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# Spacecraft Design Engineer

- **Company:** The Apex
- **Location:** Los Angeles, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Microsoft Excel, Systems Engineering, JIRA, Network Interface Controllers, Failure Mode Effects Analysis, Software Tools, Requirements Management, Software Requirements Analysis, Subsystems, Systems Modeling Language, Systems Architecture, Apex Code
- **Published:** September 4, 2026
- **Apply:** https://startup.jobs/spacecraft-design-engineer-apex-technology-inc-8080741

## About the Role

* U.S. Person status (ability to access export-controlled data)
 * Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field (Master's preferred)
 * 6+ years of experience working on complex hardware systems (spacecraft preferred)
 * Strong understanding of satellite subsystems and their interactions
 * Experience with system-level trade studies, requirements definition, and interface management
 * Strong analytical, communication, and documentation skills

Preferred

 * Experience developing satellite platforms or spacecraft buses
 * Familiarity with requirements management or modeling tools (e.g., SysML, Jira, Excel)
 * Experience supporting early validation or risk-reduction testing
 * Familiarity with aerospace systems engineering best practices

## Description

As a Spacecraft Design Engineer, you will be a foundational team member responsible for defining the future of Apex's satellite platforms. You will operate at the design and development phase of the product lifecycle, shaping system architectures that balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost for mass-manufactured satellite buses that enable access to Earth orbit and beyond.

You will act as a platform-level integrator and architect-translating mission needs into clear system requirements, interfaces, and design trades that downstream teams can execute with confidence.

Responsibilities

System Architecture & Design

 * Define and evolve end-to-end satellite system architectures across multiple mission profiles
 * Perform system-level trade studies to optimize performance, reliability, cost, mass, and schedule
 * Analyze and allocate system requirements to spacecraft subsystems
 * Define and maintain system interfaces and interface control documents (ICDs)

Requirements & Technical Ownership

 * Define, document, and manage platform-level requirements during early lifecycle phases
 * Maintain traceability between customer needs, system requirements, and subsystem designs
 * Identify technical risks early and develop mitigation strategies
 * Perform system-level analyses (margins, sensitivities, FMEA) to inform design decisions

Cross-Functional Collaboration

 * Collaborate closely with propulsion, avionics, power, structures, thermal, software, and manufacturing teams
 * Translate mission concepts into executable platform designs
 * Support internal design reviews and customer technical discussions
 * Prepare designs for transition into integration, test, and qualification


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