Senior or Staff Satellite Mission Engineer

About Us:

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.

BlackSky is looking for a talented and creative experienced Satellite Mission Engineer to support satellite development, modeling and business development efforts with their satellite/constellation systems expertise. As part of the Satellite Systems Engineering team, you will take a primary role in the future design, development, and capability evolution of our BlackSky satellites – across all phases of a satellite lifecycle, including design, development, launch, and operation as well as supporting new business development efforts.

This position is a critical element of the BlackSky Satellite Systems Engineering team and is expected to work collaboratively with Sales, Contracts, Satellite Engineering and Ops, Ground Stations, and Constellation Design teams to identify solutions for new business that align current engineering baselines with future needs. The ideal candidate has experience with all satellite subsystems, is comfortable performing new mission feasibility assessments and providing high-level estimates of impacts to baseline designs, and enjoys effectively communicating through informal and formal (contracts, proposal writing) channels. This role could be either senior or staff level depending on experience and qualifications. While the locations listed in the job posting are ideal, we would love candidates near either our Herndon, VA or Seattle, WA offices. We may also consider remote candidates in certain states.

Responsibilities:

  • Quickly build working knowledge of program baseline satellite design, capabilities, and constraints.
  • Understand corporate business goals and direction on 1–5-year timelines and assist in meeting those goals.
  • Work with internal and external customers to determine and access requirements for future capabilities.
  • Assess changes to baseline satellite design required for new mission opportunities.
  • Support initial pursuit planning with early feasibility assessments.
  • Identify enabling new technologies initiate and maintain vendor relationships.
  • Track and maintain technology roadmap, working with core design team to on-ramp new capabilities.
  • Perform trade studies to down select to optimal technologies.
  • Complete satellite subsystem analyses to support trade studies and new business proposals.
  • Develop, maintain, and present satellite design and capability reference material for marketing and business development.
  • Support proposals as needed with both reference information and direct input.
  • Interface effectively with multidisciplinary teams, including satellite and ground system engineers, program management, software developers, IT, and systems engineering.
  • Other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

  • For a senior level, at least 5 years of technical experience with satellite development, test and/or operations and for a staff level at least 10 years of technical experience with satellite development, test, and/or operations.
  • Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering or related discipline.
  • Enthusiasm for independent problem-solving while possessing strong inter-team and cross-team cooperation and organization skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a strong understanding of audience.
  • Ability to multi-task within a startup, fast paced environment.
  • Knowledgeable of space regulatory, compliance and export requirements and their effect on system design.
  • Familiarity with small satellite design and qualification processes and testing best practices.
  • Familiarity with JAMA, STK, Grafana, Atlassian (Confluence, JIRA) workflows.
  • Experience with New Business Development and proposal writing.
  • Technically modeling satellite subsystem behaviors – including link budgets, CAD/Solidworks, Thermal and Mechanical environments, satellite pointing, data throughput, etc.
  • Must be a US-born citizen.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • At least 15 years of relevant technical experience, preferably in a space systems development environment.
  • Advanced degree in engineering or related discipline with a focus on Space Systems.
  • Experience defining and performing technical trades and analyses.
  • Experience with technology insertion – trades and roadmapping.
  • Experience managing one or more technical budgets (Link, Mass, Pointing, etc.).
  • Experience with hardware test and qualification (performance and environments).
  • Experience with multiple imaging phenomenologies.
  • Experience working on geospatial intelligence systems.
  • Broad understanding of space systems and the interface/relationships between satellites and the other components of a space mission architecture.
  • Experience with launch integration.

Life at BlackSky for full-time US benefits eligible employees includes:

  • Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance
    • BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses!
  • 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more
  • 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Employee Stock Purchase Program
  • Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
  • Employer matching donations
  • Professional development
  • Mac or PC? Your choice!
  • Awesome swag

The anticipated base salary range for Senior candidates in Seattle, WA is $150,000-175,000 per year and for Staff candidates $175,000-190,000. The final compensation package offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on specific background and education. BlackSky is a multi-state employer, and this pay scale may not reflect salary ranges in other states or locations outside of Seattle, WA.

BlackSky is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer All Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

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.

EEO/AAP/ Pay Transparency Statements:

https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf

https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/OFCCP_EEO_Supplement_Final_JRF_QA_508c.pdf

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