Lead AIT Systems Engineer

Please review the job details below.

Maxar Intelligence is a provider of secure, precise, geospatial intelligence. We deliver disruptive value to government and commercial customers to help them monitor, understand, and navigate our changing planet. Our unique approach combines decades of deep mission understanding and a proven commercial and defense foundation to deploy solutions and deliver insights with unrivaled speed, scale, and cost effectiveness.

Join Maxar's Space System Engineering team to shape the future of commercial Earth imaging.  Build the next big thing in commercial remote sensing with an industry-leading team that exemplifies technical depth, breadth, precision, and innovation. Our team is defining--and delivering on--a vision for the next-generation of on-orbit technologies that will extend the capabilities of our industry-leading Earth imaging constellation.

At Maxar, you'll find an environment where technical excellence is the foundation and where projects are owned start to finish. You'll have the chance to shape your own future, with the freedom to push the limits of your role with support from leaders who have your back. 

We're seeking engineers who thrive on complex problems and solutions. Ideal candidates are naturally curious self-starters with experience and knowledge pushing them to get hands on. We use data to drive our decisions and navigate uncertainty and ambiguity with an informed, balanced risk approach. If you're passionate about building the space system technologies for the future and delivering impacts that change our world, join us. 

Day In The Life:

Each day as a systems assembly, integration, and test engineer on our team brings new challenges and breakthroughs. You might start by reviewing a supplier’s AIT plan to ensure it meets our needs for ensuring performance from our critical space assets. Next you’ll jump into a brainstorming session with other passionate engineers to explore the options for a tailored, rapid-build AIT campaign aligned with procurement of a proliferated space system. Later, you might guide your team through a rigorous review of test results to confirm that the tests have met our standards for ensuring compliance with our requirements. The pace is fast, but our culture is supportive, valuing both autonomy and team wins. Here you have the authority to make a real impact, the flexibility to explore new ideas, and the chance to build something meaningful in space transforming how we see our world.

Required Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or related field of study
• 8+ years’ experience with space systems integration and test activities
• Experience managing a small team/department including budgets, schedules, staffing, etc. 
• Experience leading a team to ensure a robust space system development AI&T through V&V program
• Experience acting as a Test Director and leading a small team in the performance of various mission- and time-critical test operations
• Proficiency in systems engineering principles and methods for complex space system integration and space hardware handling
• Knowledge of requirements analysis, allocation, verification and validation
• Experience with all phases of spacecraft mechanical and electrical integration and test activities ranging from program initiation through launch site operations
• Experience writing spacecraft level Test Plans, procedures, and automated test scripts
• Experience developing and managing the spacecraft integration & test related sections of a Program Integrated Master Schedule (IMS)
• Exposure to working in ISO 7 / Class 10,000 cleanroom environments
• Expertise with industry standards for Electro Static Discharge control, Foreign Object Debris control, and contamination control for optical imaging spacecraft systems
• Experience contributing to spacecraft mechanical, electrical, and software designs to facilitate ease and safety of spacecraft level test and processing activities.

• Understanding of Opto-Mechanical integration, alignment, and thermal stability for maintaining image quality

• Ability to document system requirements, specifications, and technical procedures clearly and accurately
• Understanding of space-to-ground and intersatellite communication systems
• Experience developing fault protection test plans and procedures for fault tolerant spacecraft with redundant architectures.
• Demonstrates genuine interest in exploring new technologies and improving existing designs
• Methodical in breaking down complex technical challenges, proposing solutions, and iterating toward optimized solutions
• Adaptability, with demonstrated willingness to evolve technical or mission needs, embracing changes in requirements, technology or direction
• Ability to effectively communicate with multidisciplinary teams, translating technical details to other engineering and business stakeholders
• Willingness to mentor junior engineers, sharing expertise and supporting team growth, advancement and succession
• Comfortable working independently but proactive in engaging collaboratively when systems-level integration or troubleshooting is required
• Must be a US Citizen and willing and able to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance at TS/SCI level

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of optical remote sensing system components, design and operational requirements
• Experience with remote sensing fundamentals and principles including data acquisition, sensor types, and signal processing
• Experience with Electro-Optical sensors, covering spectral sensitivity, resolution optimization, and calibration
• Exposure to satellite operations
• Proficiency with one or more spacecraft test and operations scripting language such as STOL, Python, CCL, Cecil, etc
• Strong understanding of MIL-STD-1540, MIL-STD-461, NASA General Environmental Verification Standard (GEVS), and other industry standards governing the integration and test of space systems
• Basic competency in data handling and processing, including awareness of algorithms commonly used in remote sensing applications
• Familiarity with Laser Communication Terminals and intersatellite link techniques, methods, and principles
• Capability to utilize modeling and simulation tools and techniques to predict and evaluate system performance
• Knowledge of Orbital Mechanics, with an emphasis on LEO, and the factors influencing system design for hosting EOIR sensors
• Familiarity with Spacecraft design, systems, components, and control
• Understanding of thermal control and power management, including thermal-elastic and mechanically induced exported torques, forces, and stability
• Awareness of radiation impacts on space systems, including mitigation techniques
• Defining and maintaining ICDs
• Experience in bidding and proposal development
• Awareness of space policy, spectrum management and regulatory constraints
• Knowledge of AIT and safety processes associated with RF and or SAR remote sensing systems
• Experience with the full SE life cycle of space systems development including transportation, shipping containers, acceptance testing, and launch site integration activities
• Comfortable interacting with customers
• Active TS/SCI clearance

Life with Us:  

There is a reason we boast awards like Best Employer, Best Place to work, Top employer, candidate experience winner. Our strength is in our people. Each team member makes a unique contribution to our collective mission. So, we recognize that with best-in-class benefits like: 

• 401K matching and immediate vesting schedule. 
• Career growth opportunities. 
• Family friendly benefits like maternity and paternity leave, adoption reimbursement, flexible hours, hybrid work options. 
• Programs to help you grow like tuition reimbursement, hackathons, and career development. 
• Student loan repayment. 
• Generous time off.
• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision at affordable monthly rates. 

In support of pay transparency at Maxar, we disclose salary ranges on all U.S. job postings.  The successful candidate’s starting pay will fall within the salary range provided below and is determined based on job-related factors, including, but not limited to, the experience, qualifications, knowledge, skills, geographic work location, and market conditions. Candidates with the minimum necessary experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skillsets for the position should not expect to receive the upper end of the pay range.

● The base pay for this position within Colorado is: $126,000.00 - $210,000.00 annually.

For all other states, we use geographic cost of labor as an input to develop market-driven ranges for our roles, and as such, each location where we hire may have a different range.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, health and welfare insurance, and 401(k) to eligible employees. You can find more information on our benefits at: https://www.maxar.com/careers/benefits

Additionally, this position is incentive eligible with a target based on contribution, company performance, and/or individual results achieved; the specific incentive plan and target amount will be determined based on the role and breadth of contributions.

The application window is three days from the date the job is posted and will remain posted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire.  If the job is reposted regardless of reason, it will remain posted three days from the date the job is reposted and will remain reposted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire. 

The date of posting can be found on Maxar’s Career page at the top of each job posting.

To apply, submit your application via Maxar’s Career page.

Maxar Technologies values diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.