Payload Systems Engineer
Chipton Ross, Inc.· Staffing And Recruiting· Oct 20, 2026 · 8d ago
El Segundo, CA
In office
Contract
Senior
$137K–$195K est.
5+ years exp
Job description
Chipton-Ross is seeking 2 Payload Systems Engineers for a contract opportunity in El Segundo, CA.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS (REQUIRED SKILLS/EXPERIENCE):
• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology (including Manufacturing Technology), Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or non-US equivalent qualifications directly related to the work statement
• 5 years of related work experience
• Experience or an academic background with communications subsystems or units
• Experience or an academic background with payload design, analysis, development, and/or verification
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Space Communications Payload Systems Engineer is part of a high-performing team that is immersed in highly complex development projects. As a member of our team, you will have the opportunity to design, develop, and deliver state-of-the-art communication systems for space-based applications for commercial, civil and/or national security programs. This position will work with a highly motivated team that works with domestic or international customers on their latest satellite systems. This role’s assignments typically span the complete program life cycle, from internal trades, concept studies and system definition, to satellite development, launch, and on-orbit operations and test.
Duties may include (but are not limited to):
• Design and develop next generation RF (Radio Frequency), digital, and/or optical satellite communications systems and payload architectures
• Support trade studies and generate proposals
• Define and verify space communication unit, subsystem and system requirements and interfaces
• Perform system-level CONOPS development, functional analysis, RF and Optical performance analysis and decomposition
• Support system-level integration and validation
• Perform analyses and simulations for space communication systems, including: link analysis, signal distortion, system capacity, reliability, and performance
• Develop analysis tools using MATLAB and object-oriented software platforms
• Develop and verify system algorithms that meet functional and performance requirements
• Oversee the design and build of satellite RF and digital payload units from internal teams and external suppliers that meet defined requirements and interfaces
• Perform design reviews and requirements sell-off
• Perform system test preparation, execution, troubleshooting, and verification
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (DESIRED SKILLS/EXPERIENCE):
• 14+ years of related work experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience working on satellite or space-based payloads
• Experience with satellite or terrestrial RF and digital communications systems and antenna theory
• Experience with requirements definition and verification
• Experience with RF analyses such as G/T, EIRP, gain-loss
• Experience with Matlab/Simulink and C++
REQUIRED EDUCATION:
Minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited course of study in engineering, engineering technology (includes manufacturing engineering technology), chemistry, physics, mathematics, data science, or computer science (e.g. Bachelor's degree with 14 or more years' experience, Master's degree with 12 or more years' experience or PhD with 9 or more years' experience). In the USA, ABET accreditation is the preferred, although not required, accreditation standard.
WORK HOURS:
FULL TIME/FIRST SHIFT; 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
ADDITIONAL:
Applicants responding to this position will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements by currently possessing the ability to view classified government information.
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