Senior Architect, Mission Test & Pathfinder Integration, meoSphere

The job responsibilities outlined in this document are not exhaustive and may evolve over time and be reviewed according to business needs.

PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

meoSphere is SES’s next-generation Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite constellation, designed to deliver secure connectivity services to government agencies, enterprises, and commercial customers. It will also provide high-speed broadband internet to eliminate global connectivity dead zones.

To accelerate development timelines, reduce costs, and ensure quality, SES is internalizing a critical segment of the satellite supply chain: the final integration of partner satellite platforms with SES’s software-defined payloads, all within a cutting-edge manufacturing and test facility.

ROLE DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

The System Integration & Test (SI&T) Mission Test Lead is a hands-on technical leadership role responsible for developing and delivering mission-test capabilities across a complex system-of-systems environment spanning spacecraft, ground systems, user terminals, communications networks, software platforms, operational processes, and supporting infrastructure.

Working within the SI&T function, you will develop campaign plans, test procedures, readiness criteria, technical analyses, and evidence packages to verify mission objectives and demonstrate operational readiness. Leading through technical expertise and influence, you will coordinate engineering, operations, suppliers, and program stakeholders to deliver successful mission-test campaigns.

The role supports ongoing Pathfinder activities while preparing future campaigns, leading rehearsals, readiness reviews, delegated mission-test execution, anomaly and retest coordination, and evidence closeout. While providing mission-test leadership during execution, spacecraft command authority and flight operations decisions remain with the designated flight authorities and operational organizations.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES / KEY RESULT AREAS

Shared Responsibilities

• Lead system integration, testing, verification, and validation work across hardware, software, networks, operations, laboratories, suppliers, and distributed teams.
• Turn incomplete or conflicting inputs into clear, practical technical plans with visible assumptions, dependencies, risks, and evidence needs.
• Apply discipline across requirements, interfaces, configuration control, readiness, anomalies, regression, traceability, and evidence.
• Produce clear, decision-ready technical recommendations and communicate effectively with engineering, program, supplier, and executive stakeholders.
• Define and lead System Integration & Test work while respecting retained authorities in product, facility, safety, flight, requirements, procurement, and acceptance decisions.

Focus Area Responsibilities:

• Lead the development, planning, and execution of mission-test campaigns, translating mission objectives into executable event sequences, procedures, readiness criteria, and evidence requirements.
• Develop campaign strategies, technical solutions, and test approaches supporting concurrent Pathfinder and future mission-test activities.
• Define test success criteria, including entry and exit criteria, pass/fail measures, data collection requirements, abort conditions, and recovery approaches.
• Lead campaign rehearsals, technical reviews, and readiness assessments to ensure stakeholders, systems, procedures, and environments are prepared for execution.
• Coordinate anomaly investigation, retest planning, and technical resolution activities, providing recommendations based on evidence and test outcomes.
• Lead delegated mission-test execution activities in accordance with approved procedures and governance frameworks, while respecting retained flight and spacecraft command authorities.
• Maintain end-to-end test traceability, ensuring evidence, decisions, actions, and outcomes are captured, reviewed, and closed out appropriately.

Key Year 1 Deliverables

By the end of the first year, you will have established the mission-test planning, readiness, and execution capability required to support ongoing Pathfinder testing and future mission-test campaigns across the program. The program will have a consistent approach to campaign planning, rehearsals, delegated mission-test execution, anomaly and retest coordination, and evidence closeout. Key deliverables will include:

• Executable mission-test campaign plans with defined event sequences, readiness criteria, data requirements, evidence expectations, and anomaly response processes.
• Mission-test procedures, rehearsal plans, and readiness review processes supporting ongoing and future Pathfinder activities.
• Teams prepared for delegated mission-test execution, with roles, responsibilities, and decision paths validated through rehearsals and readiness activities.
• Established anomaly investigation, retest coordination, and evidence assessment processes.
• End-to-end traceability from mission objectives through campaign execution, evidence collection, and closeout.
• Mission-test governance and execution practices operating within established flight authority frameworks.

Qualifications Background and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Aerospace, Telecommunications, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in test engineering, system integration, verification and validation, mission operations, flight testing, or other complex system test environments.
• Proven technical leadership, including planning and executing complex test campaigns and coordinating multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of requirements management, system interfaces, configuration control, readiness reviews, anomaly resolution, technical risk management, and evidence-based decision-making.
• Excellent technical writing, facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and executive communication skills.
• Experience in space systems, satellite communications, ground systems, mission operations, telecommunications, or other mission-critical engineering programs.
• Familiarity with systems engineering practices, test automation, hardware-in-the-loop environments, simulators, digital twins, and test management tools.
• Experience supporting flight-test, launch, satellite operations, FlatSat, field-test, or similar high-consequence test and operational environments is highly desirable.

Mindset & Values

• Ownership: Takes accountability for outcomes, drives issues to resolution, and balances speed, risk, and quality to deliver results.
• Systems Thinking: Understands how hardware, software, networks, operations, suppliers, and processes interact; always considers the full impact of decisions.
• Evidence Driven: Uses objective data, testing, and measurable results to guide decisions, assess risk, and build confidence in system readiness.
• Technical Leadership Through Influence: Builds alignment across teams and stakeholders through expertise, credibility, and sound judgment rather than formal authority.
• Collaborative & Low Ego: Values diverse perspectives, welcomes constructive challenge, and works across disciplines to achieve the best outcome for the system and the business.

OTHER KEY REQUIREMENTS / COMMENTS

• The candidate must be eligible for a “SECRET” security clearance, in accordance with the national regulations as well as EU/ESA/NATO equivalents
• Willing to work 60% onsite from office
• Travel as required for project realization purposes

The USA salary range for this full-time position is $121,000 - $190,000

Salary ranges are determined by role, level, and geographic location. Individual compensation within the range is determined based on work location and a variety of factors, including job-related skills, experience, qualifications, and relevant education or training. Additional compensation and benefits may apply depending on the location and terms of employment.