Chief Space Vehicle Systems Engineer General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs and manufactures first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS' expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions support critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide. GA-EMS Remote Space Sensing Systems (RS3) is redefining access to space with modular, scalable small satellite platforms and constellations. Backed by proven on-orbit performance, our small satellite solutions support defense, intelligence and civil science missions. Our team is adding a Chief Space Vehicle Systems Engineer in Englewood, CO. As the senior systems engineering authority for space vehicles within RS3, you will be responsible for leading end-to-end space vehicle system design and integration across multiple satellite and constellation development programs. You will translate mission needs and CONOPS into space vehicle requirements and architectures, lead system-level trades and analysis, and guide the flow-down of requirements into subsystem specifications, interfaces, and verification strategies. In this role, you will lead by technical influence across cross-functional teams to ensure the space vehicle design is feasible, verifiable, manufacturable, and aligned with cost, schedule, performance, and risk objectives. You will work closely with systems engineering, spacecraft bus and payload SMEs, integration and test teams, program management, and business development to establish and maintain the technical baseline, support key technical and program reviews, and drive disciplined systems engineering practices and innovation across the RS3 space vehicle portfolio.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Serve as the chief systems engineering authority for space vehicle design and integration across multiple small satellite and constellation programs, translating mission needs and CONOPS into end-to-end space vehicle architectures, system requirements, and performance allocations. Lead system-level trade studies and analyses (e.g., bus architecture, payload accommodation, power/thermal, propulsion, GNC, communications) to optimize performance, cost, schedule, and risk, and own the space vehicle requirements baseline, including derivation, allocation, interfaces, and change control. Provide technical oversight for systems engineering development activities including: model-based systems engineering (MBSE), requirements, interface control documents (ICDs), and verification and validation plans. Collaborate closely with spacecraft bus, payload, GNC, power, thermal, propulsion, structures, software, integration and test, and other SMEs to ensure an integrated, verifiable, and manufacturable space vehicle solution, and oversee the verification and validation strategy through analysis, test, and demonstration. Serve as review board member for system-level design and program reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, ORR), clearly communicating technical status, risks, and trade decisions to internal leadership and customers, while identifying and managing key technical risks and opportunities at the space vehicle level. Provide technical leadership and mentorship to systems engineers and cross-functional teams, and work with program management and customers to align technical scope with cost, schedule, and resource plans. We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.
