VP of Spacecraft Engineering & Programs

Socket.dev; Broomfield (CO); On-site; USD 214,000 - 284,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Relocation bonus

Medical, vision, dental coverage

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

Katalyst is seeking a senior engineering leader to own the effectiveness of the engineering organization and ensure the technical quality of spacecraft, payloads, software, and mission-delivery work across parallel programs. You will set a clear operating model, lead engineering managers and directors, and align capacity with strategy while driving disciplined decision-making.

This role requires deep aerospace systems experience and strong executive communication.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline with strong aerospace background.
• 10+ years leading engineering teams in aerospace, robotics, or defense domains.
• End-to-end ownership of spacecraft missions from design to on-orbit operations.
• Ability to manage architectures, interfaces, verification, and risk.
• Proven track record hiring and developing technical leaders.

Responsibilities

• Own the effectiveness of the engineering organization and technical quality across programs.
• Set an engineering operating model defining decision rights and interfaces.
• Lead and develop engineering leaders; build autonomous, high-performing teams.
• Ensure architectures and baselines are coherent, traceable, and executable.
• Drive disciplined technical decisions amid competing objectives and risks.
• Establish an engineering rhythm providing visibility into maturity, risks, and blockers.
• Collaborate with Program, Product, Operations, Manufacturing, and executive leadership.
• Raise the bar on requirements, reviews, verification, and flight readiness.
• Build a scalable engineering talent system with leadership development.
• Create mechanisms for lessons learned to drive durable improvements.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Systems-level fluency

Executive communication

Engineering management

Spacecraft systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical/Computer/Systems Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Katalyst is seeking a senior engineering leader to own the effectiveness of the engineering organization and ensure the technical quality of spacecraft, payloads, software, and mission-delivery work across parallel programs. You will set a clear operating model, lead engineering managers and directors, and align capacity with strategy while driving disciplined decision-making.

This role requires deep aerospace systems experience and strong executive communication.