Principal Communication Systems Engineer I

Job Description

Job Description

Please Note:  To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At  CesiumAstro , we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

We are looking to add a Principal Systems Engineer I to our team. If you enjoy working in a startup environment and are passionate about developing leading-edge phased arrays for satellites, spacecraft, and aerospace systems, we would like to hear from you.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in system engineering, experience in space technology, and the ability to be the technical point of contact for our communication programs. In this position, you will help develop space architecture concepts, sub-system design, payload design, requirements development, analysis and decomposition, high-level software and hardware system architecture design, concept of operations (CONOPS) development, and risk assessment. You will coordinate activities across multidiscipline engineering teams, raise issues at the program level, and  help drive complex programs to success.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Evaluate customer and operational needs to define requirements, integrate technical parameters, and assure compatibility of all physical, functional, and program interfaces.
• Collaborate with the program management team to support project scheduling and coordination.
• Partner with program management to be the primary outward-facing team with external customers for technical baseline discussions.
• Act as the liaison between program management, engineering, and manufacturing ensuring effective and organized communications.
• Participate in the development of system engineering processes for requirements management, flow down, and traceability.
• Perform risk analysis and develop mitigation strategies.
• Identify and resolve issues that may impede the progress of engineering teams.
• Foster a culture of efficiency and continuous improvement within our programs.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field.
• A minimum of 9 years of experience with emphasis on space-based communication payloads.
• Practical experience with antenna and RF systems.
• Experience working with product/component developers and vendors who provide critical functionality to the overall system.
• Excellent written and verbal technical communication skills.
• Proficiency with a requirements management tool such as DOORS or Jama.
• Ability to define work direction, track milestones, and demonstrate progress on large open-ended projects.
• Sense of urgency, with the ability to work well under pressure.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and analytical abilities, with the capability to identify, assess, and resolve complex technical challenges and design issues.
• The ability to work well with multifunctional teams.

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.  Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.  

CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.