We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Staff Electrical Engineer to lead the design, development, integration, test, and flight qualification of advanced spaceborne payloads.
This post focuses on the role of Payload Lead Engineer (aka Responsible Engineer) in our Phased Array product line, focusing on Ka-band Active Electronically Steered Arrays (AESAs). CesiumAstro AESAs are state-of-the-art electronics assemblies consisting of an antenna element array, RF electronics, digital array control, and power conversion – engineered into a single box using a modular but optimized approach.
The Payload Lead is responsible for the technical development of a new payload product consisting of a phased array (AESA) and a processing unit (RPU). This combines deep, multi-disciplinary technical accountability with responsibility for on-time schedule execution.
The Payload Lead is the leader of the multidisciplinary technical team, the primary point of contact for the program manager, and often a key interface point for our customers. Success in this role requires deep expertise in technical topics as well as project management, leadership, and communication in a fast-paced startup environment.
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Serve as the Payload Lead Engineer and primary technical point of contact for the payload throughout the product development lifecycle.
- Lead the end-to-end engineering effort for the payload, including architecture, design, prototyping, integration, test, environmental qualification, and flight readiness.
- Coordinate and direct Unit Leads developing AESA and RPU boxes for the payload, as well as engineers working directly on the combined payload.
- Hold schedule accountability for the payload development.
- Develop and review payload control schemes, internal data interfaces, command & telemetry architecture, and firmware/software integration as needed.
- Manage all flight qualification activities, including environmental test planning (thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, EMC), margin assessment, and final acceptance testing.
- Own the transition to volume production, including manufacturability, testability, and customer-facing documentation.
- Generate and maintain payload-level documentation: requirements, ICDs, block diagrams, test plans, verification matrices, risk registers, and design reviews.
- Interface with spacecraft systems engineering, mission assurance, manufacturing, vendors, and test facilities.
- Drive root cause analysis, anomaly resolution, and technical risk mitigation throughout development and test campaigns.
- Communicate status, technical trades, risks, and design decisions to internal leadership and external customers.
JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
- 12+ years of engineering experience in electronics hardware development.
- Hands-on experience with related technologies such as active phased array antennas.
- Expertise in antennas and board-level RF electronics.
- Strong familiarity with power/digital support circuitry and design for manufacturability.
- Leadership experience, including mentoring or leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Strong knowledge of systems engineering practices, requirements flowdown, verification/validation, and configuration management.
- Excellent communication skills with ability to present complex technical information to diverse audiences.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
- Proven experience executing or overseeing flight qualification and environmental test campaigns (TVAC, vib/shock, EMC, radiation considerations).
- Experience testing active antennas, including measuring EIRP and G/T.
- Experience managing hardware/software product development projects.
- Experience with radiation-tolerant design.
- Experience with high-rate manufacturing, rapid development cycles, and/or NewSpace ecosystems.
- Prior role as a Responsible Engineer, Technical Lead, IPT Lead, or Chief Engineer on flight hardware.
- Experience in high-frequency antenna design e.g. Ka band.
- Experience mentoring less-experienced project engineers and design engineers in associated discipline
- High energy and a “get it done” attitude
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or a related field
- 12 or more years of engineering experience in electronics hardware development
- Hands-on experience with active phased-array antennas
- Expertise in antennas and board-level RF electronics
- Strong familiarity with power and digital support circuitry and design for manufacturability
- Leadership experience mentoring or leading multidisciplinary engineering teams
- Strong knowledge of systems engineering, requirements flowdown, verification and validation, and configuration management
- Excellent communication skills and ability to present complex technical information to diverse audiences
- Experience with flight qualification and environmental test campaigns, including thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, EMC, and radiation considerations
- Experience testing active antennas, including EIRP and G/T measurements
- Experience managing hardware and software product development projects
- Experience with radiation-tolerant design
- Experience with high-rate manufacturing, rapid development cycles, or NewSpace ecosystems
- Prior experience as a Responsible Engineer, Technical Lead, IPT Lead, or Chief Engineer on flight hardware
- Experience with high-frequency antenna design, including Ka-band
- Experience mentoring project engineers and design engineers
CesiumAstro Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about CesiumAstro and has not been reviewed or approved by CesiumAstro.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage includes medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, plus FSAs and mental health benefits. Feedback suggests the health package is comprehensive for a growth-stage aerospace firm.
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Retirement Support — Offerings include a 401(k) with company matching and other retirement-plan elements. Feedback suggests core retirement mechanisms are in place alongside standard financial benefits.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Generous PTO, paid holidays, paid sick days, and bereavement leave are included. Feedback suggests time-off options are broad on paper across multiple leave types.
CesiumAstro Insights
What We Do
We build high-throughput, plug-and-play phased array communication payloads for space and airborne platforms. CesiumAstro’s full-stack, multi-mission hardware and software products enable a diverse range of commercial and defense objectives. Full-system engineering design is at the heart of every CesiumAstro product. We deliver high-performance solutions under rapid development timelines.
Why Work With Us
At CesiumAstro, we’re a team. We’re passionate, respectful, and determined colleagues ready to help at a moment’s notice. We’re mentors excited to enable our peers with the knowledge they need to succeed. Together, we’re visionaries committing to building memories that will last a lifetime.
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