Space Systems Engineer - Avionics & Payloads

Space Systems Engineer - Avionics & Payloads

ARQUIMEA

Madrid, Spain

Main function and scope:

We are seeking a Space Systems Engineer to support the development of advanced space systems, with a strong focus on avionics, payloads, communications, embedded systems, and end-to-end requirements decomposition.

Core functions:

• Decompose mission and system-level needs into clear, traceable, and verifiable requirements for avionics, payloads, HW, FW, RF, SW, and EGSE.
• Define and manage system, subsystem, unit, and interface requirements across the full project lifecycle.
• Support avionics and payload architecture definition, including on-board processing, data handling, RF chains, embedded electronics, and flight software interfaces.
• Develop and maintain ICDs, requirements traceability matrices, verification matrices, technical budgets, and review documentation.
• Coordinate with HW, FW, SW, RF, mechanical, AIT, quality, and project teams to ensure coherent system design and implementation.
• Define verification logic, test methods, success criteria, and evidence needed to close requirements.
• Support integration, functional testing, environmental testing, EMC/RF testing, and end-to-end payload validation.
• Review design outputs, test results, anomalies, non-conformances, and deviations against system requirements.
• Identify and manage technical risks, assumptions, dependencies, trade-offs, and open points.
• Support customer reviews, subcontractor coordination, technical proposals, and compliance matrices.

Required experience and candidate profile:

• Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field.
• +5 years of experience in space systems engineering.

Technical Requirements:

Training/specific knowledge required in:

• Experience in systems engineering for complex technical products, preferably in space, aerospace, defence, telecommunications, or high-reliability electronics sectors.
• Strong understanding of requirements engineering, system architecture, interfaces, and verification processes.
• Familiarity with avionics, payload electronics, embedded systems, RF systems, or spacecraft subsystems.
• Ability to work across multiple domains, including hardware, firmware, RF, software, electrical interfaces, and test systems.
• Experience preparing or reviewing technical documentation

Nice-to-have training/specific knowledge:

• Experience with space project lifecycle phases, including concept, design, development, qualification, acceptance, launch, and operations.
• Knowledge of ECSS standards or equivalent aerospace development standards.
• Experience with requirements management tools such as DOORS, Jama, Polarion, Valispace, Codebeamer, or similar.
• Experience with MBSE tools or methodologies, such as Capella, Cameo, SysML, or Arcadia.
• Familiarity with payload or avionics technologies such as:
  • OBCs and data handling systems.
  • FPGA-based processing.
  • High-speed digital interfaces.
  • ADCs, DACs, clocks, timing, and synchronization.
  • RF transceivers, antennas, modems, and link budgets.
  • Embedded Linux, RTOS, bare-metal firmware, or flight software.
  • SpaceWire, CAN, UART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet, LVDS, SerDes, CCSDS, or similar protocols.
• Experience supporting AIT campaigns, environmental testing, EMC testing, or RF testing.
• Knowledge of FMECA, FDIR, reliability, safety, radiation, derating, and parts selection for space applications.