Systems Engineer
ABOUT THE ROLE
As a Systems Engineer, you will play a central technical role in defining, integrating, and evolving the overall architecture of AnduraX's reusable re-entry vehicle. You will be responsible for translating mission objectives into engineering requirements, ensuring every subsystem functions together as a unified flight vehicle, and maintaining technical consistency throughout the product lifecycle. You will own the complete systems engineering process, from mission definition, requirements management, trade studies, and subsystem integration to verification planning and design reviews. Working closely with teams specializing in GNC, avionics, structures, aerodynamics, propulsion, software, and testing, you will ensure the vehicle remains technically balanced, scalable, and aligned with future orbital missions. This role demands strong technical depth, systems thinking, and the ability to coordinate across multiple engineering disciplines while driving the program's overall technical direction. This role combines office-based engineering with laboratory, workshop, integration, and field-test activities. Candidates should be comfortable transitioning between analytical work, hardware development, and outdoor flight operations.
RESPONSIBILITY
Systems Architecture & Requirements Management
- Define and maintain the overall architecture of the reusable re-entry vehicle.
- Translate mission objectives into clear system and subsystem requirements.
- Develop and maintain the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for demonstration and orbital missions.
- Lead architecture trade studies across aerodynamics, recovery systems, avionics, propulsion, structures, and mission operations.
- Define subsystem interfaces and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
- Ensure scalability of the vehicle architecture from technology demonstrators to future operational orbital vehicles.
- Develop, allocate, and maintain system requirements throughout the program lifecycle.
- Own requirement traceability and configuration management.
- Maintain vehicle-level engineering budgets including:
- Mass Budget
- Power Budget
- Data Budget
- Thermal Budget
- Performance Margins
- Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies.
- Maintain engineering documentation and configuration baselines.
Mission Design & Vehicle Integration
- Support mission planning for atmospheric, high-altitude, and orbital demonstrations.
- Define mission profiles, operational timelines, and system-level performance requirements.
- Coordinate subsystem integration across:
- Guidance, Navigation & Control
- Avionics
- Flight Software
- Structures
- Aerodynamics
- Propulsion
- Recovery Systems
- Ensure compatibility between hardware, software, and operational procedures.
Verification & Validation
- Develop system-level verification and validation strategies.
- Define qualification and acceptance criteria for engineering and flight hardware.
- Develop Verification & Validation (V&V) matrices.
- Support Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) and Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) activities.
- Ensure subsystem verification satisfies overall mission objectives.
Flight Test Operations
- Participate in mission planning and flight readiness activities.
- Support vehicle integration, checkout procedures, and launch operations.
- Monitor system performance during demonstrations.
- Conduct post-flight data analysis and identify system-level improvements.
- Support iterative development based on flight test results.
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Work closely with GNC, avionics, propulsion, structures, software, and testing teams.
- Lead multidisciplinary technical discussions and architecture reviews.
- Mentor junior engineers and interns.
- Support engineering recruitment and technical interviews.
- Help establish systems engineering processes, documentation standards, and design review practices.
REQUIREMENTS
Education & Experience
- B.Tech/M.Tech/PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related disciplines.
- 5+ years of experience in re-entry vehicles, spacecraft, launch vehicles, or other complex aerospace systems.
- Experience developing system requirements and subsystem specifications.
- Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering interfaces.
- Familiarity with complete engineering product development lifecycles.
Technical Competencies
- Strong understanding of:
- Systems Engineering Principles
- Requirements Management
- Vehicle Architecture
- Interface Management
- Mission Design
- Verification & Validation
- Technical Trade Studies
- Engineering Risk Management
- Strong analytical thinking and structured problem-solving ability.
- Excellent technical communication and documentation skills.
- Ability to coordinate multiple engineering teams simultaneously.
PREFERRED SKILLS
Experience With
- Hands-on experience in:
- Spacecraft or launch vehicle systems engineering
- Re-entry vehicles or Entry, Descent & Landing (EDL) systems
- Autonomous aerospace systems
- High-altitude platforms
- Mission analysis and trajectory design
- Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
- SysML or similar modelling tools
- Requirements management tools (DOORS or equivalent)
- MATLAB/Simulink
- Python
- STK or GMAT
- Configuration management practices
- Aerospace standards (NASA, ESA, ECSS, ISRO)
Familiarity With
- Knowledge or exposure to:
- Flight hardware development
- Recovery systems
- Thermal Protection Systems (TPS)
- Spacecraft avionics
- Flight software development
- Design review processes (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR)
- Prior experience with ISRO, DRDO, private space companies, or international aerospace programs will be considered an added advantage.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Additional Requirements
- Ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment where responsibilities evolve with program needs.
- Comfortable working across multiple engineering disciplines and contributing beyond a narrowly defined role.
- Willingness to travel for flight tests, field deployments, supplier visits, customer meetings, and technical reviews as required.
- Ability to work outdoors during vehicle integration, launch campaigns, and recovery operations under varying weather conditions.
- Comfortable standing, walking, bending, and working for extended periods during hardware assembly, testing, and flight operations.
- Ability to safely lift and carry engineering equipment and hardware weighing up to 20 kg, with appropriate assistance when required.
- Willingness to occasionally work outside regular business hours during integration campaigns, flight tests, critical milestones, or mission operations.
- Strong commitment to engineering documentation, configuration control, and maintaining high-quality technical records.
- Ability to obtain and maintain any security clearances or background verifications required for defence, strategic, or government-sponsored projects (subject to applicable regulations).
- Demonstrate a strong safety-first mindset and adherence to laboratory, workshop, propulsion, and flight-test safety procedures.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly to multidisciplinary teams.
- Self-driven, proactive, and capable of independently owning technical deliverables from concept through validation.
- Close attention to detail, strong analytical thinking, and a systematic approach to solving complex engineering problems.
- Passion for aerospace, space exploration, reusable launch systems, or advanced flight technologies, with a willingness to continuously learn and adapt to new challenges.
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