Chief Spacecraft Engineer (CSE) (Los Angeles)

Chief Spacecraft Engineer (CSE)

About the Company

Innovative space & defense company

Industry

Defense & Space

Type

Privately Held

About the Role

The Company is seeking a Chief Spacecraft Engineer to lead the development of a new generation of spacecraft with a focus on mission assurance and credible deterrence in the space domain. The successful candidate will be responsible for the entire spacecraft platform, including all physical vehicle subsystems and integration. This role demands a leader with a strong background in spacecraft engineering, a proven track record of delivering multiple missions, and the ability to provide technical leadership across various disciplines. The Chief Spacecraft Engineer will be at the forefront of establishing a rules-based order for humanity in space, driving a hardware-rich, iterative development process, and ensuring the delivery of scalable, high-performance hardware and software solutions for complex, dynamic environments.

Key responsibilities for the Chief Spacecraft Engineer include leading a cross-functional engineering team, establishing a culture of rapid physical iteration, and guiding the team through all major development phases. The role requires a strong systems engineering mindset, the ability to manage complex cross-disciplinary trades, and a comfort level in high-ambiguity, fast-changing environments. The ideal candidate will have a background in modular, maneuverable, or rapidly manufacturable spacecraft, experience with servicing or responsive space missions, and a track record of success in a startup or agile R&D environment. While not mandatory, a background in integrating autonomous or AI-enabled capabilities into spacecraft systems is also preferred. The position is central to the company's mission and offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of space infrastructure and defense.

Hiring Manager Title

CEO

Travel Percent

Less than 10%

Functions

• Engineering