Senior Satellite Systems Engineer
SES
Sterling, VA · Posted October 19, 2026
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About the job
Senior Satellite Systems Engineer
The job responsibilities outlined in this document are not exhaustive and may evolve over time and be reviewed according to business needs.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
As the Senior Satellite Systems Engineer, Space Programmes, you will be responsible for providing resident systems engineering support to all phases of the satellite procurement programs which includes participation the Design Reviews, test reviews and failure reviews as well as meticulous oversight throughout all phases of the spacecraft Design, Assembly, Integration, and Launch Campaign. You will be part of the SES Resident Field Office Team located at spacecraft manufacturer premises. You will review and trend the test data for the platform equipment at unit, subsystems and system level tests and provide technical support to the Field Office Program Manager on investigations, resolutions and corrective actions.
As a Senior Satellite Systems Engineer, Space Programmes, you will be responsible to :
Ensure that the specification of each platform equipment unit meets the end-to-end system performance and functional requirements
Provide technical assessment related to platform units and subsystem definition and development, requirements, analysis, trade-offs, budgets, validation and tests
Identify, assess & mitigate technical risks associated with spacecraft bus, develop contingency plans.
Ensure that all platform unit, subsystem and system test procedures comply with the contractual requirements
Participate in design, test readiness, material and failure review meetings at manufacturer sub- and prime-contractor facilities as needed
Critically examine the anomaly investigation results to root cause analysis and verify corrective actions are implemented
Follow-up of platform components through build, test and integration into next higher assembly
Perform the overall and Spacecraft platform test data review for compliance with requirements
Monitor daily activities at spacecraft manufacturer facilities
Provide oversight of activities at Manufacturer and Subcontractor facilities as needed
Perform inspections and reviews as needed
Review design, manufacturing and test documentation
Ensure the program action items are adequately addressed and closed
Provide summary reports of issues and recommended actions
Provide 24/7 on-call support during spacecraft testing and single line flow
Support launch site activities in preparation for launch
Support the operational team during LEOP critical activities or in case of anomaly
COMPETENCIES
High level knowledge in satellite subsystems and ability to challenge industry expert in their field
Self-Starter with a high level of personal accountability
Prioritization
Team Player
Demonstrated influencing and negotiation skills
A willingness to be self-critical, continuously improves skills, learn from mistakes, acts within her or his circle of competence and knows their boundaries
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Master’s degree or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering or related discipline
8+ years of experience in space systems engineering or spacecraft bus engineering.
Strong knowledge of spacecraft bus systems
Experience working with a spacecraft bus supplier and in AIT environment
Good knowledge of space product and quality assurance processes
Agile, flexible and able to work across a geographically distributed team
Excellent communication skills
Strong ability in persuasive and diplomatic communication to inspire collaboration and drive collective goal achievement
Highly organized, capable of tracking multiple streams of critical activities at once
Project/execution orientation: able to drive initiatives, handle schedule/criticality
Eligibility to obtain security clearance
Strong ability to work independently and with limited supervision in complex environments, including multi-stakeholder projects
Flexibility and adaptability in response to evolving project requirements and dynamic environments
Ability to think strategically and align project goals with organizational objectives
Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities
Effective communication skills, both written and verbal
OTHER KEY REQUIREMENTS / COMMENTS
Willing to work at least 80% onsite from office, preferably 100%.
Willingness to travel (supplier visits) - 30% domestic and international travel
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SES and its Affiliated Companies are committed to providing fair and equal employment opportunities to all. We are an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law.
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