Senior Systems Engineer – Space, Payloads

Senior Systems Engineer – Space LiDAR Payload (Berlin)

Our client, a rapidly growing space technology startup, is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer (7+ years’ experience) to lead the end-to-end systems engineering of a spaceborne LiDAR payload at their Berlin office.

You will own the payload at system level – covering requirements, interfaces, budgets, verification, and AIT. You will work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams in Europe and the United States. The role focuses on delivering a flight-ready payload that is technically robust, fully integrated with the spacecraft bus, and compliant with agency-grade standards.
This is a central, high-impact position spanning concept through flight and operations, ideal for a systems engineer who thrives at the intersection of optical, electrical, mechanical, thermal, and software disciplines. Prior experience with space payloads and LiDAR or active sensing systems is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end systems engineering for a space LiDAR payload from requirements definition through V&V
• Define, manage, and maintain payload-level requirements, specifications, and ICDs
• Own system-level budgets (power, mass, data, thermal) and ensure cross-subsystem compatibility
• Drive system architecture development across optical, electrical, thermal, and structural domains
• Coordinate and support system-level design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR)
• Support AIT planning, execution, and verification activities
• Manage verification and validation, ensuring full requirements traceability
• Contribute to risk management, FMEAs, and technical readiness assessments
• Maintain requirements, design, and risk data within MBSE tools (Innoslate preferred; Valispace a plus)
• Interface with spacecraft systems teams to ensure smooth payload-to-bus integration
• Support mission operations preparation, commissioning, and in-orbit performance verification as required

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems, Aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering
• (Master’s/PhD preferred)
• 7+ years of systems engineering experience (or 5+ with MSc/PhD), including space systems
• Proven experience in payload- or subsystem-level systems engineering for flight hardware
• Strong understanding of spacecraft systems (avionics, power, data handling, thermal)
• Experience defining and managing technical requirements, interfaces, and verification plans
• Familiarity with MBSE tools and processes
• Strong cross-disciplinary coordination and technical review leadership skills
• Excellent written English and experience producing agency-grade technical documentation

Preferred:

• Experience with LiDAR or active sensing payloads
• Background in New Space and/or agency-led space missions
• Experience with environmental qualification, AIT, and system-level testing
• Hands-on experience with verification, test procedures, and traceability management

Additional Requirements:

• Fluency in English (C1 or higher)
• Willingness to relocate to Berlin (EU work authorisation is a plus)

If you are interested, please apply today.
angela.olmo@newspacetechnical.com