Spacecraft Design Engineer
US$165,000 – US$200,000 / yr base salary
Posted 30 Sep 2026
BranchFactor Summary
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
- Expected experience
- 6+ yrs
- Management level
- Individual contributor
- Contract
- Full-time
| Base salary | US$165,000 – US$200,000 / yr |
|---|
Field of studyAerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering (or related)
Study levelBachelor's
Study levelMaster's
Spacecraft represent the most pressing unmet need across the entire aerospace industry. As more launch vehicles come online and the cost to orbit decreases, more companies launching payloads to space continue to emerge.
For the first time in history, this influx of payload companies combined with reduced launch costs has resulted in a massive increase in need for commercial spacecraft platforms, known as satellite buses. These buses hold the payloads of our customers and are flown on launch vehicles.
Apex manufactures these satellite buses at scale using a combination of software, vertical integration, and hardware that is designed for manufacturing. Our spacecraft enable the future of society: ranging from earth observation to communications and more.
We’d love for you to join us on our mission of providing humankind access to the galaxy beyond our planet.
About the Role
As a Spacecraft Design Engineer, you will be a foundational team member responsible for defining the future of Apex’s satellite platforms. You will operate at the design and development phase of the product lifecycle, shaping system architectures that balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost for mass-manufactured satellite buses that enable access to Earth orbit and beyond.
You will act as a platform-level integrator and architect—translating mission needs into clear system requirements, interfaces, and design trades that downstream teams can execute with confidence.
Responsibilities
System Architecture & Design
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Define and evolve end-to-end satellite system architectures across multiple mission profiles
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Perform system-level trade studies to optimize performance, reliability, cost, mass, and schedule
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Analyze and allocate system requirements to spacecraft subsystems
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Define and maintain system interfaces and interface control documents (ICDs)
Requirements & Technical Ownership
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Define, document, and manage platform-level requirements during early lifecycle phases
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Maintain traceability between customer needs, system requirements, and subsystem designs
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Identify technical risks early and develop mitigation strategies
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Perform system-level analyses (margins, sensitivities, FMEA) to inform design decisions
Cross-Functional Collaboration