Systems Engineering Architecture

Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a ‘one-to-many’ system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster.

This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space.

What You’ll Do:

We are seeking a Systems Engineer who can move comfortably between system-level analysis and detailed implementation while bringing structure to complex, evolving government space programs.

The Systems Engineer is responsible for guiding spacecraft and mission systems through the full engineering lifecycle, from early concept development and system architecture through integration, verification, launch, and mission operations. You will work across engineering disciplines to ensure the system is technically coherent, requirements are properly allocated and verified, interfaces are controlled, and the integrated vehicle is prepared to accomplish its mission.

Job Responsibilities

Perform systems engineering activities across the full spacecraft and mission lifecycle, including concept development, architecture, design, integration, verification, validation, launch, commissioning, and operations.

Develop, analyze, maintain, and manage system-level requirements, including functional, performance, interface, environmental, operational, and verification requirements.

Decompose mission objectives and stakeholder needs into clear, achievable, and verifiable system and subsystem requirements.

Maintain traceability between mission needs, system requirements, subsystem requirements, design decisions, interfaces, test activities, and verification evidence.

Support development and evaluation of spacecraft architectures, operational concepts, system modes, mission timelines, and end-to-end mission scenarios.

Develop the Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) model in Cameo sysml to support the design baseline.

Coordinate technical activities across spacecraft subsystems, payloads, flight software, ground systems, mission operations, and external mission partners.

Lead or support system interface definition, documentation, analysis, and verification.

Identify gaps, conflicts, and emergent behaviors resulting from interactions between hardware, software, operations, and external systems.

Develop system integration and verification strategies that demonstrate compliance with technical and mission requirements.

Create and maintain verification matrices, compliance plans, test objectives, verification methods, and acceptance criteria.

Support development of system-level integration plans, test plans, test procedures, test configurations, and test readiness criteria.

Participate directly in spacecraft integration and test activities, including functional testing, hardware-software integration, environmental testing, mission simulations, and end-to-end testing.

Evaluate test results, anomalies, waivers, deviations, and configuration changes for system-level impacts.

Lead or support troubleshooting of complex issues spanning multiple subsystems or engineering disciplines.

Coordinate anomaly investigations, root cause analyses, corrective actions, and regression testing.

Ensure test configurations, flight configurations, requirements, procedures, and verification evidence remain aligned throughout the program lifecycle.

Support mission operations development, including operational concepts, command and telemetry definitions, nominal and contingency procedures, mission rules, and operator training.

Participate in launch rehearsals, mission simulations, readiness reviews, commissioning activities, and on-orbit operations as required.

Facilitate technical trades and risk assessments using quantitative analysis, engineering judgment, and mission priorities.

Identify technical risks early and drive mitigation plans to closure.

Prepare and present technical material at system requirements reviews, preliminary and critical design reviews, test readiness reviews, flight readiness reviews, and customer reviews.

Communicate technical status, decisions, risks, and recommendations to engineering teams, program leadership, customers, and government stakeholders.

Support configuration management, change control, technical baseline management, and engineering process improvement.

What It Takes:

Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field.

5–10 years of relevant experience in spacecraft, aerospace, defense, autonomous systems, or another complex technical development environment.

Experience applying systems engineering principles across multiple phases of a product or mission lifecycle.

Working knowledge of spacecraft systems and the interactions between hardware, software, payloads, ground systems, and mission operations.

Experience developing and verifying technical requirements and defining system and subsystem interfaces.

Experience supporting system integration, verification, validation, and test activities.

Ability to understand complex hardware and software behavior and resolve multidisciplinary technical issues.

Strong technical writing, communication, engineering judgment, and ability to drive issues to closure in a fast-moving development environment.

What We’d Love:

Experience with spacecraft assembly, integration, and test, including functional, environmental, or end-to-end mission testing.

Technical depth in one or more spacecraft subsystem areas, such as avionics, GNC, structures, or flight software.

Experience serving as a test conductor, systems test lead, or technical lead during integrated spacecraft testing.

Experience with MBSE, SysML, Cameo Systems Modeler, or similar platforms.

Experience with requirements and lifecycle-management tools such as Jama, DOORS, or Polarion.

Experience with government space missions, mission operations, spacecraft commissioning, or anomaly response.

Experience with spacecraft autonomy, fault management, mission assurance, or scripting and analysis tools such as Python or MATLAB.

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here.

Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

The annual base salary for this role is below. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.

Pay Range

$135,000 - $175,000 USD

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