Motive Companies ยท 20 hours ago
Staff Systems Engineer
Alameda, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$150K/yr - $190K/yr
8+ years expMotive Companies is seeking a Staff Space Products Systems Engineer to lead the architecture, integration, and lifecycle management of spacecraft hardware for low Earth orbit missions. This highly technical role focuses on system-level design and requires a recognized technical leader with a strong background in spacecraft systems engineering.
Environmental ConsultingIndustrialRenewable Energy
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Act as the technical authority for spacecraft subsystems and integrated hardware from concept through qualification and flight
Define system requirements, architecture, and interfaces for LEO spacecraft products
Lead cross-disciplinary studies balancing performance, mass, power, cost, and reliability at the system level
Develop and execute system-level test plans; verify requirements through analysis, inspection, and flight-representative testing
Support environmental qualification (thermal-vacuum, vibration, shock, EMI/EMC) and acceptance testing
Drive FMEAs, fault management, and reliability analyses to ensure multi-year mission robustness
Work closely with propulsion, avionics, structures, and operations teams to deliver integrated, flight-ready products
Mentor engineers, lead reviews, and act as subject matter expert on system integration
Represent engineering in customer reviews, contribute to mission planning, and support spacecraft integration and operations
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Systems Engineering, or related discipline
8+ years of experience in spacecraft systems engineering, with a proven record of delivering flight hardware
Strong background in system architecture, requirements definition, and spacecraft integration
Technical expertise in at least one area: electric propulsion, fluid systems, avionics, or structural/thermal design
Experience with LEO spacecraft requirements, including thermal management, radiation environment, and mission operations
Hands-on experience with verification, validation, and qualification of flight hardware
Familiarity with industry standards (NASA, ESA, ECSS, MIL-STD, or equivalent)
Strong communication and problem-solving skills, with demonstrated program-level influence
Must meet ITAR/EAR compliance as a U.S. Person (citizen, permanent resident, refugee, or asylee), or be eligible for licensing
Subject to background checks and potential security clearance for government contracts
Applicants in San Francisco will be considered consistent with the Fair Chance Ordinance
Preferred
electric propulsion experience
Direct experience with electric propulsion subsystems (Hall-effect, ion thrusters, or advanced EP architectures)
Background in designing/certifying hardware for LEO constellations or commercial spacecraft
Experience leading large cross-functional engineering efforts
Knowledge of manufacturing and testing space-qualified hardware at scale
Proficiency with modeling/simulation tools (MATLAB, Simulink, STK, MBSE tools)
Experience designing spacecraft systems for long-duration space environments
Company
Motive Companies
Motive Companies is a provider of renewable energy and infrastructure solutions for industrial and commercial applications.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageRecent News
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