Principal Spacecraft Systems Engineer (Defense/Intelligence)

Be more than just an employee number! Join Terran Orbital, a leader in innovation, manufacturing, and operations in the satellite industry.

We are a pioneer in the miniaturization of space technologies and the delivery of responsive space solutions. We are a unique, fast-growing, and trusted team focused on quickly and economically designing, building, launching, and operating state-of-the-art satellites for advanced mission constellations.

Terran Orbital is seeking an experienced Principal Spacecraft Systems Engineer to join our growing team. Reporting to the Systems Engineering Manager, the Principal Spacecraft Systems Engineer will lead, work closely with, and be an integral part of a multidisciplinary team leading the cradle-to-grave technical definition of our products and missions.

You will architect key elements of mission operations, system functional behavior and performance, and detailed design for all subsystems that support innovative, high-capability small satellites.

Your work will synthesize and integrate subsystems, including space propulsion subsystems, high data rate radios, encrypted communication devices, radar systems, phased array antennas, and other satellite payloads, to name a few.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Leading and working closely with hardware, software, mechanical, mission operations, and other systems engineers to design and develop optimal architectures and detailed solutions to complex space domain missions

Leading concept of operations development, architecture definition, mission operations baselines, and mission operations procedures

Collaborate with Program and Product management to implement and manage schedules, knowledge management, configurations, and change management documents

Participating and leading the technical discussions with customers and suppliers to ensure mission success

Lead and take responsibility for technical reviews to ensure appropriate milestone maturity meets internal and external expectations

Managing requirements to ensure maturity, feasibility, proper flow-down and traceability, requirements verification, and requirements validation

Perform mission, system, and vehicle level trade studies to balance risk, cost, and performance

Supporting assembly, integration, and test activities including build procedures, test plans / procedures, and other verification and validations execution activities

Develop systems engineering artifacts that support requirements and architecture development; modeling and simulation; cybersecurity;

network operations; interoperability; verification and validation testing; and enterprise deployment and capability monitoring

Participating in team discussions involving vehicle architecture and design for future projects

Establish standard operating procedures that support mission assurance, risk mitigation, and contingency plans to assure required mission up time for all ground activities

Collaborate with engineering teams to define interfaces; integrate mission applications and data storage; and verify Terran Orbital enterprise capabilities

Implement life cycle systems engineering best practices

Requirements

BS or MS in engineering field with focus on Aerospace or other engineering discipline with 10+ years work experience or demonstrated equivalent

Technical leadership experience across one or multiple areas in the space domain

Demonstrated ability to make complex critical decisions in a timely manner

Demonstrated experience and success with one or more of the technical areas listed above

Experience leading day-to-day operations on complex programs or large functional organizations, with proven collaboration and coordination skills across internal and external stakeholder organizations

Experience with risk, issue, and opportunity management

Understanding of how people, process, tools, systems, and leadership concept of operations operate to achieve goals

Proven ability to deliver effective communication verbally, written, and through well-crafted presentations across all levels of an organization

Impeccable attention to detail and sense of urgency

Ability to self-govern with minimal supervision, establish workload priorities, and to utilize efficient time management practices to achieve assigned tasks

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S.

protected individual as defined by 22 CFR 120.15 or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State

Additional Differentiators

Demonstrate experience and success with technical leadership of launched or operational space domain systems and architectures

Government / military / defense industry experience a plus

Demonstrate experience and success with space-based encrypted communications architectures and devices, as well as knowledge of standards for geospatial intelligence data and products

Demonstrate experience and success with space-based reliability, availability, and maintainability, and safety

Demonstrate experience and success with space-based optical systems and applications

Demonstrate experience and success with space-based remote sensing systems

Demonstrate experience and success with rendezvous proximity operations and docking

Familiarity with MATLAB, S.T.K., and Linux platforms

Familiarity with satellite system budgets, including mass, power, and link budgets

Benefits

100% Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents

401(K) Match

Unlimited PTO

Flexible Time Off (FTO)

Salary Range $130,000-$200,000

Your actual level and base salary will be determined case-by-case and may vary based on the job-related qualification, knowledge, skills, education, and experience.

100% covered medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) match, unlimited flex time off, covered life insurance, maternity and paternity leave, tuition reimbursement, employee referrals, and lots of swag!

About Terran Orbital

Terran Orbital is a leading manufacturer of satellite products primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries. Terran Orbital provides end-to-end satellite solutions by combining satellite design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and on-orbit support to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civil, and commercial customers. Learn more at .

Physical Demands

An employee must meet the physical demands described to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. In performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely required to sit or stand for long durations of time, in addition to bending, reaching, and walking.

This would require lifting or moving objects up to 10 pounds and occasionally lifting or moving objects up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment

The job operates in a professional office environment but in a manufacturing company. This job routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and scanners.

Disclaimers

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.

S., 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. In addition, please note that this position may require a current United States National Security clearance or eligibility for such a clearance.

Terran Orbital is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.

We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or membership in any other group protected by federal, state, or local law.

If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at .

Terran Orbital does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms. To conduct business with Terran Orbital, a Master Services Agreement (MSA) must be executed and confirmed prior to submitting any information relating to a potential candidate.

Without a signed MSA, Terran Orbital shall not be responsible to any individual or entity for any payment relating to any form of fee or compensation.

And, in the event that a resume or candidate is submitted by a recruiter, an employment agency, or a staffing firm without a fully executed MSA, Terran Orbital has the unrestricted right to pursue and hire any of those candidate(s) without any legal or financial responsibility to the recruiter, agency, and / or firm.