Position OverviewParallax Space is seeking a Senior Space Systems Engineer to lead systems engineering execution across spacecraft, payload, mission systems, and integrated flight hardware programs. This role will be responsible for translating mission needs into system architectures, requirements, interfaces, verification plans, and executable technical baselines.
The Senior Space Systems Engineer will operate as a technical integrator across mechanical, electrical, software, avionics, mission operations, manufacturing, supply chain, and program management teams. This individual will help ensure Parallax systems are designed, built, tested, and delivered with the rigor required for high-reliability space missions while maintaining the speed and ownership expected in a fast-moving startup environment.
This is a high-impact role for an experienced systems engineer who can own complex technical trades, drive requirements discipline, lead reviews, resolve cross-disciplinary issues, and support mission success from concept through delivery, test, and flight readiness.
Key ResponsibilitiesSpace Systems Engineering & Architecture- Lead systems engineering activities for spacecraft, hosted payloads, mission hardware, and integrated space systems.
- Develop and maintain system architectures, CONOPS, requirements, interfaces, verification plans, and technical baselines.
- Drive mission-level and system-level trade studies balancing performance, cost, schedule, manufacturability, reliability, risk, and customer needs.
- Translate customer, mission, and program objectives into clear engineering requirements and executable development plans.
- Ensure system designs are technically sound, internally consistent, and aligned to mission objectives.
Requirements, Interfaces & Configuration Control- Own requirements decomposition, allocation, traceability, verification planning, and requirements change management.
- Develop and maintain interface control documents, system block diagrams, data flows, power budgets, mass budgets, link budgets, and related system artifacts.
- Coordinate technical interfaces across electrical, mechanical, software, avionics, payload, ground, supplier, and customer systems.
- Support configuration management and technical baseline control as programs mature from development into production and mission execution.
- Ensure engineering documentation is complete, accurate, reviewable, and usable by cross-functional execution teams.
Verification, Validation & Test Planning- Develop system-level verification and validation strategies, matrices, test plans, procedures, and acceptance criteria.
- Support environmental, functional, performance, integration, qualification, and acceptance testing for flight hardware and mission systems.
- Lead technical readiness for PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR, and mission readiness reviews.
- Analyze test results, nonconformances, anomalies, and verification gaps to drive closure and technical risk reduction.
- Partner with test, manufacturing, and mission operations teams to ensure systems are ready for delivery and flight.
Technical Leadership & Cross-Functional Execution- Serve as a senior technical integrator across engineering disciplines and program execution teams.
- Identify technical risks, interface gaps, design conflicts, and execution blockers early, then drive closure with accountable owners.
- Facilitate design reviews, trade reviews, risk reviews, and technical decision forums.
- Provide technical guidance to junior engineers and support development of scalable systems engineering practices.
- Communicate complex technical issues clearly to engineering leadership, program leadership, executives, customers, and suppliers.
Customer, Supplier & Mission Support- Support customer technical engagements, proposal development, requirements clarification, design reviews, and technical deliverables.
- Coordinate supplier technical inputs, interface requirements, verification evidence, and subsystem integration needs.
- Support mission planning, integration planning, launch readiness, and operational transition activities as required.
- Represent Parallax with technical credibility in discussions with commercial, civil, defense, and national security space customers.
Process Development & Scalability- Help build repeatable systems engineering processes suitable for rapid product development and scalable flight hardware production.
- Improve templates, review cadences, technical artifacts, requirements workflows, and verification tracking systems.
- Contribute to engineering operating discipline while preserving speed, ownership, and practical execution.
QualificationsRequired Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical discipline.
- 7+ years of experience in aerospace, spacecraft, satellite, payload, launch, defense, or other high-reliability hardware systems environments.
- Strong experience with systems engineering practices including requirements development, requirements allocation, interface definition, verification planning, and technical baseline management.
- Experience supporting complex hardware development programs from concept through design, build, integration, test, and delivery.
- Strong understanding of spacecraft subsystems, payload integration, avionics, power, communications, thermal, structures, software, ground interfaces, or mission operations.
- Experience leading or materially supporting technical reviews such as SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR, and mission readiness reviews.
- Ability to drive technical closure across multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced execution environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to create clear technical documentation and executive-level summaries.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications- Direct experience with spacecraft buses, hosted payloads, proliferated LEO systems, mission payloads, or integrated satellite systems.
- Experience with DoD, IC, NASA, SDA, commercial space, or national security space programs.
- Familiarity with model-based systems engineering, requirements tools, PLM tools, configuration management systems, or digital engineering workflows.
- Experience developing ICDs, CONOPS, verification matrices, mass/power/data budgets, link budgets, fault management concepts, and mission assurance artifacts.
- Experience with environmental qualification, EMI/EMC, vibration, thermal vacuum, shock, functional test, or flight acceptance testing.
- Familiarity with FAR/DFARS, CMMC, ITAR/EAR, and export-controlled technical environments.
- Experience in startup, high-growth, or rapid product development environments.
- Advanced degree in engineering or related technical field
Core Competencies- Systems Thinking
- Technical Ownership
- Mission Focus
- Requirements Discipline
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Execution Bias
- Technical Judgment
- Communication
- Risk Management
- Problem Solving
- Decision Making
- Attention to Detail
