Outpost Space Offices

The Payload Engineer defines and manages payload accommodations for reusable Earth-return vehicles, including structural, electrical, thermal, environmental, and interface requirements. Responsibilities include designing payload bays and hardware, authoring user guides and ICDs, verifying payload environments, supporting customer proposals and design reviews, and leading payload integration, testing, and recovery. The role establishes scalable payload integration processes and serves as the primary technical liaison for payload customers and external partners.

Designs and leads flight safety analyses for reusable reentry missions, including 3-DOF and 6-DOF trajectory simulations, Monte Carlo dispersion, breakup and debris modeling, risk assessments, and FAA Part 450 compliance. Defines deorbit targets, recovery zones, flight safety limits, and mission rules; authors licensing materials and interfaces with FAA-AST. Collaborates with GNC, aerothermal, structures, avionics, and operations teams while building and validating analysis software and supporting mission operations.

Own aerothermal environment definition for a reusable Earth-return vehicle across its flight envelope. Run high-enthalpy CFD, engineering heating methods, and custom solver extensions; integrate CFD, test data, and uncertainty margins into databases supporting TPS, structures, and trajectory design. Validate methods through analytical, wind tunnel, arc-jet, and flight data, automate environment delivery, and manage computing resources.