🏢 Summary: Lead Systems Engineer role focused on owning launch vehicle system requirements, architecture development, and system-level integration for advanced space missions. The position involves leading multidisciplinary teams, managing verification and validation, and supporting launch campaigns and flight operations. This is a senior, hands-on technical leadership role in a fast-paced aerospace environment requiring security clearance eligibility. 🗂️ Requirements: Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering or related field, 10+ years of engineering experience in aerospace, defense, launch vehicles, spacecraft, missile, or high-reliability systems, Experience developing and managing system requirements, Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams, Experience with system integration, verification, and validation, Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and lifecycle development, U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (export regulations compliance), Ability to obtain and maintain Government Security Clearance 📃 Skills: MBSE, Cameo, MagicDraw, Capella, DOORS, Jama, ICDs, SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR, GNC, Avionics, Propulsion, SystemsEngineering, Verification, Validation 🏢 Description: A New Paradigm For Space Operations. Who We Are: 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 Lead Systems Engineer to be a key contributor to our current programs. Own the development, allocation, and management of launch vehicle system requirements. Lead vehicle-level architecture development and system design trades. Define and maintain requirements traceability from mission objectives through subsystem implementation and verification. Coordinate technical activities across propulsion, structures, avionics, software, GNC, manufacturing, and test organizations. Lead system-level integration efforts and identify interface requirements between vehicle subsystems. Develop and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs), system specifications, and verification plans. Support design reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR, and other program milestones. Lead technical risk identification, mitigation planning, and resolution activities. Support anomaly investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective actions during testing and flight operations. Define system verification and validation strategies and ensure successful execution. Support launch campaigns, integrated vehicle testing, and flight readiness activities. Serve as a technical leader and mentor for systems engineering processes and best practices. What It Takes: Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical discipline. 10+ years of engineering experience with complex aerospace, defense, launch vehicle, spacecraft, missile, or high-reliability systems. Experience developing and managing system requirements. Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams. Experience with system integration, verification, and validation activities. Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and lifecycle development. Excellent communication and technical leadership skills. 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). Applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and may need to meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information; Ability to maintain or obtain a Government Security Clearance is required. Preferred Qualifications: Master's degree in Engineering or related technical field. Experience with launch vehicles, spacecraft, satellites, missile systems, or defense aerospace programs. Experience leading System Requirements Reviews (SRR), Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR), and Critical Design Reviews (CDR). Experience developing and managing Interface Control Documents (ICDs). Familiarity with MBSE tools such as Cameo, MagicDraw, Capella, or similar platforms. Experience with requirements management tools such as DOORS, Jama, or equivalent. Understanding of mission analysis, flight operations, and launch vehicle architecture. Experience supporting flight test programs and launch campaigns. Active security clearance or ability to obtain and maintain one. What We'd Love: Strong systems thinking and problem-solving skills. Ability to balance technical detail with vehicle-level decision making. Comfort working across organizational boundaries and engineering disciplines. Strong ownership mentality and ability to drive issues to closure. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment where rapid iteration and execution are critical. Where You'll Be: The position is onsite at our headquarters in El Segundo, CA. What We Offer: Equity-Based Compensation Highly Competitive PTO and Holiday Calendar Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage Unique Performance-Based Bonus Structure Health and Wellness Stipend Commuter Benefits ITAR Requirements: 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. Equal Employment Opportunity: 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 interviews, job-related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity. Pay Range $90,000—$110,000 USD

🏢 Summary: The offer is for a Systems Engineer responsible for defining and assessing space mission concepts, translating customer needs into system requirements, and leading early lifecycle and proposal-phase systems engineering activities. The role focuses on mission feasibility studies, trade-off analyses, and technical documentation aligned with space industry standards. It involves close collaboration across engineering and commercial teams to shape viable space projects. 🗂️ Requirements: Degree in systems, aerospace, electrical or mechanical engineering, Minimum 3 years experience in space industry projects, Strong understanding of space systems, Experience in systems engineering during early lifecycle or proposal phase, Knowledge of orbital mechanics and mission analysis, Understanding of electronics, mechanics, thermal control and software including FPGA, Experience with requirements management and interface control, Hands-on experience with DOORS-like requirements management tools, Experience creating technical documentation according to ECSS, Ability to perform trade-off analyses and system-level requirement definition, Very good English proficiency 📃 Skills: SystemsEngineering, OrbitalMechanics, MissionAnalysis, Electronics, Mechanics, ThermalControl, FPGA, Software, RequirementsManagement, DOORS, ECSS, MBSE, MATLAB, Python, STK, Excel 🏢 Description: Role summary: As a Systems Engineer for Mission Concepts you will play a critical role in converting customer needs into successful space missions. You’ll lead the definition of mission concepts and realization of feasibility studies, collaborate across engineering, commercial and supply chain teams, and help shape proposals that become real projects. Responsibilities: · Leading systems engineering efforts in space projects focusing on early steps of system lifecycle, also as part of proposal phase · Performing mission concepts trade-off analyses (such as orbital/rendezvous trade-offs, delta-V, coverage/revisit, link budget, power budget, payload sizing) · Identifying and naming customer needs and transforming them into requirements · Translate customer requirements into system-level requirements; iterate with customers to refine needs. · Preparing and oversight of technical documentation · Support in building consortia of partners/suppliers to deliver missions based on identified mission concepts · Present and communicate technical and commercial proposals to both technical and non-technical audiences. Basic qualifications: · Background in systems engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical/mechanical engineering, or related disciplines. · Solid understanding of space systems (at least 3 years of experience in space industry in relevant projects); · Experience contributing to proposals, technical management, or customer engagement. · Fundamental technical understanding in the following domains: electronics, mechanics, thermal control, software (including FPGA), orbital mechanics; · Basic mission-analysis familiarity (coverage, link budgets, orbital constraints) · Strong understanding of requirements management, interface control, architectural modeling, and V-model development. · Hands-on experience in requirements definition and management using Doors-like requirements management tool · Experience in creating technical documentation according to ECSS; · Troubleshooting and problem solving skills; · Ability to work effectively under pressure; · Very good English in speaking and writing. · Strong communication skills, capable of bridging technical and non-technical domains. Preferred qualifications: · Experience in working on systems with flight heritage (TRL 9); · Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE); · Practical experience with MBSE; · Experience in working with European Space Agency, European Commission and European Defense Agency.; · Experience in small-sat or EO/telecom missions; · Solid mathematical and analytical skills; comfortable working with budgets, trade-offs, uncertain requirements and preliminary sizing. · Hands-on skills: e.g., Excel modelling, MATLAB/Python, STK or equivalent mission-analysis tools — desirable.