Demo

Senior Satellite Systems Engineer

SES
Sterling, VA Full Time
POSTED ON 10/21/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 12/21/2026


Senior Satellite Systems Engineer

The job responsibilities outlined in this document are not exhaustive and may evolve over time and be reviewed according to business needs.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

As the Senior Satellite Systems Engineer, Space Programmes, you will be responsible for providing resident systems engineering support to all phases of the satellite procurement programs which includes participation the Design Reviews, test reviews and failure reviews as well as meticulous oversight throughout all phases of the spacecraft Design, Assembly, Integration, and Launch Campaign. You will be part of the SES Resident Field Office Team located at spacecraft manufacturer premises. You will review and trend the test data for the platform equipment at unit, subsystems and system level tests and provide technical support to the Field Office Program Manager on investigations, resolutions and corrective actions.

As a Senior Satellite Systems Engineer, Space Programmes, you will be responsible to :

  • Ensure that the specification of each platform equipment unit meets the end-to-end system performance and functional requirements
  • Provide technical assessment related to platform units and subsystem definition and development, requirements, analysis, trade-offs, budgets, validation and tests
  • Identify, assess & mitigate technical risks associated with spacecraft bus, develop contingency plans.
  • Ensure that all platform unit, subsystem and system test procedures comply with the contractual requirements
  • Participate in design, test readiness, material and failure review meetings at manufacturer sub- and prime-contractor facilities as needed
  • Critically examine the anomaly investigation results to root cause analysis and verify corrective actions are implemented
  • Follow-up of platform components through build, test and integration into next higher assembly
  • Perform the overall and Spacecraft platform test data review for compliance with requirements
  • Monitor daily activities at spacecraft manufacturer facilities
  • Provide oversight of activities at Manufacturer and Subcontractor facilities as needed
  • Perform inspections and reviews as needed
  • Review design, manufacturing and test documentation
  • Ensure the program action items are adequately addressed and closed
  • Provide summary reports of issues and recommended actions
  • Provide 24/7 on-call support during spacecraft testing and single line flow
  • Support launch site activities in preparation for launch
  • Support the operational team during LEOP critical activities or in case of anomaly

COMPETENCIES

  • High level knowledge in satellite subsystems and ability to challenge industry expert in their field
  • Self-Starter with a high level of personal accountability
  • Prioritization
  • Team Player
  • Demonstrated influencing and negotiation skills
  • A willingness to be self-critical, continuously improves skills, learn from mistakes, acts within her or his circle of competence and knows their boundaries

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

  • Master's degree or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering or related discipline
  • 8 years of experience in space systems engineering or spacecraft bus engineering.
  • Strong knowledge of spacecraft bus systems
  • Experience working with a spacecraft bus supplier and in AIT environment
  • Good knowledge of space product and quality assurance processes
  • Agile, flexible and able to work across a geographically distributed team
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Strong ability in persuasive and diplomatic communication to inspire collaboration and drive collective goal achievement
  • Highly organized, capable of tracking multiple streams of critical activities at once
  • Project/execution orientation: able to drive initiatives, handle schedule/criticality
  • Eligibility to obtain security clearance
  • Strong ability to work independently and with limited supervision in complex environments, including multi-stakeholder projects
  • Flexibility and adaptability in response to evolving project requirements and dynamic environments
  • Ability to think strategically and align project goals with organizational objectives
  • Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities
  • Effective communication skills, both written and verbal

OTHER KEY REQUIREMENTS / COMMENTS

  • Willing to work at least 80% onsite from office, preferably 100%.
  • Willingness to travel (supplier visits) - 30% domestic and international travel

SES and its Affiliated Companies are committed to providing fair and equal employment opportunities to all. We are an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law.

For more information on SES, click here.


SES and its Affiliated Companies are committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. In conformity with U.S. Government technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and/or other applicable U.S. law, regulation or other requirements imposed by the U.S. Goverment, certain positions may require U.S. Citizenship, status as a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. or a "protected individual" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligibility to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.


 

Salary.com Estimation for Senior Satellite Systems Engineer in Sterling, VA
$116,398 to $139,093
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Senior Satellite Systems Engineer?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Senior Satellite Systems Engineer career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$109,521 - $135,401
Income Estimation: 
$89,959 - $116,974
Income Estimation: 
$124,832 - $154,325
Income Estimation: 
$135,163 - $163,519
Income Estimation: 
$169,825 - $204,021
Income Estimation: 
$166,631 - $195,636
Income Estimation: 
$162,237 - $199,353
Income Estimation: 
$181,083 - $218,117
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at SES

  • SES Fayetteville, NC
  • Project Manager - Wireless or 5G - with Active Secret Clearance Location: Hybrid - Fort Bragg, NC - occassional onsite required Employment Type: FTE - No C... more
  • 2 Days Ago

  • SES Mc Lean, VA
  • Manager, Information Security Management ROLE DESCRIPTION SUMMARY The jobholder owns the continuous improvement of assigned domains of the SES information ... more
  • 3 Days Ago

  • SES Fayetteville, NC
  • Systems Engineering Services is seeking a 5G Project Manager based in the Fayetville NC area to work at Fort Bragg Military base. 5G Implementation Project... more
  • 5 Days Ago

  • SES Sterling, VA
  • Senior Product Assurance Engineer The job responsibilities outlined in this document are not exhaustive and may evolve over time and be reviewed according ... more
  • 8 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Senior Satellite Systems Engineer jobs in the Sterling, VA area that may be a better fit.

  • Space Systems Integration Chantilly, VA
  • Space Systems Integration (SSI) is a fast-growing engineering company that provides aerospace solutions to a variety of government and commercial customers... more
  • 1 Month Ago

  • INFINITY SYSTEMS ENGINEERING LLC Welcome, MD
  • Infinity’s niche in the aerospace and defense industry is specialized solutions that help bridge the gap between space and ground. This is no small task, a... more
  • 17 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!