Lead Space Optical Communications Engineer

Vantor is forging the new frontier of spatial intelligence, helping decision makers and operators navigate what’s happening now and shape what’s coming next. Vantor is a place for problem solvers, changemakers, and go-getters—where people are working together to help our customers see the world differently, and in doing so, be seen differently. Come be part of a mission, not just a job, where you can:
Shape your own future, build the next big thing, and change the world.

To be eligible for this position, you must be a U.S. Person, defined as a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, Asylee, or Refugee.

Export Control/ITAR: Certain roles may be subject to U.S. export control laws, requiring U.S. person status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Please review the job details below.

Our Space Wrx team is responsible for developing advanced space systems that enable resilient, high-performance communications architectures for next-generation commercial, civil, and national security missions.

We are seeking an experienced Space-Based Comms Systems Engineer to lead the evaluation, integration, and technical oversight of mainly spacecraft optical communications solutions. This role will serve as a key technical authority across optical terminal selection, link performance analysis, vendor engagement, and system-level architecture development.

You Will Work At The Intersection Of

• Spacecraft optical communications
• Systems engineering and architecture development
• Vendor management and hardware procurement
• Mission performance analysis
• Cross-functional spacecraft integration

• Lead the evaluation, selection, and integration of spacecraft optical communications systems for mission-critical space programs.
• Develop and maintain optical communications trade studies, requirements analyses, and hardware down-selection efforts.
• Build and maintain detailed optical link budgets, including acquisition, tracking, pointing, atmospheric effects, distance-dependent losses, and system performance margins.
• Analyze end-to-end communications performance and recommend architecture improvements across spacecraft, ground, and network segments.
• Assess optical terminal capabilities, data rates, acquisition strategies, modulation approaches, and operational concepts to ensure mission success.
• Serve as the primary technical interface with optical communications vendors, evaluating product offerings and ensuring alignment with program requirements.
• Guide vendor engagements throughout the product lifecycle, including technical reviews, design assessments, manufacturing oversight, and delivery planning.
• Interact and collaborate with optical comm and RF cross-link service providers to evaluate the applicability of their offerings
• Monitor supplier manufacturing, integration, testing, and qualification activities to ensure schedule, quality, and technical objectives are achieved.
• Collaborate with spacecraft, avionics, communications, mission operations, payload, and systems engineering teams to develop optimized end-to-end solutions.
• Identify technical risks, performance limitations, and integration challenges while developing mitigation strategies.
• Support system architecture development and provide recommendations on upstream and downstream subsystem impacts.
• Contribute to customer engagements, technical reviews, and proposal activities as a subject matter expert in optical communications.

• Must be a U.S. citizen and possess, or have the ability to obtain, a U.S. Government TS/SCI security clearance.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in the Aerospace industry – 2+ years of developing, integrating, or supporting spacecraft optical communications systems.
• Strong understanding of…