Satellite Autonomy Engineer / Satellite Autonomy Engineeress

Lead / Senior Autonomy Engineer

Satellites often experience failures without warning, and the engineers who work to prevent these failures are some of the most vital professionals in the aerospace industry. Our client is at the forefront of sophisticated spacecraft development and is seeking a seasoned autonomy engineer to architect the fault management systems that keep these spacecraft operational in orbit. If you possess extensive experience in onboard FDIR and spacecraft autonomy, along with the ability to guide teams throughout the full program lifecycle, this role is tailored for you.

The Role

As the Autonomy Responsible Engineering Authority, you will have ownership over fault detection, isolation, and response architecture within programs and proposals. Your daily responsibilities will include:

• Defining satellite states, modes, and transitions
• Designing and validating onboard fault responses
• Leading requirements decomposition
• Supporting console operations for on-orbit missions

You will collaborate with various disciplines, often leading a multidisciplinary team and having significant influence on CONOPS and architecture trade studies from early program phases through to validation and testing.

What You’ll Need

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field
• 5 or more years of satellite design and/or operations experience
• Hands-on experience in designing, developing, and verifying spacecraft FDIR
• Experience in developing and verifying spacecraft autonomy software or configurations
• Familiarity with one or more satellite subsystems and/or system-level analysis
• Familiarity with satellite testing and/or on-orbit mission operations
• US Person status required (US Citizenship required for clearance eligibility)

What Sets Candidates Apart

• 9 or more years of satellite design and/or operations experience, particularly in mission or systems engineering roles
• Experience in designing mission CONOPS and deriving fault and autonomy requirements directly from them
• Technical leadership experience, including setting program direction, developing processes, and guiding engineering standards
• Active TS/SCI clearance
• A background in GNC, systems engineering, or former mission operations is strongly valued

Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Contact: Adam Slade