System Architect (luxembourg)

At ClearSpace, we believe in reusability, in affordability driving disruption, and that no progress is real unless it is sustainable.

Our company was founded in 2018 out of the realization that in-orbit servicing and space debris removal are vital services for the future of space exploration and operations. Today ClearSpace has assembled an expert engineering team and is leading the way toward sustainable space operations. From a garage in Switzerland, we now operate across Europe and the US, and are working with world-leading institutions and companies to bring our dream of a sustainable space ecosystem to life.

Motivated to join us and make a difference beyond earth? We are currently looking for a System Architect to join our team.

The Role

This is a key leadership position based out of our Luxembourg office for one of ClearSpace’s pioneering commercial space mission developments. The successful candidate will act as the technical authority for the mission and will ultimately be responsible for its technical success. We are looking for an experienced, confident leader who has held a senior position before and displays a strong balance of technical acumen, management skills and stakeholder management skills. The successful candidate must have a high level of expertise in all aspects of spacecraft engineering, design, and operations to not only lead the internal technical team but also carry out technical discussions with the Customers. The successful will be the System Architect (including Space and Ground segment) of ClearSpace’s missions.

Typical Activities: 

• Leading technical teams to successfully deliver end-to-end spacecraft development activities.
• Identifying, analysing, and deriving technical, programmatic, and business requirements, constraints and assumptions impacting ClearSpace's missions.
• Defining and analysing overall mission architectures.
• Coordinating the activities of a wide range of domain experts to successfully deliver full mission developments.
• Defining and coordinating the specific engineering support activities at system level for all aspects of the spacecraft. Monitor and control the interfaces between the sub-systems and spacecraft/launch vehicle.
• Leading interactions with customers, partners, and subcontractors
• Monitor and control the technical work of subcontractors and ClearSpace's team relating design, development, production and assembly integration and test (AIT) at subsystem and system levels to ensure that the agreed Contractual Requirements are met
• Provide support and expertise to anomaly and failure reviews at all levels (equipment, sub-system and in-orbit), and develop solutions/resolutions to the problems
• Coordinate the support to design reviews and evaluate declared compliance versus system level requirements. Closely monitor and control all system level budgets and establish and maintain up to date versions of the budget analyse
• Provide support to in-orbit operations including LEOP and IOT
• Support ClearSpace's Program Manager in negotiations of technical aspects of spacecraft and launcher contract
• Supporting the definition of ClearSpace's strategic direction
• Supporting proposal writing for future business
• Lead or support other technical projects not necessarily related to one program

Desired Experience: 

• 10+ years’ experience in the spacecraft industry with 5+ years in technical leadership positions
• Experience in decomposition of system requirements, trade studies and sizing/error budget development for a Spacecraft system
• Working knowledge of spacecraft operations and related ground systems
• Ability to rapidly define proof of concepts
• Familiarity with the full space program lifecycle, from business development, proposal generation and contract negotiations, all the way through design, development, assembly, test and successful delivery
• An in-depth knowledge or a level of expertise including practical experiences in three or more of the following areas is required:
  • Spacecraft System level design/analyses
  • Avionics/electronics
  • Electrical and Power
  • Attitude and Orbit Control
  • Propulsion
  • Thermal & Mechanical
  • TCR engineering
  • Spacecraft AIT
  • Spacecraft LEOP + In-orbit operations
  • Manufacturing processes
  • Launcher Interfaces
  • Team Leadership
• Confidence with leading multidisciplinary project teams
• Highly organized, capable of tracking multiple streams of critical activities at once
• Experience working in a technical capacity with LEO, MEO or GEO Spacecraft system definition and design. A proven track record of successfully delivering complex space development programs
• Comfortable interacting with customers, both institutional (ESA, EC, LSA) and commercial

Desired Education: 

• (BSc/MSc) Degree in Aerospace, Space, Systems, Telecommunications Engineering or similar

Desired Strengths: 

• A team player, willing to get stuck in and collaborate wherever is needed
• Agile, flexible and able to work across a geographically-distributed teams
• A great communicator

ClearSpace Offers: 

• The freedom to evolve and grow within a team of experienced specialists
• The opportunity to be a key player in one of the most exciting satellite missions
• A caring and collaborative working environment
• The possibility of partial remote working and flexible hours