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Apex manufactures satellite buses (spacecraft platforms) at scale, combining software, vertical integration, and hardware designed for manufacturing. These platforms enable customers' missions across earth observation, communications, and beyond.
The Mission Integration team transforms Apex's foundational spacecraft platform into the backbone of customer missions. As a Senior Mission Integration Engineer specializing in Space Vehicle Design, you will serve as the primary technical liaison between customers and internal engineering teams, owning end-to-end mission architecture and execution.
Key Responsibilities:
- Define end-to-end mission architecture (spacecraft, launch vehicle, ground systems, operations) aligned with customer requirements
- Lead technical inputs to proposals, including feasibility studies and cost estimates
- Perform mission analysis: orbital mechanics, trajectory planning, spacecraft deployment strategies
- Serve as primary technical liaison between internal teams and customers, communicating clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Lead technical discussions in customer meetings, design reviews, and project status updates
- Collaborate across electrical, mechanical, and software engineering to ensure system integration
- Develop customer system-level documentation (specifications, interface control documents, system design descriptions)
- Generate mission-specific technical budgets (power, mass, data, pointing)
- Analyze coupled loads analysis (CLA), thermal analysis, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) assessments
- Perform system-level FMEA and support reliability engineering
- Develop bus-to-payload communication architecture and support space vehicle-level testing
- Plan and execute final integrated space vehicle systems testing
- Travel to launch sites for vehicle integration, checkouts, and launch rehearsals
- Coordinate with mission operations teams to track and maintain spacecraft in operational orbit
- Lead requirements analysis, verification, and validation for customer compliance and industry standards
- Identify and assess technical risks in system design, development, and operation
- Partner with engineering, business development, and external partners on future missions
Requirements:
- U.S. Person status (required for export-controlled data access per ITAR)
- Bachelor's degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field
- 8+ years of experience with complex hardware systems (spacecraft preferred) or technical capture management
- Experience in satellite manufacturing or related industries (aerospace, defense, high-tech)
- Strong understanding of space systems, launch vehicle mechanics, orbital dynamics, and mission operations
- Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, STK, FreeFlyer, GMAT, or other mission analysis tools
- Experience coordinating cross-functional teams and managing timelines in fast-paced environments
- Strong communication and organizational skills with ability to prioritize and adapt
- High attention to detail with focus on delivering concise, technical review content
Preferred:
- Previous spacecraft, launch vehicle, or payload engineering experience
- CubeSat, small satellite, or rideshare mission integration experience
- Experience with prime contractors or government entities
- Familiarity with flight software, embedded systems, and space communications protocols (CCSDS, S-band, X-band)
