Mission Systems Lead

Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company developing a scalable technology platform to power critical infrastructure, mission operations, and the future of flight. We apply aerospace engineering and quality standards across our products, delivering high performance, reliability, and efficiency for the most demanding operating environments. Astro Mechanica is backed by leading venture and strategic investors, including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Giant Step Capital, United Airlines Ventures, and Voyager Ventures.

We’re a team of passionate engineers dedicated to advancing aerospace. We’re generalists with specialist depth, united by a flat structure and a shared obsession with building things that work well. We move fast, stay pragmatic, and let engineering excellence speak louder than hierarchy.

Astro Mechanica is seeking a Mission Systems Lead to join our rapidly scaling Defense Systems team. The MS Lead will be responsible for directing the development and integration of comprehensive mission system architectures for advanced tactical autonomous and collaborative aircraft that address critical mission needs for our U.S. and coalition air forces.

As Mission Systems Lead, you will be responsible for working across multi-functional teams and leading mission systems trade studies to develop and decompose requirements that drive the most affordable and lethal mission outcomes. You will design and build mission system architectures, lead analytical modeling activities to validate kill chain closure, and work closely with air vehicle and systems engineering teams to integrate mission system capabilities that deliver warfighting solutions that improve mission outcomes.

You will own mission systems hardware, software, and interface architectures, and lead conceptual design, vendor engagement, preliminary design, and integration efforts to accelerate development, integration, prototyping, and demonstration activities for timely delivery of revolutionary and disruptive air dominance and strike capabilities for our customers.

• Lead mission systems architecture and integration activities for autonomous, reconfigurable, and modular open systems approach (MOSA)-compliant mission system architectures that close critical warfighting gaps

• Lead analytical and concept design trade studies for passive and active RF sensing, multi-functional aperture integration, EO/IR, LIDAR, and EW sensors and effectors

• Conduct trade studies for line-of-sight and beyond line-of-site communications, data links, and sensors to enable effective navigation, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and autonomous combat operations in the vast INDOPACIFIC theater and contested spectrum

• Lead vendor engagement to identify state-of-the-art mission system capabilities, cost, evolve requirements, assess technical and integration maturity, and inform mission suitability for air vehicle integration

• Work across Defense Systems and Engineering teams and subject matter experts to evolve system requirements, integrate hardware and software architectures, define and develop hardware and software interfaces, and balance capabilities for optimum mission outcomes at minimum cost

• Adapt or derive physics-based models to evaluate or predict payload system performance

• Collaborate directly with customers to understand warfighter needs and translate to mission systems requirements to inform design

• Operate effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while managing multiple priorities.

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, preferred, B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or a related science acceptable.

• Currently possesses and is able to maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance

• Communications, sensors, and effector domain expertise in one or more of Radar, EO/IR, RF, and EW systems

• Physics-based modeling and analysis of system performance in tool(s) of your choice

• 5+ years experience working RF and/or EO/IR mission systems development and integration on crewed or uncrewed tactical aircraft

• Knowledge of current and next-generation sensing and effector systems and platforms

• System trade and integration experience

• Proficiency in relevant toolsets or languages (e.g., MATLAB, Python, C++, COMSOL, Ansys)

• Experience with electromagnetic control (EMCON) modes and EMCON emissions / communication techniques

• Advanced communications experience (e.g., secure LPx line-of-sight, beyond line-of-sight, tactical data links)

• Advanced sensing domain experience (e.g., EO/IR, ESM, EA, EW, LIDAR)

• Experience with aircraft design & integration

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• 401(k) program and transparent stock option plan

• Self-managed and flexible time-off policy, including PTO, paid holidays, and sick time

• Flexible work environment

Astro Mechanica is an equal opportunity employer. We proudly recruit and hire a diverse workforce and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.