Staff Mission Integration Engineer (Aerospace)

Location: Los Angeles, California, USA; in-person collaboration at the Playa Vista office.

Company

A fast-growing aerospace startup manufacturing satellite buses at scale through software, vertical integration, and manufacturing-focused hardware.

What you will do

• Define end-to-end mission architectures covering spacecraft, launch vehicles, ground systems, and operations.
• Lead payload integration, spacecraft-level environmental testing, launch vehicle integration, system checkouts, and launch rehearsals.
• Perform mission analysis and architecture trades involving orbital mechanics, trajectory planning, deployment strategies, and technical budgets.
• Lead coupled loads, thermal, electromagnetic compatibility, requirements verification, validation, risk, and FMEA activities.
• Serve as the primary technical liaison between customers, internal engineering teams, government entities, prime contractors, and external partners.
• Develop technical documentation, integration procedures, customer specifications, interface control documents, proposals, feasibility studies, and cost estimates.

Requirements

• U.S. Person status is required to access export-controlled data.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering, or a related field.
• 12+ years of experience working on complex hardware systems or technical capture management, preferably in spacecraft, satellite manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or high-tech.
• Strong knowledge of space systems, launch vehicle mechanics, orbital dynamics, mission operations, and spacecraft or payload engineering.
• Experience with CubeSat, small satellite, or rideshare mission integration and with prime contractors or government entities.
• Familiarity with flight software, embedded systems, CCSDS, S-band, X-band, Python, MATLAB, STK, FreeFlyer, GMAT, or comparable mission analysis tools.

Culture & Benefits

• Equity participation and a fast-growing startup environment with significant funding.
• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, plus life insurance.
• Paid vacation, 10 holidays, paid parental leave, and childcare reimbursement for work-related travel.
• Competitive 401(k) plan with employer matching.
• Catered lunch, snacks, office socials, community activities, and a fully equipped Playa Vista office.