Staff Mission Lead Systems Engineer (Space Systems)

TL;DR

Staff Mission Lead Systems Engineer (Space Systems): Developing and leading complex spacecraft missions from early concept formulation through on-orbit operations with an accent on mission architecture, requirements engineering, system modeling, and mission assurance. Focus on driving cross-functional technical trades, managing verification and validation, and delivering high-reliability systems for U.S. Government, defense, intelligence, and commercial customers.

Location: Hybrid position requiring on-site work in Mountain View, California, three days per week. The role requires an active TS/SCI security clearance and compliance with U.S. export-control requirements; applicants must be eligible to access ITAR/EAR-controlled information.

Salary: $216,000–$242,000 plus equity and benefits.

Company

hirify.global designs, builds, and operates low-Earth-orbit satellite constellations that deliver Earth and climate intelligence data.

What you will do

• Develop mission concepts, architecture trade studies, technical baselines, and proposal responses with Mission Architecture and Business Development teams.
• Own mission-level architecture, requirements, interfaces, behavior models, CONOPS, and subsystem budgets throughout the mission lifecycle.
• Act as the ultimate technical authority and primary technical interface for customers, partners, and internal stakeholders.
• Lead requirements traceability, verification and validation, design changes, risk mitigation, and mission assurance activities.
• Lead design, test readiness, and flight readiness reviews, and monitor on-orbit spacecraft and data pipelines.
• Provide technical direction to systems, hardware, software, data, ground-segment, and operations teams while improving engineering processes and tools.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering and 10+ years of experience in complex systems, mission architecture, and/or spacecraft design.
• Technical leadership experience as a Chief Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, or equivalent on complex systems for government, defense, intelligence, or demanding commercial customers.
• Experience with major space programs, U.S. Government or Intelligence Community acquisition programs, space-system development standards, and mission assurance standards.
• Experience with government contracts, contract artifacts, and proposal development for RFI/RFP responses.
• Extensive experience in system modeling, systems analysis, simulation, system integration, delivery, and formal requirements management.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance and eligibility under U.S. export-control regulations are required.

Nice to have

• RF systems engineering experience, including payload or instrument design, link budgets, spectrum, regulatory considerations, and RF architecture trades.
• Experience with Cameo Systems Modeler or an equivalent SysML model-based systems engineering tool.
• Python or Julia skills and familiarity with version control and code review.
• Knowledge of electrical or software quality standards.
• Remote-sensing instrument experience and related data pipelines.

Culture & Benefits

• Lean, agile environment with flexibility to tailor analysis and processes to mission maturity and risk.
• Full-time employees receive equity compensation and medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Benefits include a 401(k) retirement plan, short- and long-term disability, and life insurance.
• Three weeks of paid vacation, 12 paid holidays, unlimited sick time, and paid parental leave.
• Collaborative work across spacecraft hardware, software, data, ground-segment, and operations disciplines.