Space Systems Engineer - Glasgow

About Spire

Spire Global is a space-to-cloud analytics company that owns and operates the largest multi-purpose constellation of satellites. Its proprietary data and algorithms provide the most advanced maritime, aviation, and weather tracking in the world. In addition to its constellation, Spire’s data infrastructure includes a global ground station network and 24/7 operations that provide real-time global coverage of every point on Earth.

Spire is vertically-integrated, developing and manufacturing its own satellite platform in-house which is used both for internal Spire data products. Spire also works with businesses & government to co-create and deploy customizable data collection satellites and networks within months. This is secure, real-time data from custom payloads fitted to a customer's needs. We call this Orbital Services.

Job Description:

As a Systems Engineer, you will design new satellites and take them from concept to orbit. You will take new mission concepts and perform analysis to translate mission objectives into detailed design requirements. You will work with hardware engineers, software engineers, and domain specialists to perform critical technical trade-offs and bring together cohesive satellite systems designs. You will shepherd the technical aspects of the mission throughout their development, managing risk and presenting to internal and external customers at key milestones. 

As an engineer at Spire, you’ll move fast, iterate quickly, and solve global problems. You might be the right fit if you love exciting technical challenges, hate getting bored, and enjoy collaborating with engineers who are changing the way the world thinks about space, satellites, and data. 

Responsibilities of your role:

• Support multiple satellite missions through different stages of their lifecycle
• Work with the sales engineering and technical teams to translate mission-level objectives into detailed subsystem requirements and project plans
• Perform mission concept studies, drive architecture development and systems engineering required to assess concept feasibility
• Develop and validate concepts of operations
• Control the interfaces between the Spire satellite bus, and both internal and external customer payloads
• Deliver systems analyses for missions (e.g. thermal, structural, comms)
• Use and occasionally develop or improve mission design and systems engineering tools (ranging from spreadsheets to custom software tools)
• Develop and maintain critical budgets
• Develop test campaigns based on mission requirements
• Coordinate with various technical teams to perform system and subsystem tradeoff studies
• Develop and maintain technical documentation for missions

Basic qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in a space systems engineering role
• Thorough space systems engineering knowledge, with coverage at mission-level, space segment, ground segment and software
• Demonstrated experience with missions and systems that successfully performed electro-optical imaging on-orbit
• Basic understanding of spacecraft subsystem hardware and software design
• Experience with mission analysis tools (e.g. STK, Matlab, Python)
• Experience in system architecture, tradeoff processes, risk management, etc.
• Excellent technical writing and editing skills

Preferred qualifications: 

• Experience with RF-sensing satellite missions
• Experience with CAD systems (e.g. solidworks, Altium)
• Experience with ERP systems and manufacturing environments in general
• Hands-on experience with spacecraft hardware in the lab or cleanroom
• Hands-on experience with lab test equipment, executing test campaigns
• Experience working directly with customers
• Experience with ECSS standards and typical ESA  project and documentation processes
• Scientific programming experience (e.g. Python, Matlab)
• Experience with agile and fast-paced space technology development companies and processes

Spire is Global and our success draws upon the diverse viewpoints, skills and experiences of our employees. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status.