Staff Spacecraft Systems Engineer

Turion Space

Staff Spacecraft Systems Engineer leading satellite architecture for a new product line focused on GEO Space Domain Awareness missions. Ensures technical success from requirements to verification across the spacecraft lifecycle.

Posted 6/18/2026full-timeCalifornia • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $190,000 - $260,000 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

TypeScript

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serve as Chief Program Engineer for assigned programs, owning end-to-end satellite architecture and ensuring appropriate technical progress throughout the program lifecycle
Drive resolution of complex cross-disciplinary technical issues, making authoritative architectural decisions that balance performance, cost, and schedule
Lead teams through all technical milestones including, SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and PSR, and post-launch operations
Interact directly with customers and suppliers as the primary technical point of contact to ensure mission success
Own and maintain system-level budgets, mass, power, delta-V, pointing, data, and link, ensuring the technical baseline demonstrably meets requirements and intended capability performance
Work alongside mission stakeholders to define and refine mission CONOPS, translating operational needs into rigorous system-level requirements
Lead derivation and maintenance of system requirements, ensuring full traceability from mission-level objectives through system, subsystem, and component requirements
Ensure requirements decomposition is executed correctly and that traceability is maintained throughout the entire technical baseline
Establish and maintain robust requirements traceability frameworks to satisfy customer compliance documentation expectations
Author and oversee Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and all systems engineering documentation required for program compliance
Define and execute verification and validation plans (test, demonstration, analysis, inspection) at system and subsystem levels
Track system compliance and overall performance against mission needs, proactively identifying and resolving gaps
Provide top-level technical leadership across the entire spacecraft lifecycle, from proposal and concept through design, manufacturing, test, and operations
Collaborate with and guide multi-disciplinary engineering experts across all subsystems
Work with internal and external stakeholders to ensure mission CONOPS alignment and technical coherence
Mentor senior and mid-level systems engineers, elevating team-wide systems engineering discipline

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field
12+ years of experience in spacecraft systems engineering or spacecraft design, with hands-on experience in satellite design and integration
Demonstrated experience serving as a Chief Program Engineer or lead systems engineer on a complete spacecraft program
Deep expertise in requirements derivation, decomposition, and traceability from mission level through subsystems
Proven ability to own and maintain all system-level budgets (mass, power, delta-V, pointing, link, data) across the full project lifecycle
Experience authoring and managing compliance documentation and requirements traceability artifacts for customers
Strong track record leading teams through formal technical milestones (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, etc.)
Must be able to obtain a Secret and/or TS/SCI clearance.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Equity: Receive equity in Turion Space, letting you benefit from the company's success
Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their dependents.
Retirement Plans: Access to a 401(k) plan with a 3% Employer Direct Contribution to help you plan for your future.
Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, personal days, sick days, and holidays to ensure you have time to recharge.
Parental Leave: Paid parental leave following the birth of a newborn or adoption.
Emotional Wellbeing: A no-cost Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support you and your household’s emotional health and wellbeing.
Professional Development: Opportunities for ongoing internal training, workshops, and courses to advance your skills and career growth.
Team Building Activities: Regular social events, team outings, and company-sponsored activities to foster a positive work environment.

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Hard Skills & Tools

satellite architecturerequirements derivationrequirements decompositionrequirements traceabilityverification and validationsystems engineering documentationcompliance documentationspacecraft designsystem-level budgetstechnical leadership

Soft Skills

team leadershipcross-disciplinary collaborationcustomer interactionmentoringproblem-solvingcommunicationstakeholder engagementtechnical decision-makingorganizational skillsmission success focus

Certifications

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace EngineeringBachelor’s degree in Electrical EngineeringBachelor’s degree in Systems EngineeringSecret clearanceTS/SCI clearance