Maxar Intelligence I logo

Senior Payload Systems Engineer

Maxar Intelligence I

Westminster, CO · HybridJob$109–160K/yrSeen 3 days agoSeen in employer's feed 3 days ago

Most applications go out cold — see where you stand first. No sign-up to start.

You apply on the employer's site, with no Olive account needed.

Watch jobs like this.

Don't just apply. Show up ready.

Olive works from this exact posting.

At a glance

Compensation
$109–160K/yr
Location
Westminster, COHybrid
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Secret clearanceBachelor's degree

Job overview

Vantor is hiring a Senior Payload Systems Engineer for its SpaceWrx team to support end-to-end development of next-generation satellite constellations. The role connects imaging payloads with spacecraft buses, supports supplier and design-review activities, and evaluates system-level trades and emerging technologies. Work is in the Westminster office Tuesday through Thursday and from home Monday and Friday. Candidates must meet U.S. person and security-clearance eligibility requirements.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Spacecraft-Payload Interface DevelopmentCross-Functional CollaborationMATLABPythonRequirements ManagementSpace Systems EngineeringRadiation SurvivabilityElectromagnetic CompatibilitySTKSPICEHFSSSignal Integrity AnalysisPower AnalysisImaging PayloadsData ProcessingPerformance MetricsFPGAsProcessorsMemoryStorage DevicesFault ManagementRedundancy ArchitecturesDesign for ReliabilitySpace Industry Standards

Qualifications

U.S. Citizen With Secret Clearance or Ability to ObtainBachelor's in Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or Related Field5+ Years Space-Based Optical Payload ExperienceMaster's or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or Physics

Benefits

401(k) Match

Full job description

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. Vantor is hiring a Senior Payload Systems Engineer to join our SpaceWrx team inWestminster, CO. This position offers in-office workdays on Tuesdays through Thursdays and from home on Mondays and Fridays. The team is responsible for end-to-end development of our next-generation satelliteconstellation, including defining the architecture and requirements for mission, vehicle,and payload elements; working with top-tier industry suppliers during manufacturing,integration, and test; and supporting launch and initial on-orbit operations.This is a broad Payload Systems Engineering job that offers direct exposure to complex, integrated systems including spacecraft platforms,optical payloads, laser communications, and advanced onboard processing. It alsonecessarily links the capabilities provided by such technologies to Vantor's imagery andsoftware products and critical customer needs. Vantor is known as the premiere provider of commercial imagery in the world. Ourteam is composed of multidisciplined engineers and leaders operating with a deliberatebalance of lean execution and robust engineering, enabling us to move quicklywhile maintaining the rigor required for mission success. Just as important, we've built aculture of strong collaboration, shared ownership, and camaraderie-with a clear senseof purpose behind systems we deliver. Responsibilities: * Manage the technical interface between the imaging payload and spacecraft bus,ensuring compatibility and joint performance optimization across electrical,mechanical, thermal, and data interfaces.* Lead and participate in system-level trades to evaluate design alternatives,performance vs. cost/risk trade-offs, and technology insertion opportunities. * Participate in supplier management via site visits, review of deliverable artifacts, and design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR), working across disciplines to ensurethe payload systems meet performance, reliability, and environmental constraints.* Support development of a comprehensive payload concept-of-operations including modeling and evaluation of power, data, and timing interactions across all states and modes.* Participate in the evaluation of emerging technologies, COTS/FoS(Commercial/Flyable off the Shelf) hardware, and new mission concepts with an eyetoward system-level integration feasibility. Assess and troubleshoot emerging payloadand bus designs. Minimum Qualifications: * Must be a U.S. Citizen with an active secret Security Clearance or have the ability toobtain secret clearance.* Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or arelated technical field.* 5-7 years of experience working with space-based optical remote sensing payloads or similar hardware systems.* Demonstrated experience with spacecraft-to-payload interface development and working with multiple space segment teams in a cross-functional role.* Experience with general software tools such as MATLAB and Python, and ability tolearn and utilize new tools as dictated by evolving job demands.* Understanding of requirements management documentation (e.g., specificationsand ICDs) and processes.* Previous experience working across organizational boundar es, e.g., betweenpayload, spacecraft, and ground teams Preferred Qualifications: * Master's or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, SystemsEngineering, or Physics.* Proven experience in systems engineering for space platforms, includingawareness of specialty disciplines such as radiation survivability and electromagnetic compatibility. * Experience with modeling tools such as STK, SPICE, HFSS, or signal integrity/poweranalysis software.* Familiarity with imaging payloads (visible, multispectral, or hyperspectral), dataprocessing requirements, and performance metrics (SNR, MTF, etc.). * Familiarity with current and emerging technologies, including in the areas of FPGAs,processors, memory, and storage devices.* Experience with fault management, redundancy architectures, and design forreliability in long-duration space missions.* Familiarity with space industry quality and standards frameworks (NASA GSFC, JPL,ECSS, MIL-STD-1547, IPC standards) #LI-MG1 Pay Transparency: To support pay transparency, Vantor includes salary ranges in all U.S. job postings. Starting pay for this role will fall within the listed range and will be based on factors such as experience, qualifications, skills, location, and market conditions. Candidates who meet the minimum requirements for the role should not expect to receive compensation at the top of the range. The listed range reflects the expected pay for this position, and final offers will be determined based on each candidate's experience, expertise, and alignment with the role. * The base pay for this position within Colorado is: $109,000.00 - $145,000.00 - $159,500.00 annually. For all other states, we use geographic cost of labor as an input to develop market-driven ranges for our roles, and as such, each location where we hire may have a different range. Benefits: Vantor offers a competitive total rewards package that goes beyond the standard, including a robust 401(k) with company match, mental health resources, and unique perks like student loan repayment assistance, adoption reimbursement and pet insurance to support all aspects of your life. You can find more information on our benefits at: https://www.Vantor.com/careers Additionally, this position is incentive eligible with a target based on contribution, company performance, and/or individual results achieved; the specific incentive plan and target amount will be determined based on the role and breadth of contributions. The application window is three days from the date the job is posted and will remain posted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire. If the job is reposted regardless of reason, it will remain posted three days from the date the job is reposted and will remain reposted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire. The date of posting can be found on Vantor's Career page at the top of each job posting. To apply, submit your application via Vantor's Career page. EEO Policy: Vantor is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive workplace. We believe in fostering an environment where all team members feel respected, valued, and encouraged to share their ideas. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. MAXAR Technologies values diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. Apply at: https://ipc.us/t/3C46F33634464029.

How this job compares

Set against the 11,546 open Systems Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 4, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$109–160K/yr
  • Colorado median$115–178K/yr922 salary ranges
  • US median$116–190K/yr8,481 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $134K, is 9% below the Colorado median midpoint ($148K) — in the middle half of Systems Engineer salary ranges in Colorado.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 1,069 open Systems Engineer jobs in Colorado and 11,546 across the US. 5% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Colorado
Experience
This posting asks for at least 5 years of experience; Systems Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (9,622 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 4,535 of the 11,546 open Systems Engineer jobs (39%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 4, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

Prepare for this role

You've read the whole posting — now see how you match it.