Senior Staff Systems Engineer

Agile Space Industries is a rapidly growing supplier of propulsion hardware and engineering services for the space industry. Headquartered in Durango, Colorado, with expanding operations in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, Agile has achieved more than 40% year-over-year growth for the past three years, and our momentum continues to accelerate.

At Agile, we design, build, and test in-space propulsion systems that give spacecraft the ability to maneuver with precision, reliability, and purpose. Our technologies play a critical role in missions that range from lunar landings and resource utilization to national defense, human exploration, and commercial space transport.

We are seeking bold and driven individuals who thrive in a hands-on, fast-moving environment and want to help write the next chapter of space history as part of a close-knit, innovative team.

Agile Space Industries is seeking an experienced Sr. Staff Systems Engineer who will provide end-to-end systems engineering leadership across program execution, including system-level thinking on spacecraft propulsion system architecture decisions and evaluation of system requirement compliance. The ideal candidate for this role will have deep technical experience in spacecraft propulsion systems and the ability to apply full lifecycle systems engineering practices across hardware development programs, from concept through qualification and delivery.  The role will provide technical and execution leadership to internal teams on system requirement definition and flowdown, architecture trade studies, risk and opportunity management, and verification and validation planning and execution. 

This position is responsible for ensuring technical coherence across disciplines and for driving system-level decision making throughout the program lifecycle.  Agile follows a fast-paced culture and the ideal candidate will have the opportunity for growth and increased sphere of influence as a technical leader. Critical skillsets being sought after include ownership of systems architecture development, requirement decomposition and management along with risk and opportunity management and leadership of gated hardware development programs. 

This role can be onsite or remote, and we are currently accepting candidates residing in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, Washington, Utah, and Oklahoma. You MUST live and work from one these states to work remotely for Agile Space Industries. Preference given towards candidate willing to relocate to Durango, CO. 

Responsibilities

• Lead trade studies and analyzes for system level architecture decisions, including evaluation of performance, risk, cost and schedule impacts.
• Lead architecture development and maintenance based on customer requirements and internal stakeholder requirements, ensuring consistency across propulsion, structures, avionics, thermal, and manufacturing interfaces.
• Establish, manage, and maintain end-to-end traceability of system requirements and flow downs.
• Lead the definition, planning, and execution of the verification & validation process and stake holder definition.
• Manage and execute gated product development reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, etc).
• Independently analyze elements of a system and recommend alternatives as needed.
• Interact and facilitate communication between external customers, internal stakeholders, subcontractors, and multidisciplinary functional teams ensuring clear communication of system intent, constraints, and decisions.
• Develop and support improvement initiatives for the system engineering function.

•   B.S. or advanced degree in related engineering or technical field. Equivalent professional experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 15+ Years of experience in System Engineering in space propulsion development.
• Expert understanding of storable propellants, fluid dynamics, and safety considerations.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in decomposition of system requirements to relevant components. 
• Experience leading verification and validation planning through product development lifecycles.
• Experienced leading product development for space flight hardware.
• Experienced in JAMA or similar requirement management tools.
• Experience with leading teams and working with Government customers (US and Worldwide).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing space flight hardware with a comprehensive understanding of space design best practices.
• Experienced in leading failure investigations and root      cause analysis
• Familiarity with NASA or other relevant industry standards.
• Experience with Range Safety requirements, such as AFSPCMAN 91-710.
• Experience with Propulsion Systems Engineering is desired.
• Clear and concise presentation skills.
• Demonstrated experience with risk and opportunity management activities and strategies 

Employment Type: Exempt 

Work Schedule: Full-Time 

Salary: The expected salary range for this role is $160,000 – $245,000 annually. Final compensation will be based on factors such as experience, skills, and internal equity, and is typically made within the midrange, rather than the upper end. The posted salary band reflects the compensation range for candidates located in Colorado, in compliance with Colorado state law. If you are located in another state, please contact HR to inquire about the applicable compensation band, as requirements may vary by jurisdiction. 

Onsite #LI-Onsite

Remote - U.S.-based candidates only. Preference for those near Durango, CO or open to occasional on-site visits. 

This role can be onsite or remote, and we are currently accepting candidates residing in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, Washington, Utah, Iowa, and Oklahoma. You MUST live and work from one these states to work remotely for Agile Space Industries.  

Posting Timeline: This position will remain open for a minimum of five (5) days and will continue to accept applications until the role is filled. Early applications are encouraged, as reviews and interviews may begin during the posting period.

What You'll Love About Us: Agile Space Industries offers exceptional benefits to support you and your family including generous health coverage, dental and vision plans, Flexible Time Off, parental leave, and a 401(k) with 100% company match up to 4%. We are committed to creating a diverse work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, region, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. 

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Agile, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might be the perfect fit for this role or another opportunity with us.

Reasonable Accommodation: At Agile Space Industries, our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please submit a request to hr@agilespaceindustries.com.

Recruitment Notice: Agile Space Industries is not partnering with external recruiters or agencies at this time. Please do not contact our staff directly regarding open positions. All candidates must apply through our official application process to be considered.