Spacecraft Engineer - Office of the CTO

Astranis is seeking a motivated and experienced Spacecraft Engineer to join our dedicated team. This critical role involves the full lifecycle development of advanced small form-factor Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites. The successful candidate will be a key driver for cross-system trade studies, own satellite budgets, work to develop mission CONOPs, coordinate unit & vehicle test planning & readiness, and ensure that the satellites meet all mission design criteria.

Role:

• Lead the definition, documentation, and maintenance of the complete GEO spacecraft system architecture, including high-power payload accommodations, propulsion systems for orbit raising and station-keeping, and high-throughput communication links.
• Identify and rapidly solve cross-functional issues that arise at every stage of the satellite lifecycle.
• Define and manage spacecraft internal and external interfaces (mechanical, electrical, thermal, data) to ensure seamless integration and compatibility across subsystems, especially between Bus and Payload systems.
• Act as the technical owner and primary point of contact for critical system budgets, particularly Mass and Power Budgets.
• Establish and maintain technical budget tracking tools and reports, providing accurate, up-to-date status and forecasts to project leadership and stakeholders.
• Provide technical guidance and oversight to subsystem engineers, ensuring their designs are integrated correctly and meet system-level design criteria and budgets.
• Support Assembly, Integration, and Test (AI&T) activities and mission operations by leading the systems-level analysis and resolution of technical anomalies.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering (Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical, etc.) or a related technical discipline.
• 3 to 10 years of experience in integrated system design, integration, and/or test.
• Experience as a hands-on engineer or other technical domain expert. Note that both junior and senior engineers are sought for this role.
• Track record of solving hard problems independently
• Ability to lead outside of the traditional reporting chain.
• Proven experience in managing complex technical budgets (e.g., mass, power) and enforcing design discipline.
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment, overcome obstacles with creative solutions, and clearly document/communicate tactical plans

Bonus:

• Experience working through a complete GEO spacecraft development lifecycle.
• Familiarity with Smartsheet, Jira, and Confluence
• Deep technical experience across multiple domains
• Specific experience with GEO or high-power communication satellite systems.