Spacecraft Test Chief Engineer

General Atomics; Englewood (CO); On-site; USD 141,000 - 252,000; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) seeks a Space Electrical Chief Engineer to lead spacecraft electrical and avionics design across space programs from concept through launch and on-orbit operations.

You will define system-level electrical requirements, guide multidisciplinary teams, and ensure design integrity through all lifecycle phases while interfacing with customers and leadership to meet mission objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field from an accredited institution.
• Demonstrated experience leading spacecraft electrical/avionics design and integration, including power systems and data/command architectures.
• Strong understanding of spacecraft power systems, avionics, data handling, and radiation effects.
• Experience with requirements development and management using tools such as DOORS or similar.
• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary technical teams and interact with customers.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical lead and chief engineer for spacecraft electrical and avionics systems across programs.
• Define and own spacecraft electrical architecture, power generation, energy storage, avionics, and data handling.
• Manage system/subsystem requirements and ensure traceability to customer specs.
• Provide direction to electrical, power, avionics, FPGA/ASIC, and harness design teams; review key artifacts and test plans.
• Lead trade studies to optimize architecture, cost, schedule, and risk.
• Ensure compliance with radiation, EMC/EMI, thermal, vacuum, and launch loads standards.
• Oversee development of block diagrams, ICDs, schematics, and power budgets across documentation.
• Lead design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR) and present technical material to stakeholders.
• Define and guide integration and test strategies including HIL, environmental testing, and system verification.
• Support failure analysis, anomaly resolution, and root-cause corrective actions during lifecycle phases.
• Collaborate with systems, mechanical, software, RF, GNC, and mission assurance teams.
• Contribute technically to proposals and BOEs; support new business capture as SME.
• Mentor early-career engineers and promote engineering best practices.

Skills

Spacecraft electrical systems

Power systems

Requirements management

Leadership

Customer communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Aerospace Engineering

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

DOORS

MBSE tools

Job description

Job Summary

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs and manufactures first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS' expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions support critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide.

Job Summary

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs and manufactures first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS' expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions support critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Space Electrical Chief Engineer to provide technical leadership for the design, development, integration, and verification of spaceborne electrical and avionics systems.
In this role, you will serve as the technical authority for spacecraft electrical architectures across one or more space programs. You will define system‑level electrical requirements, guide multi‑disciplinary engineering teams, ensure design integrity through all lifecycle phases, and interface directly with customers and internal leadership to achieve mission and business objectives.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the technical lead and chief engineer for spacecraft electrical and avionics systems on assigned programs, from concept development through launch and on‑orbit operations.
• Define and own the spacecraft electrical architecture, including power generation and distribution, energy storage, avionics, data handling, communication interfaces, and harnessing.
• Lead the development, allocation, and management of system and subsystem requirements, ensuring traceability to customer specifications and mission objectives.
• Provide technical direction and oversight to electrical, power, avionics, FPGA/ASIC, and harness design teams; review and approve key design artifacts, analyses, and test plans.
• Lead or participate in trade studies (e.g., power architectures, redundancy schemes, component selection, radiation tolerance, derating, thermal/electrical interfaces) to optimize performance, cost, schedule, and risk.
• Ensure compliance with space environmental requirements, including radiation, EMC/EMI, thermal, vacuum, and launch loads, and guide the selection and qualification of EEE parts.
• Oversee the development of block diagrams, interface control documents (ICDs), electrical schematics, and power budgets, and ensure consistency across all program documentation.
• Lead design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR) for electrical and avionics systems; prepare and present technical material to internal management and external customers.
• Define and guide integration and test (I&T) strategies for electrical systems, including functional testing, hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL), environmental testing, and system‑level verification and validation.
• Support failure analysis, anomaly resolution, and root‑cause/corrective‑action activities during integration, test, and on‑orbit operations.
• Collaborate closely with systems engineering, mechanical, software, RF, GNC, and mission assurance teams to ensure a balanced, integrated spacecraft design.
• Provide technical input to proposals, including concept development, BOEs (basis of estimate), risk assessments, and customer briefings; support new business capture as a technical subject matter expert.
• Mentor and develop early‑career engineers, promoting sound engineering practices, design standards, and a culture of technical excellence.
• Ensure adherence to company, program, and customer processes, including configuration management, requirements management, and quality standards.
• Maintain awareness of industry standards and best practices for space electrical systems and recommend improvements to internal processes, tools, and design methodologies.
• Perform other duties as assigned or required.
  

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; eighteen or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, sixteen or more years of experience with a masters degree, or thirteen or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field from an accredited institution.
• Demonstrated experience leading the design and integration of spacecraft electrical or avionics systems, including power systems and data/command architectures.
• Strong understanding of:
• Spacecraft power systems (solar arrays, batteries, power conditioning and distribution, converters, regulators).
• Avionics and data handling (command and data handling, communication buses such as SpaceWire, CAN, MIL‑STD‑1553, Ethernet).
• EEE parts selection and derating, radiation effects (TID, SEE), and mitigation strategies.
• Requirements development and management, including use of tools such as DOORS or similar.
• Proven ability to lead multi‑disciplinary technical teams, make sound engineering decisions, and balance technical, cost, and schedule constraints.
• Experience with system‑level design reviews and direct interaction with government and/or commercial space customers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare and present complex technical material to diverse audiences.
• Must be customer focused and able to work on a self-initiated basis or in a team environment and able to work extended hours and travel as required.
• Must be customer focused and able to work on a self-initiated basis or in a team environment and able to work extended hours and travel as required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.

Preferred

• Master’s degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• Experience as a Chief Engineer, IPT Lead, or Lead Systems Engineer on a spaceflight program.
• Hands‑on experience with hardware integration and test of spaceflight electrical systems, including environmental testing (vibe, thermal vacuum, EMC).
• Familiarity with space standards such as NASA, ECSS, MIL‑STD, or equivalent (e.g., MIL‑STD‑1540, MIL‑STD‑461, NASA GEVS).
• Experience with model‑based systems engineering (MBSE) tools and methods.
• Experience working with small satellites, ESPA‑class spacecraft, or hosted payloads.
• Prior experience in a DoD or national security space environment.\\
  

Job Type: Full-Time Salary
Salary range: 140,940 - 252,293