ispace

Lunar payload transport and data services

Chief Engineer - Space Vehicles and Satellites

Spacecraft & Launch Vehicle SystemsConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeEnglewood, CO, USA$180k - $270k /yr

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent, is required.
At least 12 years of spacecraft design, systems engineering, or other relevant space mission experience, including at least 5 years in a technical leadership role, is required.
Thorough understanding of the full design lifecycle, including requirements, verification and validation, interface control documents, concept of operations, design integration, test, and sustainability, is required.
Advanced knowledge of industry best practices and fundamentals of spacecraft design, construction, testing, and operations is required.
Ability to quickly grasp technical concepts and understand complex technical and program interdependencies is required.
Ability to link technology to business strategically is required.
Ability to work effectively across the organization and convey decisions, direction, and results clearly is required.
Direct experience with satellite and/or spacecraft bus design, systems engineering, or integration, in addition to broader spacecraft experience, is required.
Demonstrated ability to build rapport across teams globally and with customers, and to work effectively across different cultures, is required.
Willingness to travel internationally is required.

Responsibilities

Serve as the company's technical design authority and systems subject matter expert for spacecraft, satellites or buses, and component-level space flight hardware.
Establish vehicle performance requirements, spacecraft architecture, and configurations, and assess vehicle readiness level.
Maintain an in-depth understanding of innovations in spacecraft design and development to support the company's technical capability.
Identify common challenges across program teams and facilitate collaboration to address technical topics consistently and robustly.
Own technical review processes and continuously improve product performance and reliability.
Facilitate capture of technical lessons learned and ensure processes and design guidance tailored from industry meet best practices.
Ensure appropriate configuration control and documentation of the spacecraft and all technical content.
Provide accountability for technical risk, system modeling and simulations, system performance, system architecture, and trade studies.
Collaborate with software, hardware, supply chain, and integration teams.
Drive the project from concept through integration and launch.
Collaborate with business development as a technical resource for capture pursuits.
Work with teams in Colorado, Japan, and Luxembourg, and with external partners and suppliers, to maintain end-to-end program integration.
Build and maintain relationships with the team, customers, and partners, including through occasional travel to Japan, customers, and vendor sites.

Desired Qualifications

A master's or PhD in Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent, is preferred.
Previous service as Chief Engineer on a space program is preferred.
Experience working on government or military programs is preferred.
Experience with contract and supplier technical negotiations is preferred.
Rapid prototyping experience is preferred.
Knowledge of integrated software/hardware verification and test is preferred.
Proficiency in SolidWorks, Femap, NASTRAN or equivalent, Confluence, and Jira is preferred.
Experience with complex spacecraft design and integration is preferred.

Salary Range: 180000 to 270000 (Currency: USD) (Pay period: per-year-salary)

At ispace U.S., we’re not just going to the Moon—we’re redefining how we get there. Our missions push the boundaries of human and robotic exploration, driven by our belief: “Expand our Planet. Expand our Future.” By providing cost-effective lunar transportation, we are pioneering a future where space is within reach for scientific discovery, commercial ventures, and sustainable exploration.

With locations in Japan, Luxembourg, and the United States, ispace is rapidly growing and leading the way in lunar exploration and development. Our U.S. branch is based in Englewood, Colorado, and focuses on high-capacity payload lunar landers designed to support future lunar missions. Our team is made up of innovators, problem-solvers, and visionaries committed to making space more accessible and fostering the next generation of space exploration.

Let’s go to the Moon together! Our team is growing, and we are actively seeking talented individuals who share our passion for space.

We're hiring a Chief Engineer to own the technical architecture behind our lunar landers and satellite delivery programs. We need someone who can own the technical architecture across the board, satellites and spacecraft buses included, and serve as the single point of technical authority for the vehicle across every team and partner that touches it, internal and external. You'll work directly with our teams in Colorado, Japan, and Luxembourg, as well as outside partners and suppliers, to keep the whole program integrated end to end.

A big part of this job is relationship-based, not just technical. Whoever takes this on needs to build trust fast, with the team, with customers, and across cultures. This role also requires occasional travel to Japan, customers, and vendor sites to build and maintain those relationships directly.

Key Responsibilities

Serve as the company's technical design authority and systems subject matter expert for a series of spacecraft, satellites/buses, and component-level space flight hardware

Establish vehicle performance requirements, spacecraft architecture, and configurations, and assess vehicle readiness level

Maintain an in-depth understanding of innovations in spacecraft design and development to ensure ispace remains cutting edge

Identify common challenges across program teams and facilitate collaboration to ensure technical topics are addressed robustly and consistently

Own the process for technical reviews, working to continuously improve product performance and reliability

Facilitate capture of technical lessons learned and ensure processes and design guidance tailored from industry meet best practices

Assure appropriate configuration control and documentation of the spacecraft and all technical content

Provide accountability for technical risk, system modeling and simulations, system performance, system architecture, and trade studies

Collaborate with software, hardware, supply chain, and integration teams

Take extreme ownership of the project, driving from concept through integration and launch

Collaborate with business development as a technical resource for capture pursuits

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent

12+ years of spacecraft design, systems engineering, or other relevant space mission experience, including at least 5 years in a technical leadership role

Thorough understanding of the full design lifecycle, including requirements, V&V, ICDs, CONOPS, design integration, test, and sustainability

Advanced knowledge of industry best practices and fundamentals of spacecraft design, construction, testing, and operations

Ability to quickly grasp technical concepts and understand complex technical and program interdependencies

Strategic mindset with the ability to link technology to business

Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across the organization and convey decisions, direction, and results clearly

Direct experience with satellite and/or spacecraft bus design, systems engineering, or integration, in addition to broader spacecraft experience

Demonstrated ability to build rapport across the team, globally, and with customers, and to work effectively across different cultures

Must be willing to travel internationally

What Will Make You Stand Out

Master's or PhD in Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent

Previously served as Chief Engineer on a space program

Experience working on government or military programs

Experience with contract and supplier technical negotiations

Rapid prototyping experience

Knowledge of integrated software/hardware verification and test

Proficiency in Solidworks, Femap, NASTRAN (or equivalent), Confluence, and JIRA

Experience with complex spacecraft design and integration

#LI-LH1

At ispace, we believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences, even if you don’t meet every listed requirement. If you’re passionate about our mission and think you can contribute, we encourage you to apply. Your unique skills and experiences may be exactly what we need to grow and succeed together.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR .here.  

ispace is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with ispace is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

All applicants who are offered employment with ispace US will be subject to a background investigation. Offers of employment are contingent on the successful completion of a background investigation conducted in accordance with Company policies and all applicable laws.

ispace Technologies, US, Inc. is a drug-free workplace.

ispace Technologies, US, Inc. participates in the E-Verify program.

About the Company

ispace

Lunar payload transport and data services

ispace develops lunar exploration and resource development, offering two main services: Payload Services, which transports customer payloads to lunar orbit or the surface using its robotic landers and rovers, and Data Services, which collects and provides lunar data for mission planning and surface development. It differentiates itself by owning its own lunar hardware, using agile development with commercially off-the-shelf components to cut costs, and pursuing a cadence of Hakuto-R missions to establish a regular cislunar transport system, while partnering with NASA under CLPS and with ESA. Its goal is to enable a growing lunar economy by delivering reliable, affordable access to the Moon for scientists, governments, and industry and by advancing the utilization of lunar resources such as water ice.

Company size: 201-500
Company stage: IPO
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Founded: 2010

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