Spacecraft Project Engineer

Position Title: Spacecraft Project Engineer

Work Location: Albuquerque, NM

Clearance Requirement:  Must be able to obtain a Top Secret security clearance

Employment Type: Full-time

About Us: BlackVe, Inc. is a mission-first, dynamic, and innovative national security-focused company focused on emerging space and advanced technologies dedicated to pushing the boundaries of engineering excellence in support of our government customers.

Job Description:

BlackVe is seeking a Spacecraft Project Engineer to serve as the key technical contributor for planning, design, development, integration, testing, delivery, and operation of spacecraft systems. In this role, you will connect mission objectives, engineering execution, and program priorities.  You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams through the full spacecraft lifecycle, resolve cross-functional technical issues, manage requirements and interfaces, and contribute to the successful delivery of mission capabilities. You will also contribute to proprietary spacecraft architectures and technologies that deliver differentiated capabilities to government and commercial users.

The ideal candidate brings strong expertise across a breadth of spacecraft systems with depth of expertise in at least one area: structures, mechanical, electrical, guidance and navigation, software development, testing, integration, or operations.  This individual will work closely with systems, electrical, manufacturing, quality, and program teams to develop reliable, high-performance solutions that meet demanding mission requirements.

This is a fully on-site position based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Key Responsibilities and Essential Job Functions:

Structural Analysis

• Support the design, analysis, integration, testing, and operation of our spacecraft systems.

• Collaborate within a small and agile team on a broad set of tasks and ensure the highest quality product through all phases of the space element design, build, test and operations.

• Actively collaborate with engineering, assembly, test, and software.  

• Work to ensure the technical quality of all segments of the space mission: ground, launch, and space

• Participate in the development of the space mission architecture and CONOPS in accordance with program goals

• Develop and maintain system requirements, interface control documents, and verification artifacts.

• Perform engineering analyses supporting spacecraft performance, reliability, and mission success.

• Maintain configuration control and support design documentation activities.

• Conduct technical trade studies and provide recommendations based on cost, schedule, performance, and risk considerations.

• Develop and execute test plans to verify the functionality, performance, and safety of the spacecraft system.

• Participate in testing and validation such as vibration, thermal vacuum, radiation, and system-level tests.

• Identify technical risks in accordance with overall program risk posture

• Present technical material to internal leadership, teammates, customers, and stakeholders.

• Support engineering decisions with sound analytical evidence anchored in first principles.

• Foster a culture of collaboration, personal ownership, accountability, and self-learning.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, systems engineering, or a related technical field.

• Must have the ability to qualify and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance

• At least 3 years of relevant engineering experience, including significant responsibility for spacecraft or complex aerospace-system development.

• Experience working within multidisciplinary engineering teams.

• Understanding of systems engineering processes, including requirements development, interface management, verification, and validation.

• Experience conducting technical analyses, trade studies, and problem-solving activities.

• Knowledge of spacecraft system design, space domain awareness, satellite communications, or related mission capabilities.

• Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to engineering teams, program leadership, customers, and other stakeholders.

• Must be able to obtain a Top Secret security clearance

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active Top Secret or Q Security Clearance

• Working knowledge of the ground, launch, and space segments of a space mission.

• Knowledge of spacecraft subsystems, such as attitude determination and control, avionics, propulsion, communications, power, thermal management, and flight software.

• Experience across the full spacecraft lifecycle, from concept development and design through integration, test, launch, operations, and disposal.

• Experience applying systems engineering principles within cost- and schedule-constrained development programs.

• Experience with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools and methodologies, including architecture modeling, requirements traceability, coverage analysis, impact analysis, and digital-thread implementation.

• Experience developing and maintaining mass, power, link, thermal, or other spacecraft system budgets.

• Experience with CAD, simulation, embedded systems, or mission-analysis tools.

• Experience defining and meeting service-level agreements for space-based sensing, communications, or data-delivery services.

• Experience supporting environmental qualification, launch readiness, and on-orbit operations.

• Experience mentoring engineers and leading cross-functional technical decision-making.

• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with tight deadlines.

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to diverse audiences and collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams.

• Active Top Secret security clearance is required

Work Environment:

• Work is performed primarily in office, laboratory, clean-room, and manufacturing environments.

• The position may require occasional travel to customers, supplier, or testing locations.

• Some activities may require working outside normal business hours to support critical integration or test events.

• The employee must be able to work safely around spacecraft hardware, laboratory equipment, and manufacturing operations.

Location and Travel Requirements:

• This position is based in Albuquerque, NM, with occasional travel to other company locations or partner facilities as needed.  

Why Join Us:

• Mission first-Always. We prioritize delivering results that directly support space and intelligence community programs and national security objectives.

• We operate as one team, grounded in trust, accountability, and open collaboration, where individuals actively support one another to achieve shared mission success.

• Work on high-impact programs across space, ISR, and advanced technology domains supporting DoD and IC customers.

• Ownership-driven culture is founded in teamwork where every employee is an owner, with equity participation and a direct stake in our success.

• Competitive compensation and benefits package, including flexible time off; 401(k) with company contribution

• Constant opportunities for program and professional impact.

ITAR / EAR Requirements:

This position may include access to technology and/or data that is subject to U.S. export controls pursuant to ITAR and EAR.  To comply with federal export controls, all persons hired must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee or asylee as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(A)(3), or must otherwise be eligible to obtain the required authorization from the U.S. Department of State and/or U.S. Department of Commerce as applicable.

How to Apply:

Please submit your resume and brief cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest on the form below. If there are any issues with applying or inquiries, please email to hiring@blackve.us.

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