Principal Satellite Systems Engineer

Vantor is unleashing a more autonomous, interoperable world. Forging the new frontier of spatial intelligence, we empower decision makers and operators with the clarity they need to navigate what’s happening now and shape what’s coming next. Our AI-powered spatial intelligence platform fuses data from the world’s highest-resolution satellites with real-time sensor feeds from space, air, and ground to create the most accurate living digital replica of Earth. Vantor is headquartered in Westminster, Colorado.

Vantor is hiring a Principal Satellite Systems Engineer to join our SpaceWRX team to execute space projects starting from customer needs to design, develop, and deliver the world’s most capable earth observation systems. We are seeking a proven engineering leader to join our team in Westminster, CO.

In this role, you will: 

• Lead vendor interactions for satellite bus procurement, working with a small team of aerospace experts to review designs and manage issues 
• Write and oversee execution of statements of work and bus requirements 
• Review ICDs as well as payload integration and test plans  
• Review vendor-submitted processes, design reviews, analysis packages, and test reports to sell of mission requirements 
• Conduct and evaluate responses to RFIs and RFPs with satellite component vendors 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Must be a U.S. Citizen 
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, aerospace, physics, or a related field of study 
• 6-12 years of experience in aerospace systems engineering 
• End-to-end aerospace program system engineering experience from initial architecture through assembly, integration and test to on-orbit operations 
• Experience designing and qualifying hardware and software for low-earth orbit space environments: structural, thermal, radiation, and EMI/EMC in particular 
• Experience owning the design, analysis and test of a satellite bus or whole satellite system 
• Experience writing, decomposing and verifying requirements on a satellite program 
• Subcontractor oversight experience: Environmental test oversight, test report reviewing, etc. 
• Strong understanding of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space environments (radiation, thermal, orbital mechanics, etc.) and their impacts on system performance 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience working an Earth Observation satellite program 
• Experience as a satellite or bus lead systems engineer 
• Experience in RF systems design and analysis: space radios, transmitters and transceivers  
• Experience working with space-based memory and mission data recorders 
• Experience working with precision timing systems 
• Experience with encryption/decryption hardware devices and/or IP cores 
• Familiarity with software architecture, satellite bus flight software in particular 
• Experience integrating AI-enabled edge-compute solutions in space 
• Experience integrating optical crosslink terminal solutions in space  
• Ability to obtain a US Government security clearance at the TS/SCI level 

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