Chief Engineer, Payload Integration

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Virginia.

📋 Description

• In this position, you will act as the technical expert for hosted payload missions, guiding payload development from the initial mission concept through to integration, launch, and on-orbit operations.

• You will function as a payload-focused Chief Engineer, responsible for payload performance, payload-to-bus integration, technical risk management, and ensuring mission success across communications, sensing, compute, and advanced technology payloads.

• Collaborating closely with spacecraft manufacturers, suppliers, mission operations teams, and clients, you will guarantee that payload requirements are effectively translated into actionable designs and successfully integrated into GEO and MEO spacecraft architectures.

• This position is pivotal to mission execution, necessitating profound systems thinking, cross-functional leadership, and active participation throughout the spacecraft lifecycle.

⛳️ Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship with the capability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance is preferred.

• Proven experience in owning payload development for at least one spacecraft mission, covering requirements, integration and testing, launch, and on-orbit commissioning.

• Extensive knowledge of spacecraft payload integration across mechanical, thermal, structural, electrical, power, RF, avionics, software, and mission operations domains.

• Experience in leading requirements development, interface management, verification and validation, configuration management, and technical risk mitigation activities.

• Strong understanding of spacecraft integration and testing environments, including cleanroom operations, environmental testing, EGSE/MGSE, and spacecraft-level integration workflows.

• Experience in supporting GEO and/or MEO missions, hosted payloads, multi-tenant spacecraft, or advanced payload architectures is preferred.

• Familiarity with RF communications systems, sensing payloads, onboard processing systems, and concepts related to mission operations.

• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to foster technical alignment across internal and external teams.

🏝️ Benefits

• SES Space and Defense is an equal opportunity employer.