Full-Time

Systems Engineering Architect

Terran Orbital

Terran Orbital

201-500 employees

Designs, manufactures, and operates small satellites

Compensation Overview

$200k - $250k/yr

No H1B Sponsorship

Irvine, CA, USA

In Person

US Top Secret Clearance Required

Category
Aerospace Engineering (1)
Required Skills
Communications
Propulsion
Requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
  • Twelve or more years of experience in spacecraft systems engineering and architecture.
  • Demonstrated expertise across avionics, power, propulsion, security, computer architecture, communications, and navigation subsystems.
  • Proven track record architecting complex “systems of systems” for space missions.
  • Strong background in radio frequency communications, software-defined radios, antennas, digital signal processing, and navigation algorithms.
  • Experience developing technology roadmaps and leading analysis of alternatives for complex technical systems.
  • Knowledge of spacecraft integration, verification, and environmental qualification.
  • Eligible for U.S. Department of Defense security clearance (U.S. Citizenship required).
Responsibilities
  • Define and implement spacecraft system architecture roadmaps aligned with mission objectives.
  • Lead Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) to evaluate avionics, power, propulsion, communication, and navigation solutions.
  • Establish technical standards and architectures that support interoperability across platforms.
  • Architect end-to-end satellite solutions spanning avionics, power, propulsion, security, computer systems, communications, and navigation.
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams in subsystem design, integration, and qualification.
  • Champion innovative approaches to increase performance, reduce costs, and accelerate development cycles.
  • Oversee execution of spacecraft architecture projects from concept through deployment.
  • Establish and maintain technical performance metrics, schedules, and budgets.
  • Collaborate with manufacturing, supply chain, and mission operations to ensure seamless integration.
  • Mentor and lead engineering teams, fostering technical excellence and innovation.
  • Partner with vehicle engineering, mission architecture, and external stakeholders to deliver effective solutions.
  • Represent the company in industry forums, standards bodies, and with government partners.
Desired Qualifications
  • Ph.D. or Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline.
  • Experience with deep space communications, inter-satellite links, and ground station networks.
  • Knowledge of secure computing architectures and regulatory spectrum management.
  • Background in digital signal processing algorithms and advanced communications theory.
  • Experience working with NASA, Department of Defense, or other government partners on spacecraft systems.
  • Track record of innovation demonstrated through patents, publications, or successful technology transitions.

Terran Orbital designs, builds, and operates small satellites for communications, Earth observation, and scientific research. Its products are small, purpose-built satellites that host specific payloads, deployed into orbit to collect data, enable communications, or support science missions, with ground operations and data services coordinating the end-to-end workflow. The company differentiates itself through its end-to-end capabilities in the small-satellite space—covering design, manufacturing, and real-time operations for both commercial and government customers—along with strategic partnerships and, since late 2024, integration with Lockheed Martin to scale resources and access broader aerospace capabilities. Its goal is to advance small-satellite technology and maintain leadership in the sector by delivering reliable, scalable orbital solutions and expanding opportunities across defense, commercial, and scientific markets.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Boca Raton, Florida

Founded

2013

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Lockheed Martin acquired Terran Orbital for $450 million in October 2024, unlocking vast resources.
  • New star tracker line (M10, H6, F4) launched at SATSHOW 2026 boosts component scalability.
  • Key hires like Cheryl Paquete as CFO and Kwon Park enhance manufacturing and financial scaling.

What critics are saying

  • Class action lawsuit (24-cv-81191) exposes concealed liquidity crisis, forcing massive payouts.
  • Rivada $2.4B contract fails revenue conversion, halting production and causing customer defaults.
  • Lockheed integration dissolves Terran brand, triggering talent exodus within 18 months.

What makes Terran Orbital unique

  • Terran Orbital manufactures 85% of standard spacecraft components in-house for rapid delivery.
  • End-to-end solutions integrate satellite design, production, launch planning, and on-orbit support.
  • Specializes in small satellites up to 1,250kg with nearly 1,000 months of flight heritage.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Company Match

Flexible Work Hours

Tuition Reimbursement

Parental Leave

Company News

Carroll County News
Mar 25th, 2026
Terran Orbital introduces new star tracker product line at SATSHOW 2026.

Terran Orbital introduces new star tracker product line at SATSHOW 2026. * 6 hrs ago Terran Orbital Corporation, a Lockheed Martin company, today announced the introduction of its new star tracker product line at SATSHOW 2026, expanding the company's growing portfolio of components and modules designed to deliver mission-ready performance at scale. The new product line includes three models, M10, H6, and F4, engineered to support a wide range of mission requirements while balancing performance, cost, and scalability. Built on Terran Orbital's proven flight heritage and uncompromising quality standards, these star trackers are designed to deliver reliable, high-accuracy attitude determination for next-generation satellite missions. "Our new star tracker line reflects Terran Orbital's commitment to delivering high-performance, modular components backed by real flight heritage," said Peter Krauss, President and Chief Executive Officer of Terran Orbital. "Customers can move forward with confidence knowing they are integrating solutions that are proven, reliable, and fully compatible with their mission architectures." Terran Orbital's star trackers feature robust onboard algorithms capable of rapid initial attitude acquisition and continuous high-rate quaternion output directly to spacecraft ADCS systems. Each unit undergoes extensive testing across temperature ranges and slew rates against simulated night sky conditions to ensure consistent performance in orbit. Key highlights of the product line include: * Proven Flight Heritage: Dozens of units already operating successfully in orbit, providing customers with trusted, mission-proven performance * Uncompromised Quality: Designed and tested to meet rigorous environmental and operational standards, including vibration and thermal performance * Guaranteed Compatibility: Seamless integration with existing spacecraft architectures through standardized interfaces and support for on-orbit software updates * Advanced Performance Options: * M10 offers a cost-efficient, low-mass solution with significant heritage * H6 builds on a flight-proven design with enhanced optics for improved performance and extended lifetime * F4 delivers the highest accuracy and fastest measurement update rates, enabled by FPGA-based image processing * Operational Flexibility: Support for on-orbit updates, customizable star catalogs, and calibration algorithms to reduce alignment and distortion errors * Proudly Made in the USA: Manufactured domestically to ensure quality control, supply chain reliability, and compliance with U.S. mission requirements With this introduction, Terran Orbital continues to advance its strategy of productizing space systems through modular, scalable components that support both commercial and defense customers. Attendees of SATSHOW 2026 are invited to visit Terran Orbital to learn more about the new star tracker line and the company's expanding components and modules portfolio. About Terran Orbital Terran Orbital, a Lockheed Martin Company, is a leading manufacturer of satellite solutions, providing end-to-end mission services to commercial, civil, and government customers worldwide. The company specializes in the design, manufacture, and operation of advanced small satellites supporting Earth observation, national security, and deep-space exploration missions.

Cision
Mar 12th, 2026
MSUA Unveils Finalists for 2026 Satellite Mobile Innovation Awards and Keynote Speaker

MSUA unveils finalists for 2026 Satellite Mobile Innovation Awards and keynote speaker. Mobile Satellite Users Association Mar 12, 2026, 10:00 ET Amazon Leo's Director of U.S. Government Business, Mike Moran, to keynote at annual awards luncheon. MCLEAN, Va., March 12, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ - The Mobile Satellite Users Association (MSUA), a global not-for-profit focused on amplifying the voice of the millions of users of satellite services for mobile communication, navigation, and safety, announces the finalists for the 2026 Satellite Mobile Innovation Awards. The award winners will be announced at a luncheon during SATELLITE 2026 that will feature keynote speaker Mike Moran of Amazon Leo, addressing the current state of the government satellite business. The luncheon will be held Tuesday, March 24th, during the SATELLITE 2026 Conference in Washington, D.C. "The 2026 Satellite Mobile Innovation Awards recognizes advances in satellite systems and solutions that occurred in 2025," said Roger Lanctot, President of MSUA. "On the threshold of the next stage of satellite industry evolution, Amazon Leo is poised to make its own significant contributions to the acceleration of space exploration and exploitation." As Director of U.S. Government Business at Amazon Leo for Government, Mike Moran leverages more than 35 years of experience in space systems, communications, mission solutions, and business operations to drive the strategy, growth, and business management of Amazon Leo for U.S. government customers. Prior to Amazon Leo, Mike served as Senior Vice President, Defense & Intelligence Systems at Terran Orbital Corporation. He was also Co-President and Chief Operating Officer of PredaSAR Corporation, a Terran Orbital subsidiary focused on commercial space radar systems. Moran also held leadership roles as Vice President of Space Strategies at Peraton Inc. and Executive Director, Government Solutions at Harris Corporation. During his distinguished 26-year career in the U.S. Air Force, Mike held multiple command assignments at the squadron, group, and wing levels, culminating in his role as Wing Commander of the Space Development and Test Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, NM. His service spanned space, launch, cyber, airborne, and foreign military sales programs, with leadership positions across the Air Force, the National Reconnaissance Office, the Pentagon, and NATO. 2025 MSUA Satellite Mobile Innovations Awards Finalists (in alphabetical order) * Accelercomm * Applied Information * Globalstar * iDirect Government * INTEGRASYS * Iridium Communications Inc. * Kymeta Corporation * Lynk Global + Omnispace * Mavenir * Mission Microwave Technologies, LLC * NAL Technologies * ORBCOMM/Skywave * Pulsar * Space42 * ST Engineering * Viasat The 2025 panel of judges includes Antonio Franchi, Head of 5G/6G NTN Programme Office, European Space Agency (ESA); Silvano Payne, Founder & CEO, SatNews Publishers; Chris Quilty, Co-CEO and Founder, Quilty Space; Randy Segal, Co-head of Space and Satellite Group, Partner Hogan Lovells; and Zack Hester, Head of the U.S. Office for Novaspace. Winners for the MSUA Satellite Mobile Innovation Awards will be announced at the luncheon (11:45 AM to 1:30 PM East) on March 24, 2026, in Ballroom C at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. during SATELLITE 2026. Attendance is limited for the Satellite Mobile Innovation Awards. Advanced ticket sales and sponsorships are available via the registration form. Details for the MSUA Satellite Mobile Innovation Awards are available at msua.org/awards. To apply for MSUA membership, visit msua.org/join. Media Inquiries | Roger Lanctot | [email protected] | +1 (703) 860-2005 Media Contact Roger Lanctot, Mobile Satellite Users Association, 1 7038602005, [email protected], msua.org SOURCE Mobile Satellite Users Association

Chicago News Journal
Mar 5th, 2026
Terran Orbital Appoints Kwon Park as Senior Director of Manufacturing Operations

Terran Orbital appoints Kwon Park as senior director of manufacturing operations. IRVINE, Calif., March 5, 2026 - Terran Orbital, a Lockheed Martin Company and a leading satellite solutions provider, announced today the appointment of Kwon Park as senior director of manufacturing operations. Park will report to the company's operations leadership team and oversee manufacturing execution, production scalability, and operational performance across Terran Orbital's manufacturing organization. Park has over 20 years of experience leading high-precision aerospace, defense, and advanced hardware manufacturing. He has a proven record of scaling production from prototypes to full-rate manufacturing while maintaining critical quality, delivery, and cost-performance standards. Before joining Terran Orbital, Park was the site leader for a $300 million aerospace manufacturing operation, where he managed manufacturing, engineering, quality, supply chain, and planning functions supporting high-reliability defense and aerospace programs. He has also held senior roles in operations and supply chain across the defense and advanced technology sectors, driving production ramp-up, implementing Lean manufacturing practices, and strengthening AS9100 quality systems. "Kwon brings deep operational expertise and a disciplined manufacturing approach that will strengthen our ability to scale production and deliver with consistency," said Peter Krauss, CEO of Terran Orbital. "His experience building high-performance manufacturing organizations will be critical as we continue to increase capacity and serve our customers." In his role, Park will focus on improving production throughput, building stronger cross-functional alignment between manufacturing and engineering, and supporting Terran Orbital's ongoing shift toward higher-rate satellite production. About Terran Orbital Terran Orbital, a Lockheed Martin Company, is a leading manufacturer of satellite solutions, providing end-to-end mission services to commercial, civil, and government customers worldwide. The company specializes in the design, manufacture, and operation of advanced small satellites supporting Earth observation, national security, and deep-space exploration missions.

ExecutiveBiz
Jan 7th, 2026
Michael Vishion Joins Terran Orbital as Program Management VP

Michael Vishion joins Terran Orbital as program management VP. Michael Vishion / Terran Orbital Lockheed Martin company Terran Orbital has appointed U.S. Navy veteran Michael Vishion as vice president of program management. Terran Orbital said Wednesday that in his new role, Vishion will work to ensure alignment between engineering, manufacturing and program teams to ensure the company's growth in its target markets. The new Terran Orbital VP will report to company chief executive Peter Krauss. Who is Michael Vishion? Vishion brings to the position years of leadership experience in program management, contracts, product development and operations in the aerospace and defense sectors. He comes to Terran Orbital from technology, manufacturing and engineering company ITT, where he served as director of technical program and product management for two years. Earlier, he served as business execution director at defense and space manufacturing company Moog Space and Defense Group. What did Terran Orbital's CEO say about Michael Vishion? Commenting on Vishion's appointment, Peter Krauss said, "Michael's depth of experience in program execution, combined with his people-first leadership approach, makes him a strong addition to our executive team." "His leadership will be instrumental as we continue to scale our operations and deliver consistent, high-quality results for our customers," Terran Orbital's CEO added. For his part, Vishion said on LinkedIn, "After an incredible journey at ITT, it's time to turn the page and embark on an exciting new adventure," adding, "As I step into this new role at Terran Orbital, I'm filled with excitement and anticipation for what lies ahead. I'm eager to collaborate with the brilliant minds at Terran Orbital and contribute to groundbreaking advancements in space technology and satellite systems in this dynamic and rapidly evolving industry."

Sell To Government Community
Nov 26th, 2025
Terran Orbital Appoints Former Lockheed Leader Cheryl Paquete as Chief Financial Officer

Cheryl Paquete/Terran Orbital Home executive moves Terran Orbital appoints former Lockheed leader Cheryl Paquete as chief financial officer. Terran Orbital has appointed Cheryl Paquete as chief financial officer. Paquete will be in charge of the company's financial strategy and contribute to efforts that would support the company's plan to scale satellite manufacturing operations. Who is Cheryl Paquete? Paquete spent nearly two decades at Lockheed Martin Space, where she spearheaded its deep space exploration, commercial satellites, weather and Earth science and advanced development programs. She oversaw $350 million in annual mission revenue at the company and led independent cost evaluations across its space portfolio during her time. Lockheed acquired Terran Orbital and its subsidiary Tyvak International in 2024 as part of its effort to expand its space capabilities. Terran Orbital manufactures satellite technologies for commercial and government customers. "Cheryl is an exceptional finance leader with a proven record of elevating performance, strengthening business discipline, and building and developing teams that deliver results," said Peter Krauss, CEO of Terran Orbital. "Her strategic mindset, deep aerospace experience, and commitment to operational excellence make her the perfect fit for Terran Orbital as we advance our mission. We are very happy she is joining us full-time, and I look forward to the impact her leadership will bring." Paquete also worked as a mechanical test engineer at Northrop Grumman's aerospace systems division, according to her LinkedIn profile. She has a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering and a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California and a Master of Business Administration from Santa Clara University.