VP of Mission Assurance & Quality

About the role

The Vice President of Mission Assurance & Quality at Espace will own the end-to-end quality framework that underpins our next-generation low Earth orbit constellation. This leader is responsible for establishing the policies, processes, and cultural standards that ensure every mission parameter is predictable, repeatable, and auditable. You will translate abstract mission objectives into concrete, enforceable quality gates that protect data integrity and system reliability. The role requires you to define the intake architecture that captures mission constraints before a single line of code is written or a hardware component is procured. You will architect the verification strategy that ensures radar waveform processing, on-board logic execution, and calibration routines perform consistently in the demanding space environment. This position will coordinate cross-functional alignment between RF, signal processing, and engineering teams to ensure all design decisions serve the overarching mission goals. You will build the traceability fabric that links customer requirements through technical implementation to validation results and regulatory compliance. Ultimately, this role will empower the organization to ship updates with confidence using phased rollouts, continuous monitoring, and strategic rollback capabilities.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Establish the foundational intake process that defines mission constraints, data protocols, and operational boundaries prior to system development initiation.
• Architect modular processing pipelines capable of ingesting radar waveform streams, executing complex on-board logic, and managing calibration routines across distributed low Earth orbit platforms.
• Implement rigorous classification systems for system behaviors through exhaustive testing, tracing specific requirements to distinct hardware configurations, and documenting every decision path.
• Coordinate deeply with RF and signal processing teams to ensure that waveform designs, array patterns, and calibration methodologies directly support broader mission objectives and quality targets.
• Drive a verification regime that confirms deployed code adheres precisely to specifications, that models retain accuracy throughout their operational lifecycle, and that anomalies trigger pre-defined, proportionate responses.
• Form strategic partnerships with external providers to align interfaces, data contracts, and quality expectations, ensuring seamless interoperability between space and ground segment elements.
• Maintain comprehensive, traceable artifacts that link customer needs, technical choices, validation outcomes, and compliance evidence across the entire product lifecycle.
• Guide engineering teams in executing safe software and hardware updates using phased rollouts, continuous monitoring, and rollback strategies to minimize operational uncertainty and risk.
• Define and own the metrics that measure mission assurance performance, ensuring that quality indicators are actionable and tied directly to program success.
• Foster a culture of rigorous documentation and transparent decision-making that supports both internal audits and external regulatory reviews.
• Serve as the primary escalation path for complex quality issues, applying deep analytical skills to resolve cross-domain challenges efficiently.
• Mentor junior assurance and quality personnel, elevating the overall capability of the team through coaching, process refinement, and knowledge transfer.
• Evaluate emerging standards and best practices in aerospace quality management, recommending adaptations that strengthen Espace operational excellence.
• Act as the central authority for quality-related decisions, balancing technical trade-offs while safeguarding mission integrity and long-term objectives.
• Ensure all quality processes remain adaptable to evolving mission profiles, technological advances, and regulatory landscapes.

Requirements

• You must hold an active security clearance for US government work and be capable of operating in strict accordance with national security policies and protocols.
• You must possess a minimum of 3 to 5 years of professional experience within aerospace, defense, or other complex systems environments where quality processes have a direct and measurable impact on mission outcomes.
• You must demonstrate a deep, working understanding of radar principles, digital signal processing techniques, and the interactions between RF hardware and software systems.
• You must be thoroughly comfortable managing high levels of ambiguity, making sound judgments in the presence of partial data, and documenting your reasoning in a structured manner that withstands audit scrutiny.
• You must have exceptional communication skills, enabling you to articulate complex technical trade-offs clearly to both specialized engineers and non-technical stakeholders, and to translate those discussions into coherent, actionable recommendations.
• You must be able to interpret regulatory guidance and internal policies, ensuring that quality frameworks are implemented in a manner that satisfies compliance requirements.
• You must have a proven track record of owning end-to-end quality processes, from initial requirements capture through final validation and continuous improvement.
• You must be highly organized, capable of managing multiple intersecting workstreams, and maintaining rigorous traceability across evolving system architectures.

Nice to have

• Prior experience with satellite operations, LEO constellations, or IoT systems that depend on timely, reliable data streams is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with the specific operational challenges inherent to space environments, including latency, radiation effects, and ground station coordination, provides a distinct advantage.

Practical notes

Please confirm final details regarding the application process on the official portal. This ensures all submission materials are complete and properly formatted for review.