Spacecraft Design Engineer

About the role

You will define the foundational architecture of Apex satellite platforms, owning system-level design decisions from concept through baseline definition. You will serve as the primary integrator for platform solutions, ensuring that every subsystem works in harmony to meet demanding mission objectives. You will translate ambiguous customer needs into precise technical requirements and design choices that enable efficient execution by multiple teams. You will analyze complex trade spaces to balance performance, reliability, cost, and manufacturability for mass-produced spacecraft. You will own critical analyses and documentation that de-risk the program and accelerate downstream integration and test. You will communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders to maintain alignment across the program. You will identify potential issues early and develop mitigation strategies that protect schedule and performance. You will help shape the long-term platform roadmap to support future missions and scalability across Apex's growing product line.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Define end-to-end system architectures for satellite buses that span power, propulsion, avionics, structures, thermal, and software domains.
• Lead system-level trade studies to evaluate competing design options and select optimal solutions based on performance, cost, mass, reliability, and schedule.
• Allocate and refine platform-level requirements, ensuring clear traceability from customer needs through subsystem designs and verification activities.
• Author and maintain interface control documents that govern how spacecraft subsystems interact during integration, test, and on orbit operations.
• Perform system-level margin, sensitivity, and failure modes analyses to inform design decisions and highlight areas requiring risk mitigation.
• Partner with propulsion, avionics, power, structures, thermal, software, and manufacturing teams to ensure cohesive platform designs that meet all objectives.
• Translate mission concepts and high-level requirements into executable platform architectures that can be implemented by cross-functional teams.
• Support internal design reviews, customer technical discussions, and compliance checks to validate that platform designs meet expectations.
• Prepare platform designs for transition into integration, environmental testing, qualification, and production activities.
• Drive early validation and risk-reduction efforts, including analyses and tests that de-risk critical platform decisions before hardware commitment.
• Document design decisions, assumptions, and rationales to enable efficient knowledge transfer and future iterations of the platform.
• Champion best practices in aerospace systems engineering to improve consistency, quality, and efficiency across platform development efforts.

Requirements

• You are a U.S. Person capable of accessing export-controlled data and related technologies.
• You hold a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field, with a Master's degree preferred.
• You bring 6 or more years of experience working on complex hardware systems, with spacecraft experience strongly preferred.
• You demonstrate a strong understanding of satellite subsystems and how they interact within a complete spacecraft architecture.
• You have hands-on experience with system-level trade studies, requirements definition, and interface management for hardware programs.
• You possess strong analytical, communication, and documentation skills that enable clear articulation of technical concepts.
• You are able to work effectively in a fast-paced startup environment with evolving priorities and demanding timelines.
• You are authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship for this position.

Nice to have

• You have direct experience developing satellite platforms or spacecraft buses across multiple missions.
• You are familiar with requirements management and modeling tools such as SysML, Jira, and Excel.
• You have supported early validation or risk-reduction testing activities that de-risk platform designs.
• You are familiar with aerospace systems engineering best practices and relevant standards.

Practical notes

Work hours are full-time during standard business hours. This role is based in Los Angeles and requires in-person presence at the office. Travel may be required for customer meetings, design reviews, or test activities. This position is not eligible for remote work or relocation assistance. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.