Mission Integration Engineer

About the role

Apex is hiring a Mission Integration Engineer to manage spacecraft analysis and serve as the main technical point of contact for our customers. You will act as a generalist across various programs, ensuring our satellite buses successfully transition from manufacturing to orbit.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Plan and execute space vehicle integration and testing, including payload installation, environmental testing, and launch vehicle integration.
• Conduct mission analysis covering orbital mechanics, trajectory design, and deployment strategies.
• Act as the primary technical liaison between internal engineering teams and customers.
• Evaluate coupled loads analysis, thermal data, and electromagnetic compatibility assessments.
• Calculate and track mission-specific budgets for power, mass, data, and pointing.
• Travel to launch sites to oversee payload integration, system checkouts, and rehearsals.
• Coordinate with mission operations to monitor spacecraft in their operational orbits.
• Create technical documentation, interface control documents, and system design descriptions.
• Support business development by contributing to proposals, feasibility studies, and cost estimates.
• Perform system-level failure mode and effects analysis and reliability engineering tasks.

Requirements

• U.S. Person status is mandatory due to export control regulations.
• Bachelor degree or higher in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years of experience with complex hardware systems or technical capture management.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, STK, FreeFlyer, or GMAT.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel and office productivity software.
• Experience with satellite manufacturing, CubeSats, small satellites, or rideshare integration.
• Understanding of launch vehicle mechanics, orbital dynamics, and mission operations.
• Familiarity with flight software, embedded systems, and space communications protocols like CCSDS, S-band, and X-band.
• Experience working with government entities or prime contractors.

Nice to have

• Prior experience in aerospace, defense, or high-tech satellite manufacturing environments.

Skills & tools

• Mission analysis tools: STK, FreeFlyer, GMAT, MATLAB, Python.
• Technical documentation and analysis: Microsoft Excel, FMEA, requirements verification.
• Space protocols: CCSDS, S-band, X-band.

Practical notes

• Benefits include 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision for employees and dependents, plus $100k life insurance.
• Retirement plan includes a 401(k) with a 100% match on the first 3% and 50% on the next 2%.
• Paid time off starts at 15 days of vacation plus 10 holidays, increasing to 20+ days.
• Includes 8 weeks of paid parental leave and childcare reimbursement up to $350 per day for work-related travel.
• Daily catered lunches and snacks provided at the Playa Vista office.