Principal Spacecraft Systems Engineer II

An innovative aerospace company developing advanced communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer, Mission SEIT Lead to drive end-to-end spacecraft mission execution.

This organization operates in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment where engineers have real ownership and visibility across full mission lifecycles. If you enjoy leading multidisciplinary teams through complex system development — from early architecture through launch and operations — this role offers both challenge and impact.

The Role

As the Mission SEIT Lead, you will head a Systems Engineering, Integration & Test (SEIT) team responsible for defining and executing mission-level systems across space, ground, operations, and launch segments.

You will work within a leadership triad alongside Program Management and Responsible Engineering leadership to ensure technical excellence while maintaining cost and schedule performance.

This is a highly visible leadership position requiring strong systems thinking, execution discipline, and customer engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of systems engineering and test professionals

• Define end-to-end mission capabilities, requirements, interfaces, and CONOPS

• Develop and manage:

  • Technical performance measures

  • Requirements compliance matrices

  • System budgets

  • Verification & Validation (V&V) plans

  • Mission and system-level test campaigns

• Conduct structured trade studies and decision analyses

• Oversee change management, risk identification, and mitigation planning

• Ensure readiness for Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T), launch, and mission operations

• Partner daily with program management and engineering leadership to maintain alignment across technical, schedule, and cost objectives

• Engage directly with customers and key stakeholders to communicate mission progress

Required Qualifications

• 11+ years of engineering experience

• 8+ years in satellite mission systems and/or spacecraft design

• BS or MS in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical, Systems Engineering, or related field

• Proven experience leading cross-functional engineering teams

• Strong background in requirements development, interface management, and system architecture

• Experience developing CONOPS and system-level V&V plans

• Experience conducting trade studies and technical decision evaluations

• Experience presenting progress and technical plans to stakeholders

• Ability to integrate multi-project interdependencies

• Excellent organizational and communication skills

• Comfortable working in fast-paced, high-ownership environments

Preferred Experience

• RF communications missions or payloads

• Government or military customer experience

• Proposal development

• Early-phase system architecture definition