Systems Engineering & Programme Integration Lead

Holt Executive Ltd; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Holt Executive Ltd is seeking a Lead Systems Engineering & Programme Integration to provide technical leadership across the development, integration and delivery of a complex spacecraft programme. You will oversee spacecraft-level systems engineering, governance, and AIT activities while coordinating with internal teams and external partners.

The role requires delivering engineering excellence, managing interfaces, and chairing key reviews across the programme lifecycle, influencing decisions at

Qualifications

• Degree (or higher) in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related discipline.
• Extensive spacecraft systems engineering experience and full satellite development ownership.
• Experience integrating multi-vendor subsystems within LEO or MEO programmes.
• Knowledge of ECSS or NASA standards, verification, validation, and AIT activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead spacecraft systems engineering activities, maintain requirements, baselines, interfaces, and overall systems integration.
• Establish and manage external partner relationships, providing governance through the programme lifecycle.
• Oversee AIT planning, facility readiness, environmental tests, and qualification activities.
• Own EM, QM, and PFM build campaigns; chair major design and acceptance reviews.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to resolve issues and manage interfaces across the programme.
• Support mission operations planning by integrating spacecraft requirements into the system architecture.

Skills

Systems thinking

Leadership

Technical reviews

Communication

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree in Aerospace Engineering

Degree in Electrical Engineering

Degree in Systems Engineering

Job description

Overview

A pioneering organisation developing next-generation satellite communications infrastructure is seeking a Lead Systems Engineering & Programme Integration professional to provide technical leadership across the development, integration, and delivery of a complex spacecraft programme.

This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for overseeing spacecraft-level systems engineering, programme integration, technical governance, and assembly, integration and test activities. Working across internal engineering teams and external partners, you will act as the technical authority for satellite-level requirements, interface management, system integration, and acceptance throughout the programme lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Lead spacecraft systems engineering activities, maintaining mission requirements, technical baselines, interface control documentation, and overall systems integration.
• Establish and manage technical relationships with external partners and suppliers, providing governance throughout the programme lifecycle.
• Oversee Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) planning, facility readiness, environmental test capability, and qualification activities.
• Own Engineering Model (EM), Qualification Model (QM), and Proto-Flight Model (PFM) build campaigns, chairing major design and acceptance reviews.
• Coordinate cross-functional engineering teams to resolve technical issues, manage interfaces, and support programme execution through all development phases.
• Support mission operations planning by integrating spacecraft operational and mission assurance requirements into the overall system architecture.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Degree (or higher) in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Extensive experience in spacecraft systems engineering, including ownership of complete satellite development and build programmes.
• Proven experience integrating complex multi-vendor spacecraft subsystems within LEO or MEO satellite programmes.
• Strong knowledge of systems engineering standards such as ECSS or NASA frameworks, together with spacecraft verification, validation, and AIT activities.
• Demonstrated experience managing technical interfaces across customers, suppliers, and international engineering partners.

Skills & Attributes

• Excellent systems thinking with the ability to manage complex technical programmes from concept through delivery.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Confident chairing technical reviews, driving engineering decisions, and resolving programme-level issues.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence both technical and executive stakeholders.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, collaborative programme environment with multiple parallel workstreams.

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in the delivery of a major satellite programme, leading systems engineering and technical integration activities across the full spacecraft lifecycle. You\'ll work alongside industry-leading engineers, influence critical technical decisions, and help shape the future of next-generation satellite communications.