Rendezvous & Proximity Operations (RPO) Team Lead

Astroscale U.S.

$150K — $190K *
Aerospace & Defense
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Proven leadership experience in engineering teams centered on flight dynamics or guidance, navigation, and control.
  • Knowledge of RPO solution development lifecycle and associated technologies.
  • Familiarity with principles for developing and maintaining RPO solutions in critical aerospace contexts.
  • Understanding of contemporary RPO system tools and frameworks.
  • Experience in space vehicle guidance, navigation, and control system design from concept to operational testing.
  • Excellent communication skills; adept at teamwork and self-directed work.
  • Over 12 years of experience in software development, ideally in aerospace/defense, with proven leadership abilities.
  • Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in STEM fields or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and mentor the RPO team, fostering a positive team culture and conducting performance reviews.
  • Design and oversee scalable solutions for new RPO programs, enhancing adoption rates.
  • Evaluate RPO solutions throughout their development lifecycle in various environments.
  • Research and recommend specific tools, technologies, and processes for RPO initiatives.
  • Conduct peer reviews of the team's deliverables and artifacts for quality assurance.
  • Manage resource assignment for RPO engineers, coordinating closely with the program manager.
  • Orchestrate planning, tracking, and scheduling of program deliverables with related teams.
  • Collaborate across engineering, program management, and external partners to ensure successful project outcomes.

Benefits

  • Encouragement for diverse perspectives and inclusivity in a supportive work environment.
Full Job Description
Job Description
  • Lead the RPO team, providing subject matter expertise, mentorship, performance reviews, and actively maintaining a healthy culture.
  • Oversee the architecture of the team's solutions to accelerate adoption on new programs and support scalable solutions.
  • Support the evaluation of RPO solutions across the development lifecycle, including Software-in-the-Loop, Hardware-in-the-Loop, and operational environments.
  • Evaluate and recommend tools, technologies, and processes.
  • Evaluate and perform peer reviews of RPO team artifacts.
  • Resource-manage a team of RPO engineers, including assignment of team members to given programs in conjunction with the program manager.
  • Facilitate the planning, tracking, and scheduling of program deliverables in coordination with the program teams.
  • Collaborate with the wider program engineering team, engineering team leads, business leadership, customers, and third-party organizations.
  • Support capture and new business with applying solutions to new customer needs.


Qualifications
  • Demonstrated experience leading a team of engineers within the flight dynamics or guidance, navigation and control domains.
  • Experience with RPO solution development life cycle processes and technologies.
  • Experience of principles and techniques for developing, modifying, debugging, releasing, and maintaining RPO solutions for mission-critical aerospace applications.
  • Understanding of current RPO system tools and frameworks.
  • Experience working on space vehicle GNC and FD design, spanning new system concept development, modeling & simulation of the operational environment, verification & validation, and operations.
  • Collaborative communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
  • Experienced professional with greater than 12 years' experience in software development, preferably within aerospace or defense, and demonstrated team lead experience.
  • Bachelor's degree, Master's degree or PhD in science, technology, engineering or math, or equivalent experience.


Additional Information

If you're passionate about our mission and believe you'd be an outstanding addition to our team, don't worry about checking every single box-or having a background solely in aerospace or defense. At Astroscale U.S., we're committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and open-minded environment. We embrace a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and ways of thinking. If you're excited about contributing to our work and think you'd thrive in this role, we encourage you to apply.

Salary range: $150,000 - $190,000. The salary range represents the low and high end of the Astroscale U.S. Inc. salary range for this position. Actual salaries will vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors including but not limited to experience, knowledge, and ability as applicable to the role.

The application deadline is August 17, 2026.

Please note Astroscale U.S. is a U.S. Government registered, export control compliant company, as such applicants should be a U.S. person or U.S. citizen.

Videos To Watch
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