Description
Design, integrate, and test spacecraft, subsystems, and payloads for Earth‑orbit and deep‑space missions. Conduct research and analysis to select materials, components, and architectures suited to the space environment. Develop and refine models, tools, and test methods to validate performance and reliability from launch through on‑orbit operations.
- • Lead or coordinate multidisciplinary teams designing, integrating, and testing spacecraft, subsystems, and payloads.
- • Plan and execute thermal vacuum (TVAC), vibration, acoustic, EMI/EMC, and radiation tests on components and prototypes.
- • Develop and run analytical models and simulations for thermal, structural, GNC, and orbital dynamics performance.
- • Produce technical reports, interface control documents, test procedures, and verification plans for stakeholders.
- • Assess mission and spacecraft concepts for technical feasibility, manufacturability, risk, cost, and schedule.
- • Evaluate and qualify suppliers and space‑rated parts based on performance, heritage, and compliance.
- • Lead anomaly investigations and corrective actions during integration, launch campaigns, and on‑orbit operations.
- • Maintain configuration control, test results, and performance records for full traceability.
- • Design spacecraft to meet debris mitigation, contamination control, and planetary protection requirements.
- • Engineer contamination control hardware and shielding to protect payloads and sensitive subsystems.
- • Evaluate propulsion options and propellant selections to meet mission delta‑v, thrust, and lifetime goals.
- • Develop spacecraft and subsystem architectures and concept designs to meet mission and regulatory requirements.
- • Review designs and inspection or test data for compliance with requirements, standards, and quality criteria.
- • Define requirements, verification methods, test plans, quality standards, and delivery milestones.
- • Diagnose hardware or software performance issues using telemetry analysis, test data, and inspections.
- • Lead or contribute to R&D on advanced spacecraft technologies, materials, avionics, and autonomy.
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Advanced Manufacturing
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
