Sr. Staff Space-Based Communications Systems Engineer

Vantor is forging the new frontier of spatial intelligence, helping decision makers and operators navigate what’s happening now and shape what’s coming next. Come be part of a mission, not just a job, where you can shape your own future, build the next big thing, and change the world. Overview Our SpaceWrx team is responsible for developing advanced space systems that enable resilient, high-performance communications architectures for next-generation commercial, civil, and national security missions. Responsibilities Lead the evaluation, selection, and integration of spacecraft optical communications systems for mission-critical space programs. Develop and maintain optical communications trade studies, requirements analyses, and hardware down-selection efforts. Build and maintain detailed optical link budgets, including acquisition, tracking, pointing, atmospheric effects, distance-dependent losses, and system performance margins. Analyze end-to-end communications performance and recommend architecture improvements across spacecraft, ground, and network segments. Assess optical terminal capabilities, data rates, acquisition strategies, modulation approaches, and operational concepts to ensure mission success. Serve as the primary technical interface with optical communications vendors, evaluating product offerings and ensuring alignment with program requirements. Guide vendor engagements throughout the product lifecycle, including technical reviews, design assessments, manufacturing oversight, and delivery planning. Interact and collaborate with optical comm and RF cross-link service providers to evaluate the applicability of their offerings. Monitor supplier manufacturing, integration, testing, and qualification activities to ensure schedule, quality, and technical objectives are achieved. Collaborate with spacecraft, avionics, communications, mission operations, payload, and systems engineering teams to develop optimized end-to-end solutions. Identify technical risks, performance limitations, and integration challenges while developing mitigation strategies. Support system architecture development and provide recommendations on upstream and downstream subsystem impacts. Contribute to customer engagements, technical reviews, and proposal activities as a subject matter expert in optical communications. Minimum Qualifications Must be a U.S. citizen and possess, or have the ability to obtain, a U.S. Government TS/SCI security clearance. Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline. 5+ years of experience in the Aerospace industry – 2+ years of developing, integrating, or supporting spacecraft optical communications systems. Strong understanding of spacecraft optical communications principles, including: Link acquisition and tracking Pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) systems Optical link budget development Data rate and bandwidth calculations Distance-dependent losses and performance modeling End-to-end communications architecture Experience conducting technical trade studies and hardware down-selection efforts. Experience with spacecraft optical communications AI&T campaigns and deploying into full operations. Experience developing and maintaining system-level performance analyses and link budgets. Demonstrated ability to evaluate vendor technologies and manage technical relationships with suppliers and manufacturers. Experience overseeing hardware development, manufacturing, testing, and qualification activities. Experience setting up, executing tests, and analyzing data-chain testbeds leveraging optical terminals. Strong systems engineering mindset with the ability to understand subsystem interactions and mission-level impacts. Excellent communication skills and proven ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering teams. Ability to operate independently and drive technically complex initiatives with minimal oversight. Preferred Qualifications Experience supporting optical communications systems for commercial, civil, and national security missions. Familiarity with optical terminal integration into spacecraft avionics and communications architectures. Experience in designing spacecraft RF cross-links. Experience with ground station integration and end-to-end communications network analysis. Experience supporting design reviews, requirements verification, and mission readiness activities. Knowledge of emerging optical communications standards, architectures, and industry trends. Active U.S. Government security clearance. Compensation and Benefits Pay transparency is provided in all U.S. job postings. The base pay for this position within Colorado is $124,000 – $165,000 – $181,500 annually, with geographic adjustments for other states. Benefits include a competitive total rewards package, 401(k) with company match, mental health resources, student loan repayment assistance, adoption reimbursement, and pet insurance. Additional incentive eligibility may apply based on role and performance. EEO Policy Vantor is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr Vantor