Payload System Engineer

Our Mission

At constellr, we're harnessing the power of space to solve one of Earth’s greatest challenges: climate resilience & security in a changing world. Our thermal satellite constellation delivers the most accurate land surface temperature data on the market, equipping commercial players, governments, defence agencies, and global institutions with the thermal intelligence they need to make strategic decisions– from national security and infrastructure to agriculture and climate resilience.

As a fast-scaling company with offices in Brussels, Freiburg, Munich, Washington and Toulouse, our multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, and strategists is building the future of space-based Earth observation

Your Role

We are seeking a highly motivated Payload System Engineer to join our spacecraft engineering team. Reporting to the Satellite Systems Lead, you’ll be part of the Mission and Space Systems team. You’ll collaborate daily with the other engineers on the team, as well as the operations teams and external partners. Your role will be instrumental in supporting the performance of our orbiting satellites by developing deep technical knowledge of our current payload and shaping the future of our constellation by contributing to the design and development of our next-generation payload.

Key Responsibilities

• Derivation of technical requirements for the payload from the top-level requirements.

• Performing design trade-offs targeting the most efficient solution with respect to technological and programmatic constraints.

• Co-design and co-development of the payload together with partners.

• Support, implementation and management of reviews with suppliers.

• Define and maintain payload budgets (radiometry, image quality and data rate…)

• Perform payload functional and performance analysis and tests.

• Support operational concept definition, mission analysis and system-level performance assessment with payload-related inputs.

• Support in the completion of all necessary payload documentation for the certification and qualification of the flight systems, as well as associated verification requirements, incl. evaluation of test results

• Collaborate with the other teams to define requirements and interfaces

• Participate in the payload and satellite-level AIT activities supporting their planning and definition, and the development of our internal test and system engineering software

Location:This position is offered on a hybrid or remote basis in Germany or Belgium, ideally. We have offices in Munich, Berlin, Freiburg (Germany), and Brussels (Belgium). Occasional travel for team meetings & suppliers should be expected. We are open to considering remote working across Europe for exceptional candidates with a high level of experience.

Requirements

About you

Required:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.

• Proven experience (>5years) in optical payload design for space applications, ideally infrared instruments.

• Ability to commit to the plan and deliver the expected results on time, or to report proactively if any deviations are foreseen.

• Ability to rapidly expand application-specific knowledge sets and skills where necessary and to quickly familiarise with new areas of responsibility.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English

• Great comms - building constructive relationships with suppliers and other teams within the company.

• Experience with the Linux environment

• Familiarity with Python or any programming language and a willingness to learn Python.

Nice to Have

• Optical design experience on Zemax or another software, with a willingness to learn Zemax.

• Optical AIT experience

• Opto-mechanical design

Why constellr?

• Be part of an ambitious mission to launch the world’s first commercial thermal infrared constellation.

• Flexible work setup with remote and hybrid options.

• Competitive compensation, including Virtual Share Option Plan (VSOP) for permanent employees.

• Join a team committed to diversity, inclusion, and scientific excellence.

At constellr, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace. We are an equal-opportunity employer and believe that diversity fuels innovation, creativity, and the ability to tackle complex challenges effectively. We encourage individuals from all walks of life to join us on our mission to reduce global food insecurity.

Highlights

Innovate next-gen spacecraft payloads! Join our mission-driven team to design, analyse and optimise satellite systems, driving performance and shaping the future of our constellation.