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. Apex is seeking a Mission Integration Engineer specializing in Space Vehicle Design to join our expanding team. The Mission Integration team turns our foundational spacecraft platform into the backbone of customer missions. It is an end-to-end role as the primary liaison between our customers and technical teams, developing mission concepts, performing technical analysis, resolving interfaces, and executing space vehicle integration and test.
Responsibilities:
•
Support proposals for future missions by defining technical approaches, feasibility studies, and cost estimates.
•
Perform mission analysis, including orbital mechanics, trajectory planning, and spacecraft deployment strategies.
•
Serve as the primary technical liaison between internal technical teams and customers, communicating technical concepts, requirements, and issues clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
•
Participate in customer meetings, design reviews, and project status updates.
•
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including electrical, mechanical, and software engineers, to ensure system integration and performance.
•
Develop and maintain customer system-level documentation, including specifications, interface control documents, and system design descriptions.
•
Generate mission specific technical budgets (power, mass, data, pointing, etc.).
•
Analyze results of coupled loads analysis (CLA) and thermal analysis, and perform electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) assessments.
•
Perform system-level failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and support reliability engineering efforts.
•
Develop bus to payload communication architecture implementation and support space vehicle level test execution.
•
Plan and execute final integrated space vehicle systems testing.
•
Travel to launch sites for vehicle integration, system checkouts, and launch rehearsals.
Requirements:
•
Identify and assess technical risks associated with system design, development, and operation.
•
Work with engineering, business development, and external partners to shape future missions.
•
U.S. Person status, as this position needs access to export-controlled data.
•
Bachelor's degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
•
3+ years of experience working on complex hardware systems (spacecraft preferred) or technical capture management.
•
Experience in satellite manufacturing or related industries (aerospace, defense, or high-tech).
•
Strong understanding of space systems, launch vehicle mechanics, orbital dynamics, and mission operations.
•
Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, STK, FreeFlyer, GMAT, or other mission analysis tools.
•
Experience coordinating cross-functional teams and managing timelines in a fast-paced environment.
•
High attention to detail with a focus on delivering concise and technical review content.
•
Previous spacecraft, launch vehicle, or payload engineering experience.
•
Experience with CubeSat, small satellite, or rideshare mission integration.