Mission Systems Engineer

Job Description

Sophia Space is developing the Athena demonstration mission to validate distributed orbital computing technologies on a commercial spacecraft platform. We are seeking a versatile Senior Mission Systems Engineer to support mission architecture, spacecraft systems engineering, integration planning, and mission execution across multiple technical disciplines.

Rather than specializing in a single subsystem, this engineer will provide experienced systems engineering support wherever needed across the mission lifecycle. The role combines mission analysis, operational planning, interface definition, trade studies, requirements development, and technical leadership while working closely with spacecraft providers, payload teams, avionics, software, and mission operations personnel.

The successful candidate will possess broad spacecraft systems engineering experience, strong technical judgment, and the ability to rapidly contribute across multiple engineering domains while helping mature technical products, reduce mission risk, and enable successful mission execution.

Location & Eligibility

This position is primarily in-person in Pasadena, California, with occasional hybrid flexibility based on business needs.

This position requires access to technology that is subject to U.S. export control laws. To comply with applicable ITAR and EAR regulations, applicants must qualify as a U.S. Person, as defined under those regulations. U.S. Persons generally include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and certain protected individuals as defined by applicable law.

Primary Responsibilities

Mission Systems Engineering

• Support system-level requirements development, interface definition, verification planning, and technical trade studies.
• Develop and review mission architecture products, technical analyses, and engineering recommendations.
• Coordinate technical interfaces across spacecraft, payload, avionics, software, GNC, communications, and mission operations teams.
• Support technical reviews including SDR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR, and operational readiness activities.
• Contribute to technical risk identification, mitigation planning, and anomaly resolution.

Mission Operations

• Support development of mission ConOps, operational timelines, and contingency procedures.
• Develop operational procedures for spacecraft commanding, telemetry monitoring, and mission execution.
• Review ground segment architecture, operational readiness, staffing concepts, and mission support plans.
• Coordinate operational interfaces and responsibilities with spacecraft providers and mission partners.

Communications Systems

• Review and validate spacecraft communications analyses, link budgets, and RF system performance.
• Support communications requirements, ICD development, and ground network coordination.
• Assist with FCC licensing activities and communications regulatory documentation.
• Support operational communications planning and ground contact strategies.

Guidance, Navigation & Control

• Review spacecraft attitude control analyses, pointing budgets, and mission attitude concepts.
• Evaluate GNC interface requirements and identify technical risks.
• Support spacecraft fault management, operational modes, and mission sequencing.
• Review mission simulations and validate assumptions supporting spacecraft performance.

Required Skills

• B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Systems Engineering, or related discipline.
• 4–7 years of spacecraft systems engineering or mission engineering experience.
• Strong understanding of spacecraft subsystems, mission architecture, and systems engineering principles.
• Experience developing requirements, interface definitions, verification plans, or technical trade studies.
• Experience supporting multidisciplinary engineering teams through spacecraft development.
• Strong analytical, technical writing, and presentation skills.
• Ability to independently solve complex technical problems while collaborating across engineering disciplines.
• Experience working in fast-paced development environments with evolving technical requirements.

Desired Skills

Guidance, Navigation & Control

• Experience with spacecraft attitude determination and control.
• Familiarity with STK, GMAT, FreeFlyer, or equivalent mission analysis tools.
• Experience reviewing pointing analyses and fault management architectures.

Mission Operations

• Experience developing spacecraft operational concepts and mission procedures.
• Familiarity with ground segment design, launch operations, LEOP, or mission operations planning.
• Experience supporting operational readiness reviews or anomaly response planning.

Communications Engineering

• Experience with spacecraft communications architectures, RF systems, and link budget analysis.
• Familiarity with FCC licensing, frequency coordination, and ground station networks.
• Experience with communications interface definition and operational communications planning.

General Spacecraft Systems

• Experience with CubeSat, SmallSat, hosted payload, or demonstration-class missions.
• Familiarity with MBSE, SysML, DOORS, Jama, or similar systems engineering tools.
• Active or prior DoD security clearance.