System Engineer

EVONA; California (MO); On-site; USD 145,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

EVONA in Irvine, CA seeks an experienced System Engineer to lead the systems engineering lifecycle for spaceborne radar payloads. The role defines system architecture, manages requirements, and drives verification to flight readiness, collaborating with RF, digital, mechanical, software and program teams.

The ideal candidate will have 7+ years in space systems, proven leadership on complex programs, and extensive experience in FMEA, verification closure, and interface control.

Qualifications

• Degree in a technical discipline as listed.
• Experience leading requirements decomposition and verification closure.
• Proven track record in FMEA and reliability analyses for flight hardware.
• Experience with system architecture and ICDs is preferred.
• Strong collaboration with RF, digital, mechanical, and software teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the payload system architecture and interfaces.
• Decompose mission requirements into subsystem specs with traceability.
• Lead FMEA and reliability analyses to mitigate single-point failures.
• Design FDIR strategies and anomaly response concepts for missions.
• Manage system budgets for mass, power, thermal, and data rates.
• Own V&V strategy mapping requirements to tests, analyses, demos.
• Develop ConOps including orbit operations and ground interfaces.
• Define ICDs between payload and spacecraft subsystems.
• Collaborate on embedded flight software architecture and telemetry.
• Translate product roadmaps into system-level requirements.
• Support formal reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, MRR, FRR) with docs.
• Perform system trade studies for cost, manufacturability, and performance.

Skills

System engineering

Requirements management

FMEA

V&V planning

Interface control

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Aerospace/Systems Engineering

Job description

About The Role

An innovative space technology company is seeking an experienced System Engineer to lead the systems engineering lifecycle for next-generation spaceborne radar payloads. This is a highly technical, hands‑on role responsible for defining system architecture, managing requirements, driving verification activities, and ensuring payloads meet mission objectives from concept through flight readiness. Working closely with RF, digital, mechanical, software, and program teams, you will play a key role in translating mission needs into robust, flight‑ready space systems while balancing performance, reliability, manufacturability, and schedule.

Location: Irvine, CA

Employment Type: Full‑Time

Work Arrangement: Onsite

Salary Range: $145,000 – $175,000 USD

Key Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the overall payload system architecture, including avionics and subsystem interfaces.
• Decompose mission and system‑level requirements into subsystem and interface specifications while maintaining complete requirements traceability through verification.
• Lead Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and reliability assessments to identify potential single‑point failures and develop mitigation strategies.
• Design fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) strategies, safe modes, and anomaly response concepts aligned with mission operations.
• Establish, monitor, and maintain system‑level technical budgets including mass, power, thermal, data rate, and communications link budgets.
• Own the verification and validation (V&V) strategy by mapping requirements to appropriate verification methods including testing, analysis, inspection, and demonstration.
• Develop mission concepts of operations (ConOps), including orbit operations, imaging modes, duty cycles, and ground segment interfaces.
• Define, maintain, and control Interface Control Documents (ICDs) between payload subsystems and spacecraft interfaces.
• Collaborate with software engineering teams on embedded flight software architecture, command and telemetry definitions, and operational mode transitions.
• Partner with product and engineering teams to translate product roadmaps into system‑level technical requirements and architecture decisions.
• Support formal engineering reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, MRR, and FRR by preparing and presenting technical documentation.
• Perform system trade studies and budget analyses to support design decisions, cost optimization, manufacturability, and mission performance.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 7+ years of systems engineering experience supporting space systems, radar systems, avionics, or similar complex aerospace programs.
• Minimum 2 years of experience serving as a System Architect or technical lead on complex engineering programs.
• 5+ years of experience leading requirements decomposition, requirements management, and verification closure throughout the product lifecycle.
• 5+ years of experience performing FMEA and reliability analyses for flight hardware or high‑reliability systems.