System Engineer Location: Irvine, CA Employment Type: Full-Time Work Arrangement: Onsite Salary Range:$145,000 – $175,000 USD About the Role An innovative space technology company is seeking an experienced System Engineer to lead the systems engineering lifecycle for next-generation spaceborne radar payloads. This is a highly technical, hands-on role responsible for defining system architecture, managing requirements, driving verification activities, and ensuring payloads meet mission objectives from concept through flight readiness. Working closely with RF, digital, mechanical, software, and program teams, you will play a key role in translating mission needs into robust, flight-ready space systems while balancing performance, reliability, manufacturability, and schedule. Key Responsibilities
Define and maintain the overall payload system architecture, including avionics and subsystem interfaces.
Decompose mission and system-level requirements into subsystem and interface specifications while maintaining complete requirements traceability through verification.
Lead Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and reliability assessments to identify potential single-point failures and develop mitigation strategies.
Design fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) strategies, safe modes, and anomaly response concepts aligned with mission operations.
Establish, monitor, and maintain system-level technical budgets including mass, power, thermal, data rate, and communications link budgets.
Own the verification and validation (V&V) strategy by mapping requirements to appropriate verification methods including testing, analysis, inspection, and demonstration.
Develop mission concepts of operations (ConOps), including orbit operations, imaging modes, duty cycles, and ground segment interfaces.
Define, maintain, and control Interface Control Documents (ICDs) between payload subsystems and spacecraft interfaces.
Collaborate with software engineering teams on embedded flight software architecture, command and telemetry definitions, and operational mode transitions.
Partner with product and engineering teams to translate product roadmaps into system-level technical requirements and architecture decisions.
Support formal engineering reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, MRR, and FRR by preparing and presenting technical documentation.
Perform system trade studies and budget analyses to support design decisions, cost optimization, manufacturability, and mission performance.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
7+ years of systems engineering experience supporting space systems, radar systems, avionics, or similar complex aerospace programs.
Minimum 2 years of experience serving as a System Architect or technical lead on complex engineering programs.
5+ years of experience leading requirements decomposition, requirements management, and verification closure throughout the product lifecycle.
5+ years of experience performing FMEA and reliability analyses for flight hardware or high-reliability systems.
5+ years of experience developing and tracking system-level budgets including mass, power, thermal, and communications link budgets.
Working knowledge of radar or RF systems.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical decision-making skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Software Engineer (Payload Software) Location: Irvine, CA Job Type: Full-Time Work Schedule: Onsite Salary: $155,000 – $175,000 USD, depending on experience.
About the Opportunity Join an innovative space technology company developing advanced remote sensing systems and next-generation satellite payloads. This organization designs, builds, and operates cutting-edge space systems that deliver mission-critical intelligence and Earth observation capabilities for government and commercial customers. We are seeking an experienced Software Engineer to design, develop, and integrate payload software for advanced spacecraft systems. In this role, you will work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to develop embedded software that supports the complete payload lifecycle—from architecture and implementation through integration, testing, and deployment. This is an excellent opportunity for an engineer who enjoys solving complex technical challenges while working on mission-critical space hardware and software.
Key Responsibilities
Design, develop, and integrate payload software for spacecraft systems.
Participate in the complete software development lifecycle, including requirements definition, architecture, implementation, integration, verification, and testing.
Collaborate with systems, hardware, electrical, RF, and integration teams to ensure successful software and hardware interoperability.
Develop and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and software documentation.
Support software integration, debugging, and validation during spacecraft assembly and test activities.
Troubleshoot embedded software and hardware interface issues throughout development and integration.
Contribute to software architecture decisions and continuous improvement of development processes.
Required Qualifications
6+ years of professional experience developing software using C, C++, and Python.
6+ years of embedded software development experience.
6+ years of experience working with System-on-Chip (SoC) and microcontroller-based designs.
Strong experience developing software in Embedded Linux environments, including Yocto build systems.
Experience developing and maintaining Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
Experience implementing communication and data protocols.
Experience supporting the complete software lifecycle from requirements development through verification and testing.
Strong analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) systems.
Familiarity with FPGA firmware development.
Understanding of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems.
Experience supporting avionics integration and system-level testing.
Knowledge of avionics hardware architectures.
Experience with spacecraft or embedded system architecture.
Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics.
Why Join Us?
Develop software that directly supports next-generation spacecraft and remote sensing technologies.
Work alongside experienced multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Contribute throughout the full product lifecycle—from software architecture to spacecraft integration.
Solve challenging technical problems while building highly reliable embedded systems for space applications.
Be part of a collaborative engineering environment focused on innovation, quality, and mission success.
Compensation & Benefits
Comprehensive health benefits.
Flexible paid time off.
Collaborative engineering culture with opportunities for professional growth.
Security & Export Requirements This position may require access to export-controlled technology and the ability to meet applicable U.S. government security and compliance requirements. Candidates must be eligible to work in accordance with U.S. export control regulations.
Contract Parts, Materials & Process (PMP) Engineer Location: Fully Remote (US) Type: Contract — 12 months Rate: Dependent on experience
EVONA is partnering with a US space systems company to secure a contract Parts, Materials & Process (PMP) Engineer.
You’ll support their senior M&P engineer in producing the parts, materials and processes assurance documentation the US government requires on program deliverables (MTA/PMAP). Let’s be straight: this is a compliance and documentation role, not R&D. The whole point is finding someone who’s lived in this environment before, knows what the customer expects, and can produce clean, compliant documentation without the endless back-and-forth.
What You’ll Be Working On
Authoring and maintaining PMP/PMAP program assurance documentation to MTA requirements
Producing compliance deliverables — parts control plans, materials and process plans, part and material approval requests, CDRL/SDRL submittals
Supporting parts, materials and process selection, qualification and approval, including EEE parts control
Reviewing drawings and specifications for correct materials and process callouts
Maintaining parts and materials lists, control plans and assurance records
Supporting DPA, radiation/RHA, derating and non-conformance reviews
Interfacing with the senior M&P engineer, program and quality teams, and the government customer
What You’ll Bring
Hands-on experience producing parts/materials/processes assurance documentation for US government defence or space programs — MTA/PMAP-type deliverables ideally
Background in PMP, M&P, EEE parts, component or reliability engineering within defence, space or high-reliability electronics
Proven ability to produce documentation that clears customer review first time
PMPCB, NSPAR, GIDEP or obsolescence experience (ideal)
ITAR: This role supports US Government space technology. Applicants must be a US citizen, permanent resident, protected individual, or otherwise eligible for the required export authorisations.
Interested Apply now or send your latest CV to m.carter@evona.com ASAP! If you haven’t heard back within 48 hours, please assume your application was not successful this time.
We're working with a fast-moving space company that needs a Loads & Dynamics Engineer to own the dynamic environments side of its hardware programmes. This isn't documentation-heavy compliance work — it's hands-on analysis where you'll derive environments, get test data in the room, and correlate it back against your models.
The core need is loads & dynamics, but there's a meaningful stress/FEA component alongside it. The ideal hire is a dynamics-focused engineer who can also carry a heavier Nastran workload and hold their own on stress — someone comfortable across both rather than a pure specialist in one. Depending on background, this could also be scoped as two separate engagements (loads & dynamics and stress), so strong candidates weighted toward either side are worth a conversation.
You won't need to be a career-long specialist, but you do need real depth in the discipline and the confidence to work directly with customers.
What you'll be doing
Loads & dynamics (primary)
Deriving dynamic environments and structural loads for spacecraft and launch hardware
Vibro-acoustics, random vibration, shock response, and structural dynamics analysis
Building system-level FE models and generating super-elements for customer delivery
Planning and correlating test campaigns — collecting data and reconciling it with your models
Iterating directly with customers on coupled loads and integrated analysis
Stress / FEA (alongside)
Detailed stress and structural analysis, hand calculations, and margins of safety
Heavier Nastran/FEA workload supporting the analysis effort
Desktop analysis work, largely remote
What we're looking for
Strong loads & dynamics background gained in space or defence
Proven experience deriving environments, running test campaigns, and correlating models to data
Solid stress/FEA capability — hands-on with Nastran (Femap, Patran, or equivalent an advantage)
Ideal: engineers out of new space — the pace, ownership, and end-to-end analysis culture of companies like Blue Origin, SpaceX, Rocket Lab, or Relativity map directly onto how this team works.
Also welcome: defence backgrounds, particularly propulsion (liquid or solid), missile, or high-speed aircraft systems.
Logistics
Contract engagement
Fully remote — largely desktop analysis, with no foreseeable on-site requirement (any minimal site coordination would be years out and hardware-dependent)
We are supporting a client of ours in the search for a senior engineer to take technical ownership of a critical heat shield development programme. This is a high-impact role for someone with deep aerothermal expertise and proven re-entry domain experience.
The programme is already beyond concept phase and is moving through detailed design and analysis. The successful person will pick up existing work, lead technical direction, and provide the level of authority needed to help the team move quickly and confidently.
The Role
You will act as the technical lead / design authority for heat shield development, supporting a team of engineers working on re-entry spacecraft technology. The focus is not people management, but technical leadership — setting direction, making decisions, and driving delivery across the workstream.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the aerothermal / thermal engineering activity for heat shield design and analysis
Take ownership of an already-mature design and progress it through further detailed development
Act as the design authority for the work, making sound technical decisions and directing engineering activity
Provide technical tasking and guidance to a capable but relatively junior team
Bring re-entry domain expertise into the team to strengthen decision-making and programme execution
Good understanding of the orbital and atmospheric entry environment
Ability to operate as a systems-level thinker rather than a narrow specialist
Comfortable making decisions, setting direction, and operating with technical authority
Useful Additional Background
Experience on return satellites, re-entry vehicles, or related programmes
Background in hypersonic systems may be relevant where there is strong overlap in aerothermal analysis
Team Context
The engineer will support a team currently around eight people, expected to grow to around ten or eleven. There are no direct line management responsibilities in this role; functional leads manage the resource pool, while this position provides technical leadership across the work.
Key Points
This is an urgent hire
Permanent hire is preferred, but contract options may be considered
Candidates must be UK-based due to export control constraints
Join a mission-focused engineering team developing advanced solid propulsion and open-architecture airborne ISR technologies for DoD weapon systems, missile defense, and space launch programs. This is a hands-on role for a senior engineer who thrives on solving complex design challenges at a small, collaborative company working alongside industry pioneers.
What You'll Do
Lead design of hot gas valves, rocket thrusters, actuators, igniters, and pressure vessels
Own trade-off analysis and design optimization across multidisciplinary systems
Build intricate 2D/3D CAD models and technical drawings; apply advanced GD&T and tolerance analysis
Run structural, dynamic, and thermal simulations; interpret results to drive design decisions
Guide material selection and characterization for demanding applications
Oversee additive manufacturing, composite layups, machining, molding, and assembly — including quality control and technical guidance to assembly teams
Design test setups and custom fixtures; lead large-scale, high-risk test programs
Drive requirements engineering, risk management, and continuous improvement across programs
Manage schedules, proposals, and cross-functional teams on large-scale projects
Communicate technical findings clearly through documentation and presentations
What You Bring
10–15 years of mechanical engineering experience, ideally in rocket motor design and testing
BS in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering or related field (MS preferred); equivalent experience considered
U.S. citizenship, with ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
A self-motivated, collaborative, “get it done” mindset
We're seeking a Mechanical Liaison Engineer to act as the technical bridge between Engineering and Manufacturing, supporting the production of complex mechanical assemblies in a fast-paced advanced manufacturing environment.
Working closely with Design, Manufacturing and Quality teams, you'll resolve production issues, disposition non-conforming hardware, support engineering changes, and help improve manufacturing quality and throughput.
Responsibilities
Serve as the engineering interface between Design Engineering and Manufacturing.
Review and disposition non-conforming components and assemblies.
Participate in Material Review Boards (MRBs) and Failure Review Boards (FRBs).
Support Engineering Change Requests (ECRs) and implementation into production.
Investigate manufacturing defects and support root cause analysis.
Provide hands-on support to manufacturing teams to resolve technical issues.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, manufacturability and production efficiency.
Feed lessons learned back into future product designs.
Requirements
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace or Industrial Engineering (or equivalent experience).
0–3 years of engineering experience.
CAD experience (NX, Inventor, Creo, SolidWorks or similar).
Strong communication and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work effectively with cross-functional engineering teams.
Preferred
Manufacturing or production engineering experience.
We're looking for an Associate Flight Assurance Engineer to help ensure the quality, reliability, and mission success of advanced aerospace systems throughout the product lifecycle.
Working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality teams, you'll identify risks early, support product verification, investigate anomalies, and contribute to the continuous improvement of assurance processes.
Responsibilities
Evaluate new product designs for reliability, safety, and manufacturability.
Support mission and flight assurance activities throughout development and production.
Perform risk assessments, failure investigations, and reliability analyses.
Assist with root cause investigations and corrective actions.
Prepare assurance documentation, compliance reports, and risk mitigation plans.
Support product qualification and verification activities.
Participate in quality, safety, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to improve product reliability and mission success.
Requirements
Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
0–3 years of experience in Flight Assurance, Mission Assurance, Quality, Reliability, or Aerospace Engineering.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent communication and technical writing abilities.
Familiarity with risk assessment methodologies and quality systems.
Preferred
Knowledge of AS9100, NASA or DoD quality standards.
We are seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer to join an innovative team developing advanced electronic systems for space applications. This is a hands-on engineering role suited to someone who enjoys taking hardware from concept through to production and test.
Responsibilities
Design and develop electronic hardware for demanding space environments.
Create schematics and support PCB design throughout the full development lifecycle.
Work closely with manufacturing partners to ensure successful production and assembly.
Lead board bring-up, debugging, verification and validation activities.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to integrate hardware with embedded systems and FPGA-based designs.
Support hardware testing, troubleshooting and continuous product improvement.
Requirements
Proven experience developing electronics for space applications (essential).
Strong background in PCB design, schematic capture and hardware development.
Experience supporting manufacturing, board bring-up, debugging and testing.
Familiarity with FPGA-based systems, microcontrollers and embedded hardware.
Experience designing low-power electronic systems is highly desirable.
Strong understanding of digital and analogue electronics, with excellent problem-solving skills.
Location
This position is based on-site in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Relocation assistance is available for exceptional candidates.
Our client is a rapidly growing space technology company developing next-generation software that transforms how satellite missions are planned, simulated, and operated. Their technology supports commercial and government customers by enabling faster, more agile mission development through modern, software-driven solutions.
They're seeking an experienced Proposal Manager / Technical Writer to lead the development of compelling proposals while working closely with engineering and business development teams to support continued growth.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the planning, coordination, writing, and submission of technical proposals.
Translate complex engineering concepts into clear, persuasive customer-facing content.
Collaborate with systems engineers, software teams, business development, and executive leadership.
Edit and consolidate contributions from multiple authors into a cohesive, high-quality proposal.
Ensure all proposal documentation meets customer requirements and compliance standards.
Manage proposal schedules, reviews, version control, and final production.
Support proposal efforts across both prime and subcontract opportunities.
Maintain proposal libraries and reusable content to improve future proposal efficiency.
Key Requirements
Proven experience in proposal management and technical writing within aerospace, defence, or the space industry.
Strong understanding of spacecraft, ground systems, mission operations, or related space technologies.
Experience managing both prime and subcontract proposal efforts.
Outstanding written communication, editing, and organisational skills.
Ability to engage effectively with highly technical engineering teams.
Experience managing multiple concurrent proposals in a dynamic startup environment.
Self-motivated, adaptable, and comfortable working with evolving priorities.
APMP certification or Shipley proposal methodology experience would be advantageous.
If you're passionate about space technology, enjoy collaborating with technical experts, and have a track record of delivering winning proposals, this is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact within an ambitious, high-growth organisation.
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