Senior Systems Engineer - Satellites

Responsibilities

• Function as responsible engineer for avionics systems across design, integration, test, launch, and operations
• Define detailed systems design, including system interfaces, consumable budgets, harness and channel capabilities, hardware capabilities, reliability and fault tolerance compliance, vehicle risk assessments, and configuration change management
• Collaborate with a cross-functional engineering team to define requirements, lead systems trades, and scope designs as they move from concept to flight production
• Architect and inform autonomous behaviors, vehicle modes, and fault responses to comply with vehicle mission requirements
• Develop system-level verification plans for integrated flight hardware to verify test coverage and vehicle flight readiness
• Evaluate vehicle health and perform real-time troubleshooting to drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions
• Create and maintain system designs, processes, and validation techniques to improve reliability and streamline production
• Support process improvement by identifying recurring issues, implementing design feedback, and enabling higher system reliability
• Travel to launch sites or test facilities as needed to support operational activities
• Mentor and support fellow engineers, fostering strong technical development across the team

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or other engineering discipline
• 5+ years of professional or project experience with avionics design, analysis, system level integration, and/or unit level testing
• Experience with systems engineering principles and processes as they relate to spacecraft development
• Experience with lifecycle development as it relates to space systems, including requirement definition, identifying design solutions, integration, validation and verification, qualification, and operation

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience defining, managing, and verifying flight software interfaces
• Experience with system design and test of subsystems like power, GNC, RF, and propulsion interfaces
• Experience with high-reliability/fault-tolerant electronics for aerospace or defense applications
• Understanding of electrical schematics and electronics manufacturing to analyze and improve test coverage
• Competence with electrical test equipment (multimeters, oscilloscopes, network analyzers, power supplies, etc.)
• Ability to effectively communicate technical topics to a wide variety of audiences
• Ability to creatively solve problems and weigh against multi-disciplinary requirements while assessing risk and making design and development decisions with incomplete data
• Self-motivated with strong learning, multi-tasking, organizational, communication and documentation skills
• Strong sense of accountability and integrity with excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work autonomously and thrive in a fast paced environment

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 10% travel to support launch campaigns
• Comfortable balancing several projects at any given time with the flexibility to adjust for abrupt changes in strategic direction

Pay Range

California $120,540—$209,520 USD

We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package.

Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks.

We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast's ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

U.s. Export Control Compliance Status

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a "U.S. person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.