Full-Time

Principal Mission Systems Engineer

Updated on 9/4/2026

Loft Federal

Loft Federal

11-50 employees

Mission-as-a-service smallsat launch and management

Compensation Overview

$180k - $235k/yr

+ Equity options

No H1B Sponsorship

Golden, CO, USA

In Person

Relocation assistance may be available.

US Citizenship, US Top Secret Clearance Required

Category
Aerospace Engineering (1)

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Requirements
  • An active Top Secret clearance and the ability to obtain Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance are required.
  • U.S. citizenship is required.
  • Comprehensive system-level knowledge and experience in tactical radio-frequency or optical subsystems are required.
  • Experience analyzing subsystem performance and developing strategies to accomplish mission objectives is required.
  • Prior experience delivering a spacecraft to orbit and/or space-qualified hardware to a customer is required.
  • At least 12 years of experience as an electrical or systems engineer with detailed knowledge of radio-frequency and/or optical subsystems is required.
Responsibilities
  • Collaborate with internal teams and customers to conduct radio-frequency, payload, and communication-system analysis, modeling, and simulation; estimate system performance; and maintain technical budgets.
  • Work with internal teams and customers to create and manage system specifications and verification techniques aligned with ambiguous customer requirements.
  • Shape mission concepts of operations in partnership with customers and teammates.
  • Support program management and product management while serving as a customer liaison to support program execution.
  • Support test planning and participate in integration and test campaigns at the spacecraft manufacturer's site while ensuring adherence to quality standards.
Desired Qualifications
  • A Department of Defense or Intelligence Community Top Secret background investigation with at least three years of eligibility remaining or Continuous Evaluation status is preferred.
  • Sensitive Compartmented Information eligibility with current experience in Sensitive Compartmented Information programs and/or Special Access Programs is preferred.
  • Experience with STK, HFSS, and requirements-management tools is highly preferred.

Loft Federal provides mission-as-a-service for small satellite missions to the U.S. national security space community. It handles the entire process of getting a payload to orbit, offering regularly scheduled missions so clients can focus on their data rather than the launch. The company uses pre-procured satellite buses and proprietary plug-and-play software and hardware to quickly integrate and launch payloads, delivering missions in months instead of years. This makes Loft Federal different from competitors by targeting government payloads with a turnkey, cost-effective, and predictable path to space, backed by a streamlined operations model rather than standalone launch services. The overall goal is to give government and defense organizations reliable, timely access to space for their data-gathering payloads.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Golden, Colorado

Founded

2022

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Arvada facility opening in August 2026 signals expanding federal demand and headcount.
  • December 2025 MDA SHIELD award validates Loft Federal inside missile-defense procurement.
  • SDA NExT heritage and Ball partnership strengthen credibility for repeat government missions.

What critics are saying

  • MDA SHIELD still shows $500 obligated, leaving Loft Federal dependent on unproven task orders.
  • Ball, SDA, and MDA concentration creates customer-power risk if one program slips.
  • Large facility spending before utilization raises burn risk if classified backlog stalls.

What makes Loft Federal unique

  • FOCI-mitigated U.S. subsidiary, hiring only U.S. citizens, suits classified missions.
  • Integrated mission factory combines payloads, secure interfaces, autonomy, and operational handoff.
  • New 60,000-square-foot Arvada facility adds ICD 705-ready integration and operations capacity.

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Benefits

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Company Equity

Company News

Jeffco Business District
Aug 20th, 2026
Loft Federal opens major ops facility in Arvada.

Loft Federal opens major ops facility in Arvada. Gen AI | August 20, 2026 | Loft Federal has opened a new 60,000-square-foot operations and integration facility in Arvada, a notable investment inside Jefferson County that adds high-value aerospace and government-contracting activity to the local economy. The new site is expected to support up to 100 employees, contractors and mission partners, making it relevant for area businesses that serve growing technology, advanced manufacturing and professional services needs. Why this is relevant to businesses in Jefferson County: * The facility is located in Arvada, directly within Jefferson County, making it a local business expansion with potential spillover for suppliers, service providers and commercial real estate. * Loft Federal said the site is expected to support 100 employees, contractors and mission partners as operations grow, which can increase demand for local vendors and business services. * The investment strengthens Jefferson County's aerospace and defense business base, sectors that can attract additional partnerships and follow-on economic activity.

Global Risk Community
Apr 8th, 2025
global optical satellite imaging market

In April 2023, Ball Corporation partnered with Loft Federal and Microsoft for the Space Development Agency's NExT contract, involving an experimental testbed of 10 satellites scheduled for launch in 2024.

Nasdaq
Apr 3rd, 2024
Volume Production Begins for Mynaric's Flagship Space Laser Terminal - CONDOR Mk3

Mynaric was also selected by Loft Federal to supply the CONDOR Mk3 terminals to NExT - the SDA's Experimental Testbed.