Senior Systems Engineer - Generalist and Test Lab

About Us:

Black Sky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. Black Sky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy.

Black Sky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.

Systems Engineers at Black Sky are the glue that ensures that all the components, subsystems, parts, hardware, software come together to produce best‑in‑class spacecraft. Black Sky is seeking a proven spacecraft systems engineer to provide a key role in the definition, verification, assembly, and delivery of our industry‑defining spacecraft. You will be involved throughout the engineering lifecycle, from creating and understanding mission needs through design, integration, test, and ultimately the operation of spacecraft in orbit.

Success in the role requires daily collaboration with a diverse set of team members – mechanical, electrical, software, and test engineers, operators, and program managers. Reporting to the Director, Systems Engineering, this role works in our Tukwila, WA office with a hybrid on‑site schedule of three days per week with significant flexibility for part‑time remote work.

• Organize, lead, and/or support development of internal and customer‑facing Systems Engineering deliverables
• Serve as a focal point to define and maintain hardware‑in‑the‑loop testbeds which have a diverse set of users and stakeholders
• Create and maintain space vehicle technical budgets and analyses
• Define and decompose system CONOPS into space vehicle, subsystem and component requirements
• Communicate technical information (analysis results, findings, trades) to peers, the Program Chief Engineer, program management, and customers
• Represent Systems Engineering within one or more subsystem‑oriented Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) to ensure IPT needs are met, and sound SE practices are used within those IPTs
• Compile and review test and other verification data to ensure subsystems and components meet needs
• Automate recurring analysis and verification activities
• Develop system, subsystem, and component verification and test plans
• Provide technical oversight of component/unit suppliers and support supply chain activities
• Other job‑related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Electrical, Aerospace, Systems, or Computer Science preferred) or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of five years of experience in the Aerospace or Defense Industry, with at least two years of experience in a hands‑on role in an engineering test lab
• Strong foundation in hardware handling and test best practices
• Strong understanding of spacecraft and subsystem behaviors and dependencies
• Demonstrated ability to produce satellite budgets and analyses (power, mass, reliability, etc.)
• Proficient with requirements management practices
• Proficient with Python, or other similar tools for data analysis
• Experience developing systems engineering artifacts:
  Interface Control Documents, internal block diagrams, activity diagrams, sequence diagrams, state machines, etc.
• Strong sense of ownership and innate sense of urgency

• Demonstrated technical depth in at least one spacecraft subsystem or payload
• Experience with requirements tracking tools (e.g. Jama, DOORS)
• Experience with Jira, Confluence, Git Lab and other similar tools
• Strong understanding of spacecraft avionics, the space environment, basic astrodynamics, and corresponding considerations for spacecraft design
• Experience with Model Based Systems Engineering tools and SysML
• Experience working within a…