Space Systems Engineer (FDIR and Autonomy)

Are you ready to take your career to new heights? At D-Orbit, we're pioneering the future of space logistics and transportation. Established in 2011, our company has been at the forefront of helping businesses unlock the full potential of the final frontier—profitably and sustainably. As a member of our team, you'll have the opportunity to work alongside a diverse group of highly skilled individuals, all driven by a shared passion for innovation and excellence. So, if you are passionate about space and ready to take your ambition to new heights, join us in our global mission to push the boundaries of what's possible! We are looking for a Space Systems Engineer to join our In-Orbit Servicing Business Unit and help us continue to develop new life extension solutions for already orbiting spacecraft. In this position, you will lead technical activities for commercial in-orbit servicing missions. Consequently, you will be responsible for the end-to-end engineering of space systems and missions, from requirements definition and design definition to in-orbit support, including integration, verification and validation. You will work in a multidisciplinary environment, cooperating with a wide variety of specialty engineering teams (e.g. Electric and Electronics, Mechanical, Communications, Flight Software, Propulsion, AOCS, AIT, etc) and non-technical stakeholders (e.g. Program Managers, Business Developers, Procurement Specialists, etc) to achieve the objectives of the missions you are assigned into. Your first assignment will be to lead the definition and implementation of Fault Detection, Isolation and Recovery (FDIR), and Autonomy solutions for the GEA spacecraft, D-Orbit’s new spacecraft platform specifically built to provide in-orbit services. However, as the program evolves, you will be required to support other activities within the business. Due to the nature of this role, you will operate with autonomy to meet the mission goals and represent D-Orbit in front of external customers, suppliers and partners. Consequently, as part of your role, you will coordinate activities to generate the required deliverables and defend D-Orbit's mission solutions in front of relevant academic, institutional or commercial stakeholders. Key tasks and responsibilities - Lead the lifecycle of system, segment, subsystem and/or equipment specifications; - Lead the architectural and design definition of space segment solutions; - Perform and maintain system analysis studies, including budgeting (e.g. power, mass, link, data, delta-V) and performance analyses, technology trade-off analyses (e.g. TRL assessment, buy-make decisions), dependability analyses (e.g. FMEA, FTA), etc; - Generate engineering plans such as Design and Development, Verification or Validation plans; - Define and maintain internal and external interfaces for the systems you are assigned to work on; - Support specialty engineering teams to design and develop spacecraft subsystems, equipment and components; - Support the planning, execution and reporting of integration, verification, validation and qualification activities such as environmental, functional, performance or end-to-end test campaigns; - Support the preparation of flight operations for new spacecraft solutions and, when called, the investigation of in-orbit anomalies; - Prepare and maintain key systems engineering deliverables such as technical specifications, interface control documents, life cycle concepts, design description files, etc; - Tailor and justify compliance to relevant space industry standards (e.g. ECSS, CSSDS) and internal processes; - Lead technical efforts in the preparation of proposals; - Interact with external stakeholders (e.g. customers, suppliers, partners, institutions, regulators) representing D-Orbit's technical team within the frame of the assigned programs. This includes defending D-Orbit’s technical solutions in milestone reviews; Requirements - Demonstrable experience in the definition of autonomous fault detection and recovery concepts and architectures, including solid knowledge in FDIR methodologies and Fault Management concepts; - Familiarity with Reliability, Availability, Measurement and Safety (RAMS) processes and deliverables, such as Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), etc; - Understanding of complex spacecraft and safety-critical system architectures; - Familiarity with ECSS Engineering and Dependability standards; - Demonstrable experience in requirements engineering, including capture, derivation, maintenance and verification of requirements; - Familiarity with embedded software and on-board flight software architectures; - Familiarity with Attitude and Orbit Control Subsystem (AOCS) architectures and algorithms; - Familiarity with the functions, constraints and design rules of all the spacecraft subsystems; - Demonstrable experience in system analysis, trade-off and budget preparation and maintenance (e.g. mass, power, data, link, or thermal budgets); - Demonstrable experience in system integration and testing, including reviewing test procedures, witnessing tests, and analysing results; - Demonstrable experience authoring technical documents, preparing milestone data packs on time and quality, and successfully passing milestone reviews; - Demonstrable experience in successfully driving technical activities involving the coordination of multiple external stakeholders; - Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a structured, systems-thinking mindset; - Self-starter with strong organisational skills; able to work effectively both independently and within multidisciplinary teams; - Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including preparation of clear technical documentation and presentations; - Full professional proficiency in English is mandatory; additional languages are an asset; - Pro-active mindset aimed at improving the overall project performance and meeting the industrial goals; - Deep knowledge of AI tools. We offer a base salary range of €40,000–€55,000 gross per year for this role, depending on experience and location, plus a performance-based variable component. Final compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, location, and internal consistency across comparable roles. Additional Benefits - Meal vouchers - Variable compensation - Wellhub platform, offering a wide range of fitness, wellness, and wellbeing services - Serenis platform, including unlimited individual psychotherapy, nutrition, and coaching sessions - Flexible working arrangements, including smart working options and flexible scheduling based on role and team requirements Hiring Process: Here’s how our hiring process works—simple and straightforward: - Application Review – We carefully review applications that match the key requirements of the role. If your profile is selected for the next stage, a member of our People & Culture team will contact you directly. We genuinely appreciate every application, even when there is not a match for the current opportunity. - Introduction Call – A conversation with the People & Culture team to get to know each other, discuss the opportunity, and align expectations. - Technical and Team Interviews – One or more interviews focused on the skills, experience, and approach relevant to the role. - Offer – If there is a strong mutual fit, we will share an offer and discuss the next steps. The exact process may vary depending on the role. We aim to keep candidates informed throughout the process and appreciate your patience as we carefully evaluate applications. We’re excited to get to know you and see if you might be the next person to help us shaping the future of space! NON-EU applicants: At this time, we can only consider candidates who already have the legal right to work in the country where the position is based. Please note that this role requires a regular on-site presence and is not a fully remote position. Some activities must be carried out in our facilities, many others are location-independent, and they can be performed effectively even remotely. This is why we don't measure the performance of people by how many hours they spend at the office: we only measure the outcome. At D-Orbit, diversity and inclusivity are not just values, they are integral to our mission and the way we operate. We are committed to fostering an environment where all individuals are respected, valued, and celebrated for their unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace is not only the right thing to do, but it also leads to better decision making, innovation, and overall success. We actively strive to build a culture where everyone can bring their authentic selves to work, and where all voices are heard and valued. We are dedicated to creating a workplace where everyone feels safe, supported, and empowered to share their ideas, and where everyone is given equal opportunities to grow and excel. We believe that our differences make us stronger, and we will continue to work diligently to create an inclusive culture at D-Orbit that ...