Principal Responsible Engineer I - Space Payloads

Please Note: To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At CesiumAstro , we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

We are seeking a highly skilled Space Payload Responsible Engineer (RE) to lead the design, development, integration, test, and flight qualification of advanced spaceborne payloads. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with phased array systems , RF receivers , power and control architectures , and spacecraft-level interfaces . In this role, you will serve as the technical authority for the payload, guiding multidisciplinary engineering teams from concept through on-orbit activation.

You will be responsible for technical execution, schedule and risk management, cross-functional coordination, and delivering a fully qualified payload to spacecraft integration. This position requires strong leadership, deep engineering knowledge, and the ability to operate in a fast-paced mission environment.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

• Serve as the Payload Responsible Engineer (RE) and primary technical point of contact for the payload throughout the mission lifecycle.
• Lead the end-to-end engineering effort for the payload, including architecture, design, prototyping, integration, test, environmental qualification, and flight readiness.
• Coordinate and direct a team of RF, digital, mechanical, thermal, software, and systems engineers to ensure consistent and timely technical execution.
• Develop and review payload control schemes, internal data interfaces, command & telemetry architecture, and firmware/software integration as needed.
• Oversee development and performance of phased array antennas including beamforming, calibration, and environmental considerations..
• Manage all flight qualification activities, including environmental test planning (thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, EMC), margin assessment, and final acceptance testing.
• Generate and maintain payload-level documentation: requirements, ICDs, block diagrams, test plans, verification matrices, risk registers, and design reviews.
• Interface with spacecraft systems engineering, mission assurance, manufacturing, vendors, and test facilities.
• Drive root cause analysis, anomaly resolution, and technical risk mitigation throughout development and test campaigns.
• Communicate status, technical trades, risks, and design decisions to internal leadership and external customers.
  
  

Job Requirements And Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or related technical field. (Master’s or Ph.D. preferred.)
• 9 years of engineering experience in space payload development or RF/antenna systems.
• Direct experience designing and testing phased array antennas for space or high-reliability applications.
• Hands-on experience with RF receivers, including front-end architectures, downconverters, filtering, and RF system modeling.
• Demonstrated understanding of payload control systems, digital interfaces, command & data handling, and embedded hardware/software interactions.
• Experience with space power systems, including DC-DC converters, load analysis, protections, and spacecraft power interfaces.
• Proven experience executing or overseeing flight qualification and environmental test campaigns (TVAC, vib/shock, EMC, radiation considerations).
• Leadership experience, including mentoring or leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Proficiency with engineering tools such as RF simulation packages (HFSS, CST, ADS, MATLAB), schematic/PCB tools, or systems engineering tools (Doors, Cameo).
• Strong knowledge of space systems engineering practices, requirements flowdown, verification/validation, and configuration management.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to present complex technical information to diverse audiences.
  
  

Preferred Experience

• Experience managing projects for government and commercial customers. Experience with radiation-tolerant design, proton/total-dose analysis, and EEE parts selection.
• Experience with high-rate manufacturing, rapid development cycles, or NewSpace ecosystems.
• Prior role as a Responsible Engineer, Technical Lead, IPT Lead, or Chief Engineer on flight hardware.
• Experience with ground test setups, RF test equipment, phased array calibration, and antenna range measurement.
• Background in digital signal processing, beamforming algorithms, or embedded firmware for payload control.
• Experience mentoring less experienced project engineers and design engineers in associated discipline
• High energy and a “get it done” attitude
  
  

$140,000 - $190,000 a year

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills. Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.

CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.