What are the responsibilities and job description for the Systems Engineering Project Manager position at EVONA?
Cambridge, Massachusetts | Hybrid | US Person Required
We’re supporting a leading astrophysics and space research organisation on a key hire for an upcoming NASA-backed spaceflight mission.
This is not a traditional project management role. The team is looking for a systems engineering-led profile who can help drive a mission through early lifecycle phases, balancing technical oversight, systems thinking, and programme execution within a lean, fast-moving environment.
The programme is a cost-constrained astrophysics mission entering a critical early phase, with major reviews and system definition activities underway over the next 6–12 months.
What they’re looking for
The ideal person will come from a spaceflight or satellite background and have a strong systems engineering foundation, combined with exposure to programme or project leadership responsibilities.
This could suit someone already operating as a Project Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, SEIT Lead, Payload Lead, or a Systems Engineer looking to step into a broader mission leadership role.
Responsibilities
Compensation is flexible depending on experience and fit, with strong benefits and long-term stability alongside the opportunity to work on a high-impact NASA mission.
We’re supporting a leading astrophysics and space research organisation on a key hire for an upcoming NASA-backed spaceflight mission.
This is not a traditional project management role. The team is looking for a systems engineering-led profile who can help drive a mission through early lifecycle phases, balancing technical oversight, systems thinking, and programme execution within a lean, fast-moving environment.
The programme is a cost-constrained astrophysics mission entering a critical early phase, with major reviews and system definition activities underway over the next 6–12 months.
What they’re looking for
The ideal person will come from a spaceflight or satellite background and have a strong systems engineering foundation, combined with exposure to programme or project leadership responsibilities.
This could suit someone already operating as a Project Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, SEIT Lead, Payload Lead, or a Systems Engineer looking to step into a broader mission leadership role.
Responsibilities
- Support technical and programme execution across an active spaceflight mission
- Drive systems engineering activities including:
- requirements definition and flow-down
- interface management
- risk identification and mitigation
- trade studies and technical decision-making
- Support preparation for major programme reviews including SRR/MDR-style gates
- Coordinate across multidisciplinary engineering and scientific teams
- Work closely with senior technical leadership, mission stakeholders, and external partners
- Help maintain alignment between mission objectives, technical execution, cost, and schedule
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Astrophysics, Systems Engineering, or related field
- 5 years of relevant experience within spaceflight, spacecraft, satellite, or aerospace systems
- Strong systems engineering experience across complex technical programmes
- Experience with:
- requirements development
- systems integration
- formal technical/design reviews
- cross-functional technical coordination
- Exposure to programme, project, or technical leadership responsibilities
- Excellent communication skills
- US Person status required
- Small satellite or cost-constrained mission experience
- Scientific payload or instrumentation experience
- NASA, DoD, FFRDC, national lab, or research organisation experience
- Experience supporting SRR, PDR, CDR, MDR, or equivalent reviews
- Astrophysics or space science mission exposure
- Experience operating within lean engineering teams
- Mission-driven, highly technical team
- Lean organisation with significant ownership and visibility
- Strong balance between engineering depth and programme responsibility
- Opportunity to influence mission direction early in lifecycle
Compensation is flexible depending on experience and fit, with strong benefits and long-term stability alongside the opportunity to work on a high-impact NASA mission.