Satellite Systems Engineer

Job description

Join TrustPoint and Build the World's First Commercial GPS System in Space

GPS is a ubiquitous global utility in modern society and knowing one's location is critical for government, commercial, and personal applications.  Still, today's solutions for determining location are inaccurate, slow, unencrypted, and susceptible to jamming and spoofing.

These shortcomings make heritage GPS and other government owned systems insufficient for tomorrow's safety-critical and high-precision applications, a problem TrustPoint intends to solve. 

TrustPoint is developing a fully commercial next-generation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to provide significant performance, security and reliability improvements for GPS users.

This includes better accuracy, quicker Time to First Fix, and anti-spoof and anti-jam capabilities.

The improvements will support US Government position and timing service resiliency as well as enable next-generation commercial applications like drone delivery, self-driving cars, urban air mobility, and augmented reality.

The $55B annual GNSS Receiver market is ripe for disruption and TrustPoint intends to lead that revolution with our microsatellite based commercial infrastructure and innovative positioning and timing services. 

The Position

With locations outside Washington DC and in Silicon Valley, TrustPoint is currently seeking a Full Time Satellite Systems Engineer to join our engineering team and help design, develop, and test a state-of-the-art GNSS high-accuracy positioning commercial system.  Our system consists of a constellation of microsatellites in Low Earth Orbit and a network of ground stations, which jointly provide secure high fidelity PNT signals.

The Satellite Systems Engineer is primarily responsible for applying systems engineering tools and best practices to the design and development of our infrastructure, including the space and ground elements for the purpose of high precision time and position solutions.

In addition to system design, they will lead the satellite design, to include development and execution of a payload and satellite RFP.  

They will be expected to research and advise on the state of GNSS industry's best practices, tools, and products as well as derive and provide the Space and Ground Segment requirements to improve system and user performance.

The Satellite Systems Engineer will also serve as a project and program manager for customer contracts.  As an early hire, significant upward mobility is expected for this individual, including Manager, Director and VP level positions.

We will hire with a preference towards ambitious professionals looking to establish themselves as experts both within our company as well as the larger aerospace and GNSS industries.

We'll Expect You To…

• Apply systems engineering best practices to the development of an architecture that includes space and ground elements for the purpose of high precision time and position solutions.
• Lead System CONOP Design, Satellite Design, and Payload/Satellite RFPs.
• Research and advise on the state of GNSS industry's best practices, tools, and products as well as derive and provide the Space and Ground Segment requirements to improve system and user performance.
• Serve as a project and program manager for customer contracts.
• Work with the larger engineering, operations and business teams to establish RF, software and system architecture requirements including supporting related business development tasks.
• Support the infrastructure operations team in system commissioning, operations automation, anomaly investigation and mitigation.
• All employees must adhere to TrustPoint's Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.

You'll Need to Have…

• BS in Systems Engineering  or equivalent STEM field (M.S. preferred)
• 8+ years Systems Engineering and related commercial GNSS work experience
• Knowledge of PNT operations and architectures
• Experience in complex space/terrestrial system design, CONOP development, satellite/payload design.
• Highly motivated, self-starting, and able to perform duties autonomously without supervision 
• Excellent professional and interpersonal verbal and written communication skills
• Passionate about solving customer problems through new and innovative technology
• Strong organizational skills and professional business practices.
• Ability to travel 10-20%.

We'd Like to See…

• MS and PhD Level Work in Systems Engineering, Ideally in Space/GNSS Topics 
• Experience working in startups 
• Active US security clearance or past success in acquiring clearances

Cultural Fit

• Thrive in a start-up environment.
• Effective communication style that instills a culture of optimism and positivity.
• Sense of humor and ability to proactively problem solve.
• Encourages colleagues to think and plan strategically while executing well tactically.
• Works well with all company levels and disciplines (i.e. Legal, HR, etc.).
• Willing to “roll up sleeves” in a new venture, working closely with colleagues.

Compensation and Benefits

The selected candidate will be competitively compensated with salary, stock options, and other standard startup benefits.

Required Skill Profession

Engineers