Space System Architect Spacecraft Mission Analysis (SMA)

As the System Architect for Mission Analysis, you will be the design authority for spacecraft/constellation architecture. You will spearhead the definition of orbital configuration together with mission operations concepts from launch to end-of-life disposal. You will ensure coherence between high-level customer and science requirements and make sure they are reflected in technical baseline of the mission architecture. You’ll be reporting to the System Engineering team lead, project teams, and collaborating with colleagues from the operational department.

As a Space System Engineer specializing in the Spacecraft Mission Analysis (SMA) area, your expected key responsibilities will be:

• Mission scope and objective: Translate customer, stakeholder, and market requirements into clear, verifiable top-level mission objectives and system-level requirements for spaceborne missions.
• Architecture definition: Define the overarching mission architecture. Determine the optimal types, sizes, and quantities of spacecraft (e.g., a single highly capable flagship vs. a distributed constellation of smaller satellites) required to fulfil the mission scope.
• Payload determination and integration: Lead technical trade studies to select, define, and size the primary and secondary payloads (e.g., optical imagers, SAR, scientific instruments, or specialized communication nodes) that directly align with the mission’s purpose.
• Concept of operations (ConOps): Develop the end-to-end ConOps, establishing how the space segment, payloads, ground segment, and end-users will interact throughout the mission lifecycle.
• Mission utility and trade studies: Conduct holistic trade-offs evaluating mission utility, cost, schedule, data latency, and technical risk across various spacecraft bus and payload configurations.
• Requirements flow-down: Establish the foundational system specifications and allocate requirements to subsystem teams (payload, bus, ground, launch) for Phase A/B development.
• Documentation: Generate and maintain documentation, including analyses, specifications, engineering and technical budgets, test procedures, reports, and design descriptions.
• Coordination and collaboration: Coordinate technical aspects with customers, vendors, subcontractors, project teams, space system engineering, and other divisions.

• Eligible for an EU security clearance (EU citizen, or eligible for citizenship and living in the EU for at least 10 years.
• Candidates currently living outside Belgium will only be considered if they are willing to relocate to Belgium before the start of their contract. Relocation is a prerequisite for employment.
• Fluency in spoken and written English. Knowledge of Dutch and French is an asset.

Required technical competences and practical needs

• Master’s degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Space Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Phase 0/A space mission formulation, space systems architecture, or space payload systems engineering.
• Working knowledge of European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS) standards, alongside an understanding of commercial / New Space practices.
• Deep understanding of spacecraft system capabilities, payload technologies, and how they drive mission feasibility.
• Background in systems engineering principles, requirements elicitation, and verification.
• Professional experience in phase B/C/D in Navigation, Radar, or Communication projects is an asset.
• Experience writing or evaluating proposals for government or commercial space agencies (e.g., NASA, ESA, DoD).
• Background in evaluating spacecraft supply chain options, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) bus capabilities, and “make vs. buy” decisions.
• Familiarity with system reliability and fault-tolerance philosophies for various mission risk postures.
• Proficiency in requirements management tools (e.g., DOORS, Jama) and familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).
• Willingness to travel.

Expected soft skills

• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams, resolve complex engineering conflicts, and make critical architectural decisions.
• Experience in dealing with customers and vendors is advantageous.
• Excellent communication skills with a high degree of flexibility.
• Team player who can work effectively both independently and in large projects.

• A multicultural environment. You’ll be working in an international environment with colleagues from all over the world.
• A strong corporate culture. Our company is based on strong values: respect, trust, personal development and well-being.
• Professional development. You’ll get the chance to learn, to share your expertise, to develop your skills and contribute to high-level, international projects in a high-tech environment.
• Salary package. A very attractive salary package including numerous fringe benefits. The main job location is Antwerpen (Hoboken) - Belgium, though, short-term missions abroad are part of this challenging job environment.

At Antwerp Space we treasure our human capital. From the moment you get on board until retirement, we will be at your side to make sure you feel at home and you get the chance to travel all the way through Antwerp Space, developing yourself and growing together.

As a company with a passion for innovation, we want to create a dynamic, open and enriching environment for people, where people are passionate about their work and exchange ideas & expertise.

Moreover, we understand the need for a healthy working environment and we focus on the employee’s well-being, offering amongst others fruit@work, yoga, ergonomic advice, and many other initiatives. We also focus on a good work-life balance, offering flexible working hours and additional holidays. Each year a number of events are organized to emphasize that it is important to have fun, relax and create a good team spirit.

Antwerp Space is a leading Belgian space engineering company and an industrial player well-recognized by the European Space Agency and the European Commission. Antwerp Space has an established presence in the European space market and in several cases is taking the lead in technically complex space projects, supported by a consortium of partners from all over Europe.

The company employs highly skilled engineers and technicians from all over the world, the majority of whom hold an engineering degree, with strong expertise in the areas of digital signal processing, hardware and software design, as well as in project management and technical leadership.

Antwerp Space is part of the OHB SE group, one of Europe’s success stories in the field of contemporary space. Today it can call itself the third largest space group in Europe.

The OHB SE group has been growing at a steady pace over the last three decades and its footprint in Europe has continuously expanded. Nowadays, there are subsidiaries in Austria, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Luxembourg, Greece, the Czech Republic and Belgium. Despite its size, OHB SE is still a family business, run by the Fuchs family.