Lead Mission Integration Engineer

The role

You will define and own end-to-end mission architecture and lead a team responsible for integration between spacecraft systems, customers, and mission operations. The role balances fifty percent management and fifty percent individual contributor work.

What you will do

• Lead the mission integration team in defining end-to-end mission architecture
• Own mission analysis capabilities across orbital mechanics, trajectory planning, and spacecraft deployment strategies
• Serve as the senior technical liaison between internal technical teams and customers
• Direct technical assessments including coupled loads analysis, thermal analysis, electromagnetic compatibility, and mission-specific budgets
• Lead payload integration activities and collaborate with cross-functional teams
• Support business development efforts through technical proposal development, feasibility studies, and cost estimation

Required qualifications

• U.S. Person status is required
• 8+ years of total mission integration, payload integration, or spacecraft systems engineering experience
• 2+ years of leadership experience or senior technical role managing engineering teams
• Bachelor's degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field
• Strong understanding of space systems, launch vehicle mechanics, orbital dynamics, and mission operations
• Advanced proficiency in mission analysis tools (STK, FreeFlyer, GMAT, MATLAB, Python)
• Experience working with prime contractors or government entities in technical leadership capacity
• Experience with CubeSat, small satellite, or rideshare mission integration across multiple vehicle classes

Nice to have

• Familiarity with flight software, embedded systems, and space communications protocols (CCSDS, S-band, X-band, etc.)
• Previous spacecraft, launch vehicle, or payload engineering experience in leadership roles within satellite manufacturing or related aerospace industries
• Strong background in system-level failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and reliability engineering methodologies

Benefits

• Equity in Apex
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents
• $100k life insurance at no cost
• 15 to 20+ days vacation annually
• 10 paid holidays
• 401(k) plan with 100% match on first 3% and 50% on next 2%
• 8 weeks paid parental leave
• Childcare reimbursement up to $350/day for work-related travel
• Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks
• Monthly office socials, pickleball tournaments, run club, and gatherings
• Dream desk setup

Before you apply

• U.S. Person status is required to access export controlled data
• Must qualify as a U.S. Person (citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee) or be able to obtain required export authorizations

About the company

Apex manufactures satellite buses at scale using software, vertical integration, and hardware designed for manufacturing. The company is a fast-growing startup that has raised more than $500M in funding.