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Staff Systems Engineer – Mission Analyst

Open 30d

Summary

Leads the design and optimization of satellite missions and LEO constellations, defining architecture, orbital strategies, and long-term operations while guiding technical decisions and mentoring teams.

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 Staff Systems Engineer – Mission Analyst is a recognized technical expert responsible for leading the design, analysis, modeling, and optimization of satellite missions and low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations across multiple programs. This role defines and influences mission architecture, constellation strategy, and long-term orbital operations concepts to ensure mission performance, resilience, scalability, and sustainability.

This position operates as a technical authority within a multidisciplinary engineering environment, providing leadership in mission analysis, constellation design, orbital dynamics, and system-level trade studies. The Senior Staff Systems Engineer partners with engineering leadership, program stakeholders, and customers to shape requirements, evaluate architectural trades, and drive data-informed decisions from early concept development through deployment, operations, replenishment, and end-of-life planning.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Lead development of mission analysis frameworks, simulation architectures, and advanced modeling tools for LEO constellation design and optimization.
  • Define and influence constellation architecture, including sizing, orbital placement, coverage strategy, and long-term scalability.
  • Lead system-level trade studies and evaluate competing mission architectures, orbital configurations, and operational concepts.
  • Establish technical baselines for constellation performance, operational constraints, and mission design assumptions.
  • Provide technical direction and expert review of mission analysis products across multiple programs and engineering teams.
  • Drive alignment between mission requirements, system design, and operational feasibility.
  • Serve as technical authority for orbital mechanics, constellation dynamics, and long-term orbital behavior modeling.
  • Lead analysis of perturbation effects including gravity harmonics, atmospheric drag, solar radiation pressure, and related environmental influences.
  • Define strategies for constellation maintenance, including station-keeping, orbit optimization, and collision risk mitigation.
  • Lead planning for constellation replenishment, replacement strategies, and end-of-life disposal to ensure long-term sustainability and regulatory compliance.
  • Develop and guide autonomous constellation control strategies and high-level operational concepts for fleet-wide management.
  • Provide expert-level recommendations on constellation resilience, robustness, and operational efficiency.
  • Lead system-level analysis of communications performance including coverage, capacity, latency, and connectivity across constellation architectures.
  • Integrate communications constraints and performance drivers into mission and constellation design decisions.
  • Partner with systems engineering and communications teams to define mission requirements, performance metrics, and operational constraints.
  • Evaluate mission impacts of communications architecture tradeoffs and provide senior technical recommendations.
  • Ensure alignment between system performance models and end-to-end mission objectives.
  • Serve as a senior technical advisor to systems engineering, spacecraft engineering, flight software, mission operations, and program leadership teams.
  • Lead technical reviews, architecture boards, and mission readiness assessments.
  • Present complex technical findings and architectural recommendations to executive stakeholders, customers, and technical governance bodies.
  • Influence program direction through data-driven analysis, risk assessment, and system-level technical insight.
  • Provide mentorship and technical leadership to engineers across mission analysis and systems engineering disciplines.
  • Ensure accuracy, traceability, and technical rigor across all mission analysis products and documentation.
  • Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.
  • JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Astrodynamics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Systems Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical field.
  • 10+ years of relevant experience in mission analysis, orbital mechanics, spacecraft systems, constellation design, or related aerospace disciplines.
  • Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Astrodynamics, Physics, Systems Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical field with 8+ years of relevant experience may be considered.
  • Deep expertise in LEO constellation design, architecture development, and lifecycle operations.
  • Advanced experience developing and leading simulation frameworks and mission analysis tool chains.
  • Expert understanding of orbital perturbations including drag, gravity field variations, and solar radiation pressure.
  • Strong command of satellite operations, mission planning, and autonomous constellation management strategies.
  • Expert knowledge of communications system performance and its impact on mission architecture.
  • Advanced ability to translate system requirements into executable models, architectures, and operational concepts.
  • Strong mathematical, analytical, and systems thinking capabilities.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead technical decision-making in complex, multi-system environments.
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to influence technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated technical expertise in mission analysis, constellation architecture, orbital mechanics, spacecraft operations, or related aerospace disciplines.
  • Recognized expert in orbital mechanics, astrodynamics, and spacecraft mission analysis.
  • Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly in written and verbal formats.
  • Ability to participate in technical reviews, architecture boards, and decision-making forums.
  • Primarily office and engineering development environment.
  • Proficiency in orbital analysis tools (STK, GMAT, FreeFlyer, or similar).
  • Python, or similar analytical and modeling tools.
  • Experience with advanced data visualization and mission simulation platforms, version control systems (Git, GitLab, Bitbucket, or similar), and collaboration platforms (Confluence, SharePoint, or similar).
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
  • 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.

    What this application asks

    lever

    Resume/CV, Full name, Email, Phone, Current location, Current company, LinkedIn URL

    • 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
    • Do you now or will you in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status? Please select "Yes" if you will require the Company to commence ("sponsor") an immigration or work permit case in order to employ you, either now or at some point in the future. Otherwise select "No". choose one
    • Do you have a family member that is currently employed with CesiumAstro? choose one
    • If yes, please specify the individual(s) and the department or location in which they work: optional
    • Full Legal Name
    • Please indicate the highest level of education you have completed. choose one
    • Please select which of the following security clearances and/or access you currently hold. yes / no · optional
    • 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

    See also