Chief Engineer, Space Domain Awareness

The role

The Program Chief Engineer acts as the technical lead for missions using highly maneuverable and agile small satellites. This role owns the technical architecture and baseline across all mission facets to ensure success.

What you will do

• Serve as technical lead and authority for assigned programs
• Drive resolution of complex cross-disciplinary technical issues
• Lead teams through technical milestones including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and PSR
• Interact directly with customers and suppliers as the primary technical point of contact
• Own and maintain system-level budgets for mass, power, delta-V, pointing, data, link, and MTF
• Define and refine mission CONOPS
• Lead derivation and maintenance of system requirements
• Establish and maintain robust requirements traceability frameworks
• Author and oversee Interface Control Documents (ICDs)
• Define and execute verification and validation plans

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field
• 12+ years of experience in spacecraft systems engineering or spacecraft design, with hands-on experience in satellite design and integration, OR 8+ years of experience with direct experience in releva
• Demonstrated experience serving as a Chief Program Engineer or lead systems engineer on a complete spacecraft program
• Deep expertise in requirements derivation, decomposition, and traceability from mission level through subsystems
• Proven ability to own and maintain all system-level budgets (mass, power, delta-V, pointing, link, data) across the full project lifecycle
• Experience authoring and managing compliance documentation and requirements traceability artifacts for customers
• Strong track record leading teams through formal technical milestones (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, etc.)
• Must be able to obtain a TS/SCI clearance

Nice to have

• Deep technical experience with GEO Space Domain Awareness or other missions relying on highly maneuverable and agile spacecraft
• Deep technical experience in Electro-Optical payload design, integration, and testing
• Experience working with Department of War/Defense or Intelligence Community organizations
• 15+ years of experience in spacecraft systems engineering or spacecraft design with full product lifecycle experience
• Experience as Program Chief Engineer or equivalent role with direct customer-facing technical accountability
• Experience with Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and applicable software such as Cameo, Capella, Innoslate, or others
• Experience with satellite analysis tools such as Python, MATLAB, STK, GMAT, or FreeFlyer
• Experience with requirements management tools such as Jama, DOORS, Flow, or others
• Familiarity with customer compliance frameworks and formal traceability documentation expectations
• Previous experience in a startup or fast-paced commercial space environment

Benefits

• Company stock
• Equity in Turion Space
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) plan with a 3% Employer Direct Contribution
• Generous vacation days, personal days, sick days, and holidays
• Paid parental leave
• No-cost Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Internal training, workshops, and courses
• Regular social events, team outings, and company-sponsored activities

Before you apply

• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Depar
• Must be able to obtain a TS/SCI clearance

About the company

Turion is developing the critical infrastructure of the space economy by building vertically integrated hardware and software including DROID space vehicles and the Starfire software suite.