Program Chief Engineer

Responsibilities

• We are seeking a Chief Engineer to serve as a senior technical leader supporting the successful engineering execution of complex satellite ground systems programs. This role combines program-level technical leadership, system-level engineering coordination, and hands-on technical contribution across Quindar’s mission operations software ecosystem.
• The Program Chief Engineer acts as a technical integrator and program engineering leader across mission software, platform infrastructure, operations, reliability, security, and mission integration activities.
• This role is responsible for helping ensure technical alignment, architectural cohesion, and successful mission execution across complex programs while partnering closely with software / system architects and domain engineering leads who retain ownership of implementation and execution within their respective areas.
• This is a heavily customer-facing role that will represent Quindar in technical exchanges while working to pull in experts across the team as beneficial.
• Successful candidates often come from backgrounds in satellite ground systems, mission operations, or other complex distributed software systems with a focus on both defense and commercial space operations.
• The ideal candidate combines strong software and systems understanding with operational awareness and the ability to lead technical execution across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Serve as a program technical leader / Chief Engineer for complex commercial and government space programs
• Support successful engineering execution across mission software, platform infrastructure, reliability, security, and integration activities
• Coordinate technical alignment across engineering teams to ensure cohesive system behavior and successful mission execution
• Partner with engineering leads to identify and resolve cross-system technical risks, interface challenges, and integration concerns
• Support architectural cohesion and long-term technical evolution across Quindar’s ground systems ecosystem
• Contribute to technical strategy, system design, and architecture development for mission operations platforms
• Participate in proposal development, technical solution definition, and customer technical engagements
• Conduct technical reviews, design reviews, and mission readiness assessments
• Support anomaly investigation, troubleshooting, and operational issue resolution for mission-critical systems
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to engineers across the organization
• Contribute directly to engineering efforts through design, implementation, prototyping, and technical problem solving

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience developing, integrating, or operating aerospace, satellite, or mission-critical software systems
• Strong technical breadth across software systems, operational systems, and aerospace mission domains
• Experience with satellite ground systems, mission operations, command and control, or flight dynamics and mission planning tools
• Experience designing, integrating, or operating distributed software systems in production environments
• Strong understanding of software architecture, systems integration, and operational reliability
• Ability to communicate effectively across software, operations, platform / infrastructure, and customer stakeholders
• Experience leading technical efforts across multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Active U.S. Security Clearance (TS/SCI Preferred, S Required)

Qualifications

Comfortable operating in ambiguous and rapidly evolving technical environments

ITAR REQUIREMENTS

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here

Why you'll love working at Quindar

• We work in a cutting edge industry and you will get the opportunity to be part of a small team with a large direct impact on the success of our customers’ space missions!
• We take work life balance very seriously. We require employees to take 15 days off but provide unlimited PTO and follow most US federal government holidays.
• Mental health is just as important as physical so we provide quarterly health & wellness benefits.
• Comprehensive health insurance for you and your family with 100% coverage for employees.
• We encourage employees to save for retirement and provide 4% 401(k) matching.
• Each year we have a 4-day company offsite. Previous locations include San Francisco, Nashville, Denver, Santa Fe, New Orleans, San Diego, Bozeman, and New York City.
• Our culture and company is evolving. You will be key in creating the next major or minor version!