Sr. Systems Engineer

Albedo; Broomfield (CO); On-site; USD 161,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Parental leave & childcare coverage

Flexible vacation & sick time

12 company holidays

Wellness benefit

Relocation package

Job summary

Albedo is building VLEO spacecraft and is seeking a systems engineer to drive architecture, requirements, and interface management from mission concept through on‑orbit operations.

You will collaborate with GNC, avionics, payload, thermal, power, and flight software teams to ensure integrated, high‑performing spacecraft. Expect challenging trade studies, performance budgets, and hands‑on testing to validate design decisions.

Qualifications

• 3–6 years in systems engineering or related roles within aerospace.
• Familiarity with spacecraft subsystems and how they interact at the system level.
• Experience developing and running system-level analysis and tests to meet mission objectives.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to design and development of Albedo's VLEO spacecraft, driving system-level architecture, requirements and interface management from early mission development through on‑orbit operations.
• Collaborate with engineering teams across GNC, avionics, payload, thermal, power and flight software for seamless subsystem integration.
• Develop and maintain spacecraft performance budgets including pointing accuracy, power, thermal and data throughput to inform design decisions.
• Support spacecraft integration, verification and testing including functional, performance and environmental testing.
• Own and maintain system requirements, interface documentation and verification traceability across spacecraft platforms and missions.
• Identify and resolve system-level challenges and risks unique to VLEO operations such as atmospheric drag and high-precision pointing.
• Partner with customers, payload providers, and vendors to define technical interfaces and support mission execution.
• Help shape and scale Albedo's systems engineering processes across the full mission lifecycle.

Skills

Systems engineering

GNC

Avionics

Power

Thermal

Payload

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

Modeling

Tools

MATLAB

Simulink

Python

Job description

Albedo is making Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) mainstream, building the infrastructure to enable every satellite mission to enter this new orbital domain. We build buses, integrated satellites, and turnkey missions for customers to thrive in VLEO, below 300 km, where proximity compounds performance and drag self-cleans debris.

As part of the first 100 employees at Albedo, you will have a big impact on Albedo’s trajectory to proliferating VLEO — whether you’re advancing hardware to increase satellite longevity, scaling production for large constellations, building next‑gen flight and ground software to push performance, or enabling missions that matter for national security and our day‑to‑day life here on Earth.

How We Operate: Albedo takes a first‑principles approach — in space and in business. We move with speed, take calculated risks, and learn quickly. We use AI regularly to create leverage in every discipline across the company. We work in‑person at our Broomfield, CO HQ to maximize team and company productivity. We work hard and with urgency to compound our first‑mover advantage.

Who We're Looking For: Builders who want to own outcomes, not tasks. Systems thinkers who balance precision with iteration while thinking about the big picture. Individuals who are energized by creating a category rather than competing in an existing one. You’ll join a team that has already proven what others said wasn’t feasible and is now scaling and upgrading our VLEO buses & payloads to serve mission sets across sensing, communications, and responsive operations.

What You’ll Do:

• Contribute to the design and development of Albedo's VLEO spacecraft, driving system-level architecture, requirements definition, interface management, and technical trade studies from early mission development through on‑orbit operations
• Collaborate closely with engineering teams across GNC, avionics, payload, thermal, power, and flight software to ensure seamless subsystem integration and alignment with mission objectives
• Develop, analyze, and maintain critical spacecraft performance budgets, including pointing accuracy, power, thermal, and data throughput, to inform design decisions and validate system performance
• Support spacecraft integration, verification, and testing, including functional, performance, and environmental testing, troubleshooting, and post‑test analysis
• Own and maintain system requirements, interface documentation, and verification traceability, ensuring technical consistency across spacecraft platforms and missions
• Identify and resolve system‑level technical challenges and integration risks, particularly those unique to VLEO operations, including atmospheric drag, atomic oxygen exposure, and high‑precision pointing requirements
• Partner with customers, payload providers, and vendors to define technical interfaces, align requirements, and support successful mission execution
• Help shape and scale Albedo's systems engineering processes with opportunities to influence spacecraft design decisions and own systems engineering execution across the full mission lifecycle

Your Ideal Skills and Experience:

• 3–6 years of experience in systems engineering or related roles within aerospace, preferably spacecraft or high‑performance hardware platforms
• Familiarity with spacecraft subsystems (avionics, power, thermal, GNC, payload) and how they interact at the system level
• Experience developing and running system level analysis and test to meet mission objectives
• Exposure to integration and test campaigns: environmental testing, functional testing, or cross‑subsystem bring‑up
• Familiarity with modeling tools (e.g., MATLAB, Simulink, or Python‑based frameworks) and an interest in expanding simulation skills
• Strong organizational and communication skills with attention to detail
• Curiosity and eagerness to learn, with the drive to take ownership of problems and deliver results in a fast‑moving environment
• Regularly uses AI tools as essential leverage to accelerate work, improve clarity, and multiply output

Salary Range:

• $161,236 - $184,969 per year

Compensation and Benefits for Full‑Time Roles:

• Health Insurance: 100% employee coverage & 75% dependent coverage
• Parental leave and childcare coverage
• Flexible vacation and sick time from day one
• 12 company holidays
• $100 monthly wellness benefit
• Relocation package if not based in Denver

The final compensation package is subject to change if the candidate's experience and company need drive a different job level than originally slated for the position.

Albedo does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to Albedo employees. Albedo is not responsible for any fees or overhead related to unsolicited resumes.

AI Disclosure:

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to support and enhance our recruitment process. This includes recording, transcribing, analyzing, and evaluating your interview responses to ensure accurate, consistent, and efficient assessment of job‑related skills, knowledge, and abilities. While AI tools may assist in this process, our human recruiting and hiring teams make all hiring decisions. For questions about AI use in interviews, data handling, or to request accommodations, contact [e-mail]

Additional Requirements:

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired must verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. All persons hired will be required to be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., or a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled:

Albedo is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Relocation:

Relocation support for this position is available

Applicants must be a U.S. Person as defined under 22 CFR 120.62