Flight Director

Please Note: To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

The Flight Director leads the systems engineering activities required to define, develop, integrate, verify, and operate complex spacecraft and aerospace systems throughout the product lifecycle. This role translates customer requirements, mission objectives, and system architecture into technical solutions while providing technical leadership for mission execution, operational readiness, and on-orbit spacecraft operations.

Working within a multidisciplinary engineering environment, the Senior Systems Engineer collaborates with software, hardware, electrical, mechanical, integration and test, ground systems, and program teams to ensure systems meet technical, operational, cost, and schedule objectives. This role supports programs from concept development through launch and mission operations, driving system integration, technical decision-making, and mission success.

ESSENTIAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Analyze customer, mission, and system-level requirements and decompose them into clear, verifiable system and subsystem requirements.
Ensure requirements maintain end-to-end traceability to customer requirements, system architecture, and Concept of Operations (CONOPS).
Define and manage hardware, software, electrical, mechanical, thermal, and data interfaces across spacecraft systems.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to refine requirements for completeness, feasibility, technical accuracy, and manufacturability.
Support system architecture development, technical trade studies, requirements management, configuration management, and engineering change activities.
Identify technical risks, integration challenges, requirement gaps, and design issues throughout the development lifecycle.
Develop system verification and validation strategies, including verification methods, acceptance criteria, verification levels, and compliance evidence.
Define verification configurations including hardware, software, firmware, and operational test environments.
Develop and maintain verification documentation, Verification Cross Reference Matrices (VCRM), requirements traceability matrices, and verification evidence packages.
Partner with Integration & Test teams to plan, coordinate, and execute system integration and verification activities.
Evaluate test results, resolve technical discrepancies, and support corrective actions.
Lead mission readiness reviews, launch readiness activities, operational rehearsals, and mission certification efforts.
Lead spacecraft mission operations through launch, commissioning, routine operations, anomaly response, and end-of-life activities to ensure safe and successful mission execution.
Serve as the technical authority during mission execution by monitoring spacecraft health, directing operational decision-making, and coordinating responses to off-nominal events.
Develop and execute mission timelines, operational procedures, flight rules, and mission readiness activities, including simulations and contingency planning.
Collaborate with engineering, flight software, ground systems, and mission operations teams to resolve technical issues, support anomaly investigations, and improve operational performance.
Drive continuous improvement of mission operations processes, operational tools, and mission readiness while ensuring compliance with mission objectives and operational requirements.
Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams throughout system development, integration, launch, and mission operations.
Support technical planning, Program Increment (PI) planning, staffing assessments, and engineering execution activities.
Prioritize engineering and mission operations activities to meet technical, operational, schedule, and program objectives.
Participate in customer reviews, design reviews, mission readiness reviews, and technical decision boards.
Mentor engineers on systems engineering, mission operations, requirements development, verification planning, and operational best practices.
Drive continuous improvement of engineering processes, operational excellence, and technical rigor.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience.
Advanced knowledge of systems engineering principles, the systems development lifecycle, and spacecraft system architecture.
Experience developing, managing, and verifying system and subsystem requirements, interfaces, and verification strategies.
Strong understanding of systems integration, configuration management, verification and validation, and technical risk management.
Experience supporting spacecraft mission planning, launch campaigns, mission operations, anomaly resolution, and on-orbit operations.
Ability to interpret customer requirements, Concept of Operations (CONOPS), and technical specifications to develop engineering and operational solutions.
Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and systems-thinking skills with the ability to make sound technical decisions in dynamic environments.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio.
Experience with requirements management tools such as Jama, IBM DOORS, or equivalent platforms.
Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools, including CATIA Magic/Cameo, MagicDraw, or similar.
Familiarity with systems modeling, analysis, and simulation tools.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to collaborate and provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Experience supporting aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated engineering programs.

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills. Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.

CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.

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As a result of the work performed by CesiumAstro, all eligible candidates must be a U.S. Person or able to obtain an export license. U.S. Persons include U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, conditional residents, asylees, and refugees. Are you a U.S. Person or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State? choose one
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By submitting your application you hereby certify that the facts set forth in the above employment application are true and complete to the best of your knowledge. I certify that the information on this application is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and agree to have any of the information verified by CesiumAstro (the “Company”). By my signature below, I authorize any references submitted by me to the Company in support of this application to provide any and all information concerning my previous employment and any other pertinent information that they may have. I understand that I may be required to authorize the Company to obtain a consumer report or investigative consumer report, in accordance with applicable law, which authorization is contained in a separate document. Further, I release the Company and any other parties, agents, or persons from any and all liability or claims arising out of the disclosure or use of references or other information provided to the Company during the process of verifying the statements made in this application. I understand that any misrepresentation, falsification, or material omission of information on this application may result in my failure to receive an offer or, if I am hired, will result in my dismissal from employment. Furthermore, if hired, in consideration of my employment I agree to conform to the policies, rules and standards of the Company, including applicable safety rules, and agree that my employment can be terminated “at will” at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice, either at my option or at the option of the Company. I understand that no employee or representative of the Company to which I am applying, has the authority to enter into any agreement for employment for any specified period of time, or to enter into any express or implied agreement to the contrary of at-will employment, except for a written agreement signed by me and the Chief Executive Office of the Company. I agree that this shall constitute a final and fully binding integrated agreement regarding the at-will nature of my employment relationship if I am hired. In addition, I understand that, if hired, I may be required as a condition of employment to take and pass drug and alcohol tests during employment to the extent required by policies of the Company consistent with applicable law. I acknowledge that I have personally completed this application, I have read all of the above statements, and understand them and agree to the terms and conditions therein. I confirm that I understand that my application may be subject to security checks under government regulations applicable in the aerospace and defense industry sectors. yes / no · optional
I have applied for employment with CesiumAstro, Inc. (the “Company”). In consideration of the Company's accepting and evaluating my application for employment, I hereby agree that I will comply with and be legally bound by the following terms and condition of this Agreement: 1. MAINTAINING THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF COMPANY PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. I understand that CesiumAstro, Inc. is an innovative company engaged in research and development, and that the Company's innovations and other Proprietary Information (as defined below) provide the Company with a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Accordingly, I agree to hold in strictest confidence, and not to disclose or make any use of at any time, any of the Company’s Proprietary Information which I may acquire or learn during my interview(s) or the application process for employment. The term “Proprietary Information” shall mean any and all trade secrets, confidential knowledge, data or any other proprietary information pertaining to any business of the Company or any of its customers, vendors, consultants, licensees or affiliates. 2. MAINTAINING CONFIDENTIALITY OF PROPRIETARY INFORMATION OF FORMER EMPLOYERS OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRED BY ME PRIOR TO MY EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY. I represent and agree that I will not breach any agreement to keep in confidence any third-party proprietary information, knowledge or data acquired by me in confidence or in trust prior to my application for employment with the Company. I will not improperly use, disclose or bring to the Company, or induce the Company to use, any confidential or proprietary information, documents or materials belonging to any previous employer or third parties. 3. NEW EMPLOYEE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND INVENTION AGREEMENT. I understand that if I am offered employment by the Company, and as a condition of my new employment, I will be required to enter into an attached New Employee Proprietary Information and Invention Agreement. Prior to any future employment with the Company, I acknowledge the opportunity to consult with legal counsel or other necessary advisors regarding the Agreement. yes / no · optional

Flight Director

ESSENTIAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

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