Senior Payload Integration Engineer

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

📋 Description

• Act as the technical authority for hosted payload missions, overseeing payload development from the initial mission concept through to integration, launch, and on-orbit operations.

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

• Collaborate closely with spacecraft manufacturers, suppliers, mission operations teams, and customers to ensure payload requirements are effectively translated into executable designs that are successfully integrated into GEO and MEO spacecraft architectures.

• Lead the design of payload architecture, conduct accommodation trades, and guide technical decision-making for hosted payload and payload-centric mission opportunities.

• Serve as the primary authority for payload-to-bus integration, ensuring proper alignment across mechanical, thermal, structural, electrical, RF, software, TT&C, and mission operations interfaces.

• Define and manage payload requirements, interface control documents (ICDs), verification plans, and configuration baselines.

• Oversee verification and validation activities, including functional testing, EMI/EMC, thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, RF performance, and comprehensive mission testing.

• Direct integration planning and execution across spacecraft manufacturing, EGSE/MGSE environments, environmental testing, and launch preparation processes.

• Lead payload commissioning, calibration, checkout, and performance validation activities during on-orbit operations.

• Assess hosted payload opportunities and mission concepts, evaluating technical feasibility, integration impacts, risks, schedules, and performance considerations.

• Collaborate with spacecraft providers, suppliers, customers, and mission stakeholders to address technical issues and facilitate program execution.

• Participate in major program reviews such as SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR, and technical interchange meetings.

• Identify, manage, and mitigate technical risks throughout the mission lifecycle, while maintaining a focus on mission performance and operational success.

⛳️ Requirements

• Proven ownership of payload development through at least one spacecraft mission, encompassing requirements, integration and testing, launch, and on-orbit commissioning.

• Comprehensive understanding 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 efforts.

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

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

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

• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills, with the capability to drive technical alignment across both internal and external teams.

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

🏝️ Benefits

• Health insurance

• 401(k) matching

• Flexible work hours

• Paid time off

• Remote work options