Sr. SE - Mission Systems & RF Payloads

About the role

The Senior Systems Engineer will lead mission-level systems engineering activities for advanced aerospace and space-based RF payload systems. This role is responsible for translating mission needs into executable architectures, developing Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), and leading end-to-end systems engineering across mission analysis, RF payload design, integration, verification, and operational readiness. The position requires deep expertise in mission systems engineering, aerospace RF payload architectures, and cross-disciplinary technical leadership.

Your main responsibilities will be

Mission Systems Engineering

• Lead mission definition, requirements development, and architecture trades from concept through deployment.
• Translate stakeholder and customer mission needs into validated system-level requirements and technical baselines.
• Develop and maintain system architecture baselines and solutions.
• Conduct mission analysis including performance modeling, link budgets, coverage analysis, and operational scenarios.
• Lead technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, ORR) and ensure mission-level technical integrity.

Aerospace RF Payload Design

• Lead system-level design of RF payloads including antennas, receivers, transmitters, frequency conversion chains, digital processing, and command/telemetry interfaces.
• Develop and validate RF link budgets, interference analysis, and spectrum compliance strategies.
• Define payload performance requirements (gain, noise figure, EIRP, G/T, bandwidth, dynamic range, etc.).
• Coordinate with hardware, firmware, software, mechanical, thermal, and power teams to ensure integrated payload performance.
• Support environmental qualification and verification activities for flight hardware (vibration, thermal vacuum, EMI/EMC, radiation).

CONOPS Development

• Develop detailed Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) aligned to mission objectives and user needs.
• Define operational modes, timelines, command sequences, and contingency operations.
• Perform operational trade studies to optimize performance, resiliency, and lifecycle cost.
• Support mission readiness assessments and operational validation exercises.

Requirements & Verification

• Lead requirements decomposition, traceability, and verification planning.
• Develop verification and validation strategies for mission and payload performance.
• Support integration and test planning, including system-level functional and performance verification.
• Ensure technical compliance with customer and program requirements.

Technical Leadership

• Serve as technical authority for mission and payload architecture decisions.
• Mentor junior systems engineers and support cross-functional integration efforts.
• Identify and manage technical risks and mitigation strategies.
• Interface directly with customers, subcontractors, and program leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in systems engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field (master's preferred)
• 10+ years of experience in aerospace or space systems engineering
• Demonstrated experience leading RF payload design for airborne or space-based platforms
• Strong background in RF systems, link analysis, spectrum management, and antenna systems
• Experience developing CONOPS for complex aerospace missions
• Proven experience supporting major technical reviews (SRR/PDR/CDR/TRR/ORR)
• Ability to acquire and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance with SSBI and Polygraph

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with space missions in LEO, MEO, or GEO
• Experience with digital beamforming, phased arrays, or software-defined radios
• Existing Top-Secret clearance with SSBI

Pay and benefits

We offer a compensation package that includes a competitive base salary plus annual performance bonus and benefits. We consider many factors when determining salary offers, such as candidate's work experience, education, training & skills, as well as market and business considerations. We are also open to considering candidates with experience and qualifications at a different level than required in a job posting, which may affect the compensation package offered.