Chief Systems Engineer

About the role

The will own the end-to-end architectural vision that translates the company's ambitious LEO connectivity mission into robust, flight-ready radar and communication systems. This role is responsible for defining the critical interfaces that allow orbital assets to seamlessly converse with terrestrial infrastructure under the harsh constraints of the space environment. You will lead the design of radar signal processing pipelines, ensuring that the data collected is not only abundant but also accurate and timely for global users. The position demands a high degree of ownership to transform abstract mission requirements into concrete, testable system behaviors that survive the rigors of launch and orbit. You will see your technical concepts evolve from initial whiteboard sketches through simulation validation and into live operational status. The role requires a relentless curiosity to solve complex, multi-variable problems that span electromagnetic physics, digital hardware, and real-time software integration. Your work will directly enable the company's goal of making information from orbit universally accessible, secure, and actionable for the IoT and beyond.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Architect the end-to-end signal chains that connect spacecraft radar antennas with ground processing hardware to enable persistent Earth observation.
• Build and maintain firmware frameworks capable of managing dense phased array elements while adhering to strict deterministic timing requirements.
• Lead the development of real-time classification algorithms for radar returns, ensuring operators receive immediate, actionable intelligence regardless of weather or time of day.
• Create and implement on-board calibration routines that preserve measurement integrity and data trustworthiness across extreme thermal cycles encountered in low Earth orbit.
• Coordinate with satellite waveform design teams to ensure that the electromagnetic emissions from space align perfectly with the reception capabilities and mission objectives of ground stations.
• Drive the deployment of features through a rigorous validation pipeline that tests performance, reliability, and compliance before any hardware is committed to space.
• Partner with domain experts to review and verify that theoretical signal processing models adhere to the immutable laws of physics and electromagnetics.
• Collaborate closely with integration and test specialists to ensure that hardware, software, and mission operations function as a single, cohesive system from concept to launch.
• Define system-level requirements that balance the trade-offs between power consumption, data throughput, latency, and physical size within the satellite platform.
• Establish traceability from high-level mission goals down to low-level hardware signals and software functions to eliminate ambiguity in system behavior.
• Mentor junior engineers on best practices for debugging complex, distributed systems that span orbital mechanics and digital signal processing.
• Act as the primary technical authority for radar system performance, making critical decisions that impact schedule, cost, and scientific outcomes.

Requirements

• Hold at least a Bachelor's degree in engineering or physics, which must be accompanied by ten years of relevant professional experience in a demanding technical environment.
• Demonstrate a strong command of radio frequency components, including the generation, transmission, and reception of electromagnetic energy at microwave frequencies.
• Possess a deep understanding of how phased arrays direct and shape electromagnetic beams to achieve precise coverage and interference mitigation.
• Have a proven track record of writing code that interacts directly with hardware drivers and processes live signals in operational, real-time environments.
• Show a clear comprehension of how orbital mechanics influence communication windows and the availability of radar instruments for specific geographic targets.
• Bring extensive experience with calibration techniques and statistical methods that ensure data trustworthiness and consistency throughout the entire mission lifecycle.
• Exhibit the ability to work independently with high ownership, taking complex, ambiguous problems and breaking them down into executable engineering tasks.
• Maintain strict attention to detail to ensure that system specifications are met without compromise, as errors in this domain can lead to mission failure or data loss.

Nice to have

• Hands-on experience with satellite communications protocols or flight heritage space-qualified hardware is highly valued.

Practical notes

This is a full-time position based in Saratoga, California. The listed compensation is $160,000.00 annually. Please verify all details on the official application portal before proceeding. The information provided here serves as a high-level overview of the role and responsibilities.