Space Systems Founding Engineer

Role
Lead the development of Azora's space segment: the flight terminals and supporting avionics that carry our optical communications technology to orbit. You will own the space system architecture, requirements, and verification program – and build and lead the multidisciplinary team taking flight hardware from concept through launch and on-orbit commissioning.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end space segment architecture: optical terminal, avionics, structures, thermal, power, and interfaces to host spacecraft or bus.
• Lead requirements development and flow-down from mission and link-budget level to subsystem and component specifications.
• Drive the design review cadence (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) and the verification and validation program, including environmental qualification (vibration, shock, TVAC, EMC, radiation).
• Manage technical interfaces with launch providers, bus manufacturers, and hosted payload partners, including ICD development and negotiation.
• Build and lead the space systems team: systems engineers, AIT engineers, and technicians; establish processes proportionate to a startup (tailored ECSS/NASA standards, not bureaucracy).
• Own risk management, parts and materials assurance strategy (EEE parts, radiation lot testing), and reliability analysis for the flight program.
• Plan and lead assembly, integration, and test (AIT) campaigns and launch site operations; oversee on-orbit commissioning and anomaly resolution.
• Support business development with technical input to proposals, customer engagements, and program schedules/costing.

Required Qualifications

• BS/MS in Aerospace, Electrical, Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 8+ years in spacecraft or space payload development, with at least one program taken through full qualification and launch.
• Strong systems engineering foundation: requirements management, budgets (mass, power, link, pointing), V&V planning, and risk management.
• Direct experience with environmental qualification and AIT of flight hardware.
• Demonstrated technical leadership of multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Preferred

• Experience with optical payloads, laser communication terminals, or precision pointing systems in space.
• Familiarity with smallsat/NewSpace development models and hosted payload integration.
• Knowledge of radiation effects and mitigation for electronics and optics.
• Experience interfacing with government customers and programs (NASA, ESA, DoD/SDA) and associated review processes.
• Prior startup or small-team experience scaling engineering processes.

Location

This is an onsite/hybrid role based in Tempe, AZ or the Bay Area, CA – hardware work that’s hard to do remotely. Some travel expected for field deployment and vendor/manufacturing visits.

Benefits:

• Generous equity
• Competitive healthcare (including options for vision and dental)
• 401(k)
• Unlimited PTO

EEO & Reasonable Accommodations

Azora is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know by contacting [email protected]

Export Control

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident (iii) protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or (iv) be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

*Salary ranges are based on the following criteria: *

Final salary is based on geographic location, experience, skills, and qualifications.

About this Company

Azora is building high-bandwidth communications infrastructure for environments where fiber can’t reach. This work spans LEO spacecraft constellations, lunar exploration missions, GEO satcom, deployable optical ground for defense, and data centers both on- and off-world. To enable rapid global proliferation Azora is developing compact and modular optical terminals small enough to deploy from a backpack, and space terminals that support high speed optical links from LEO out to the Moon.

Apply

We will only accept applications submitted using this link here:
Space Systems Founding Engineer