Lead (Chief) Satellite Systems Engineer

Our mission is to provide real-time on-orbit connectivity for critical missions, enabling a new era of data-driven intelligence and innovation. With 33 satellites launched to date, Kepler operates the first commercial optical data relay constellation, enabling real-time, continuous space communications while supporting advanced on-orbit compute and hosted payload capabilities. 

As a Lead Satellite Systems Engineer, you will serve as a primary technical authority for satellite and space-system development programs, ensuring the integrity of system design, integration, verification, and mission readiness from concept through delivery. You will translate program objectives into executable technical plans, aligning requirements, architecture, interfaces, trade studies, verification evidence, and risk decisions across a large cross-functional team.

The ideal candidate has demonstrated experience delivering through at least one satellite-level program lifecycle. Experience with constellation-level architectures, multi-satellite delivery, or cross-program technical execution is a strong asset. This role requires strong systems engineering judgment, the ability to lead through ambiguity, and the communication discipline to align teams and stakeholders while balancing technical integrity with cost, schedule, risk, mission assurance, and customer expectations.

This position is intended for a technical leader who can operate with credibility across engineering, program management, product assurance, suppliers, customers, and senior leadership. T1/T2 expectations emphasize ownership of technical outcomes, disciplined integration, requirements alignment, decision closure, readiness evidence, and system-wide integration readiness across multiple subsystems.

Key Responsibilities:

Be the lead systems engineering authority for a satellite program or major technical scope, ensuring the integrity of system design, integration, verification, and mission readiness

Translate mission objectives and program constraints into clear technical direction across architecture, requirements, interfaces, trade studies, verification planning, readiness evidence, and technical risk closure

Lead system-level design and integration across spacecraft subsystems, connecting subsystem decisions to whole-system performance, operations, reliability, customer commitments, and lifecycle needs

Partner with Program Management, Product Assurance, subsystem teams, suppliers, customers, and leadership to align technical execution, manage expectations, and close decisions

Lead technical reviews, trade studies, anomaly investigations, readiness milestones, and decision forums with clear recommendations and disciplined follow-through

Manage technical risks and uncertainty by structuring ambiguous problems, clarifying assumptions, defining decision points, and maintaining clear escalation paths

Represent the technical team in program reviews, customer briefings, supplier discussions, and leadership updates through clear writing, presentations, and decision rationale

Mentor engineers and technical leads while improving systems engineering, integration, verification, and review practices to increase predictability and support mission success

Required Skills & Qualifications:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field

10+ years of experience in space systems engineering, spacecraft development, satellite systems integration, or a related technical leadership role

Demonstrated experience delivering through at least one satellite-level program lifecycle, including architecture, design, integration, verification, launch readiness, customer delivery, or mission operations phases

Strong working knowledge of satellite systems engineering, including requirements management, system architecture, interface definition, verification planning, integration, technical budgets, risk management, and mission readiness

Experience leading major technical reviews or readiness milestones such as SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, MRR/MRB, FRR, or equivalent program reviews

Demonstrated willingness and ability to leverage AI-assisted engineering and development tools to improve productivity, design quality, and innovation while adapting to evolving technologies and best practices

Familiarity with systems engineering standards and disciplined technical governance practices, including configuration management, discrepancy review, engineering change control, and verification evidence management

Proven ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams through uncertainty, changing priorities, and high-pressure program milestones

Strong stakeholder management skills, including the ability to align engineering, program management, Product Assurance, customers, suppliers, and leadership around technical decisions and program outcomes

Excellent technical writing, presentation, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical issues into clear impacts, options, recommendations, and decision rationale

Strong decision-making, problem-solving, and risk management skills

Strong attention to detail, with the ability to maintain technical rigor while operating in a fast-paced program environment

Flexible, proactive, adaptable, and results-oriented, with a practical “can-do” approach

Demonstrated willingness and ability to leverage AI-assisted engineering and development tools to improve productivity, design quality, and innovation while adapting to evolving technologies and best practices

Bonus Points:

Experience with constellation-level systems, multi-satellite programs, portfolio-level technical execution, or scalable satellite architectures

Development or technical leadership experience in one or more spacecraft subsystem areas, preferably software, communications/RF, avionics, payloads, or other mission-critical satellite systems

Experience using subsystem development knowledge to guide IPTs, provide credible recommendations, and connect subsystem-level decisions to whole-system outcomes

Experience with FMECA, FDIR design or development, reliability engineering, fault management, or mission assurance practices

Good working knowledge of orbit analysis, constellation configurations, RF link analysis, system budgets, operations, ground segment, space environment, and satellite mechanical and electrical architectures

Good knowledge of a range of satellite applications, such as Earth observation, communications, navigation, science, or related mission domains

Experience with payload development, integration, customer delivery, technical management, operations, or mission application understanding, including optical, SAR, SigINT, communications, or other mission payloads

Experience applying AI-enabled tools or automation to improve systems engineering workflows, including design iteration, technical reviews, documentation, trade studies, and decision tracking, while maintaining engineering rigor and human oversight