Space Kinetic develops a propellant-free electromechanical payload-deployment system and patented mechanism to eject diverse small payloads at high velocities from host satellites for space and missile defense applications.
<p><strong>A New Paradigm For Space Operations.</strong></p> <p><strong>Who We Are:</strong></p> <p>Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a ‘one-to-many’ system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster.</p> <p>This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space.</p> <p><strong>What You’ll Do:</strong></p> <p>We are seeking a <strong>Systems Engineer</strong> who can move comfortably between system-level analysis and detailed implementation while bringing structure to complex, evolving government space programs.</p> <p>The <strong>Systems Engineer</strong> is responsible for guiding spacecraft and mission systems through the full engineering lifecycle, from early concept development and system architecture through integration, verification, launch, and mission operations. You will work across engineering disciplines to ensure the system is technically coherent, requirements are properly allocated and verified, interfaces are controlled, and the integrated vehicle is prepared to accomplish its mission.</p> <p><strong>Job Responsibilities</strong></p> <ul> <li>Perform systems engineering activities across the full spacecraft and mission lifecycle, including concept development, architecture, design, integration, verification, validation, launch, commissioning, and operations.</li> <li>Develop, analyze, maintain, and manage system-level requirements, including functional, performance, interface, environmental, operational, and verification requirements.</li> <li>Decompose mission objectives and stakeholder needs into clear, achievable, and verifiable system and subsystem requirements.</li> <li>Maintain traceability between mission needs, system requirements, subsystem requirements, design decisions, interfaces, test activities, and verification evidence.</li> <li>Support development and evaluation of spacecraft architectures, operational concepts, system modes, mission timelines, and end-to-end mission scenarios.</li> <li>Develop the Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) model in Cameo sysml to support the design baseline.</li> <li>Coordinate technical activities across spacecraft subsystems, payloads, flight software, ground systems, mission operations, and external mission partners.</li> <li>Lead or support system interface definition, documentation, analysis, and verification.</li> <li>Identify gaps, conflicts, and emergent behaviors resulting from interactions between hardware, software, operations, and external systems.</li> <li>Develop system integration and verification strategies that demonstrate compliance with technical and mission requirements.</li> <li>Create and maintain verification matrices, compliance plans, test objectives, verification methods, and acceptance criteria.</li> <li>Support development of system-level integration plans, test plans, test procedures, test configurations, and test readiness criteria.</li> <li>Participate directly in spacecraft integration and test activities, including functional testing, hardware-software integration, environmental testing, mission simulations, and end-to-end testing.</li> <li>Evaluate test results, anomalies, waivers, deviations, and configuration changes for system-level impacts.</li> <li>Lead or support troubleshooting of complex issues spanning multiple subsystems or engineering disciplines.</li> <li>Coordinate anomaly investigations, root cause analyses, corrective actions, and regression testing.</li> <li>Ensure test configurations, flight configurations, requirements, procedures, and verification evidence remain aligned throughout the program lifecycle.</li> <li>Support mission operations development, including operational concepts, command and telemetry definitions, nominal and contingency procedures, mission rules, and operator training.</li> <li>Participate in launch rehearsals, mission simulations, readiness reviews, commissioning activities, and on-orbit operations as required.</li> <li>Facilitate technical trades and risk assessments using quantitative analysis, engineering judgment, and mission priorities.</li> <li>Identify technical risks early and drive mitigation plans to closure.</li> <li>Prepare and present technical material at system requirements reviews, preliminary and critical design reviews, test readiness reviews, flight readiness reviews, and customer reviews.</li> <li>Communicate technical status, decisions, risks, and recommendations to engineering teams, program leadership, customers, and government stakeholders.</li> <li>Support configuration management, change control, technical baseline management, and engineering process improvement.</li> </ul> <p><strong>What It Takes:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>5–10 years of relevant experience in spacecraft, aerospace, defense, autonomous