraft Systems Engineer to join the ESG SEIT team, with onsite roles in Seal Beach, Aurora, or El Segundo. You will lead fault and autonomy architecture, work with customers, and help develop first‑of‑kind space vehicles and missions.

Responsibilities span architecture, reviews, redundancy, autonomy design, and anomaly response, requiring strong systems engineering and space domain experience.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance (within past 24 months)
• 1+ year for level 2; 3+ years for level 3
• Experience with space-based systems or programs
• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or related field, US or equivalent

Responsibilities

• Coordinate stakeholders to drive optimal fault and autonomy architecture.
• Serve as point of contact for customers and collaborate with SMEs to identify feasible solutions.
• Support integration and development of first-of-kind space vehicles and missions.
• Develop and present review packages to senior leadership.
• Ensure hardware designs have adequate redundancy for fault tolerance.
• Develop autonomy aligned with customer risk tolerance amid anomalies.
• Analyze failure modes via FMECA or fault-tree analysis.
• Develop software requirements for onboard fault protection and safing modes.
• Design autonomy or ground procedures to recover from failures.
• Provide occasional on-call support for system anomalies.

Skills

Spacecraft systems

Systems engineering

FMECA / fault tree

PMP

Communication skills

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Master’s degree in engineering/computer science/physics

Job description

Job Description

At Boeing, we innovate and collaborate to make the world a better place. We’re committed to fostering an environment for every teammate that’s welcoming, respectful and inclusive, with great opportunity for professional growth. Find your future with us.

Boeing Defense, Space & Security’s (BDS’s), Experimental Systems Group (ESG) seeks a Spacecraft Systems Engineer to join our team in either Seal Beach, CA; Aurora, CO; or El Segundo, CA. This is an opportunity to personally contribute to the development of new first-of-kind space vehicles and missions. The ESG portfolio consists of a range of platforms and technologies including the X-37B, the world’s first fully autonomous reusable spaceplane, which is continuing to shape the future of space technology while currently flying its eighth mission.

As a member of our Systems Engineering Integration & Test (SEIT) Mission Design team, you work with a system architects, Concept of Operations (ConOps) developers, fault and autonomy designers, and Recommended Operating Procedure (ROP) authors.

Our development timelines are aggressive and you will be asked to develop solutions to previously unsolved problems. You will need to be able to dive into broad, minimally-defined design spaces and effectively lead integrated efforts.

Position Responsibilities:

• Coordinate internal and external stakeholders to drive development and implementation of an optimal fault and autonomy architecture for your assigned program(s).
• Be the point of contact for customers and work directly with subject matter experts to quickly identify achievable solutions that meet customer needs.
• Support technology integration for and development of first-of-kind space vehicles and missions.
• Develop and present review packages to internal and external senior leadership.
• Ensure system hardware designs have adequate redundancy for required levels of fault tolerance.
• Develop autonomy aligned with customer risk tolerance in the presence of anomalies.
• Analyze system failure modes via failure mode effects and criticality analysis (FMECA) or fault tree analysis.
• Develop software requirements for onboard fault protection to detect and isolate failures and transition to spacecraft safing modes.
• Design autonomy or ground procedures to recover from failures.
• Provide occasional on-call support for system anomalies.

This position is expected to be fully onsite in This position is expected to be fully onsite in either Seal Beach, CA; Aurora, CO; or El Segundo, CA.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills/Experience):

• A United State Department of Defense Active Top Secret/SCI (TS/SCI). A clearance that was active within the past 24 months is generally considered active.
• Minimum years of related experience: 1+ for level 2, 3+ for level 3.
• Experience with systems or software engineering on space-based systems.
• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology (including Manufacturing Technology), Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or non-US equivalent qualifications directly related to the work statement.

Preferred Qualifications (Desired Skills/Experience):

• Experience with system fault and redundancy architecture design.
• Experience with systems engineering practices (requirements definition, risk identification and management, fault tree generation, FMECA, etc.).
• Master’s degree from an accredited course of study in engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics or chemistry.
• 3+ years of systems engineering experience.
• 2+ years of project management experience. PMP.
• Strong spoken, written, and visual communication skills.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams and external customers.
• Experience in spacecraft, launch vehicles, autonomous systems, or unmanned systems.
• Experience with failure analysis techniques (e.g., Fault Tree, FMECA).
• Experience with spacecraft mission operations.
• Broad knowledge across spacecraft subsystems.

Typical Education & Experience:

Associate (level 2): Education/experience typically acquired through advanced technical education from an accredited course of study in engineering, engineering technology (includes manufacturing engineering technology), computer science, engineering data science, mathematics, physics or chemistry (e.g. Bachelor) and typically 2 or more years' related work experience or an equivalent combination of technical education and experience or non-US equivalent qualifications. In the USA, ABET accreditation is the preferred, although not required, accreditation standard.

Experienced (level 3): Education/experience typically acquired through advanced technical education from an accredited course of study in engineering, engineering technology (includes manufacturing engineering technology), computer science, engineering data science, mathematics, physics or chemistry (e.g. Bachelor) and typically 5 or more years' related work experience or an equivalent combination of technical education and experience or non-US equivalent qualifications. In the USA, ABET accreditation is the preferred, although not required, accreditation standard.

Conflict of Interest:

Successful candidates for this job must satisfy the Company's Conflict of Interest (COI) assessment process.

Drug Free Workplace:

Boeing is a Drug Free Workplace where post offer applicants and employees are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria is met as outlined in our policies.

Shift:

Ability and willingness to work occasional compensated ad hoc support outside of typical business hours.

Relocation:

This position offers relocation based on candidate eligibility. (Basic relocation will be offered for eligible internal candidates.)

Pay & Benefits:

At Boeing, we strive to deliver a Total Rewards package that will attract, engage and retain the top talent. Elements of the Total Rewards package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities.

The Boeing Company also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work.

The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

Pay is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

Summary Pay Range

Associate (level 2): $100,300 - $135,700

Experienced (level 3): $124,100 - $167,900

Applications for this position will be accepted until Sept. 09, 2026

Export Control Requirements:

This position must meet U.S. export control compliance requirements. To meet U.S. export control compliance requirements, a “U.S. Person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.62 is required. “U.S. Person” includes U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee.

Export Control Details:

US based job, US Person required

Education:

Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Required

Relocation:

This position offers relocation based on candidate eligibility.

Security Clearance:

This position requires an active U.S. Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance (U.S. Citizenship Required). (A U.S. Security Clearance that has been active in the past 24 months is considered active)

Visa Sponsorship:

Employer will not sponsor applicants for employment visa status.

Shift:

This position is for 1st shift

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Boeing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.