Systems Engineer

Role: Systems Engineer

Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India (On-site)

Employment type: Full-time

Industry: Space Technology

About Catalyx Space:

Catalyx Space is building the world's best reentry systems. Our reusable ReX vehicles return payloads from orbit at unprecedented scale, up to 12 tons and 60m³ of cargo, while operating the full mission lifecycle from launch to recovery. Our core innovation is a Origami-inspired deployable heat shield that combines the scalability of an inflatable system with the robustness of a rigid structure. Built from commercial off-the-shelf components, it enables the world's widest heat shields, the largest payload return volumes, and a scalable pathway for returning everything from commercial cargo to future space nuclear assets.

Role:

As a Systems Engineer, you will own the definition, integration, and validation of spacecraft and reentry systems across engineering domains. You will work closely with propulsion, aerodynamics, thermal, mechanisms, structures, and avionics teams to ensure the vehicle functions as a coherent system.

You will contribute to system-level analyses, integration trade-offs, requirements management, CONOPS development, and operational readiness from design through flight.

Key responsibilities:

• Own requirements definition, flow-down, and tracking across all subsystems
• Develop and maintain system budgets including mass, power, delta-V, volume, stiffness, and thermal margins
• Define system-level mechanical, thermal, electrical, and fluid interfaces
• Lead integration trades and architecture decisions to ensure subsystem compatibility
• Perform trade-off studies to balance competing subsystem requirements
• Perform system-level analyses to validate architecture choices against mission requirements
• Define and maintain CONOPS (Concept of Operations) aligned with mission objectives and operational constraints
• Establish and maintain system-level timelines with visibility into technical risks and bottlenecks
• Participate in Preliminary Design Reviews, Critical Design Reviews, and Test Readiness Reviews
• Define and own the system verification and validation plan, ensuring test campaigns close requirements
• Drive configuration management and PLM discipline across teams
• Conduct and document FMECA for system reliability
• Interface with regulatory partners such as DGCA, FAA, or equivalent bodies for system compliance
• Collaborate with operations and GNC/Flight Dynamics teams to ensure vehicle performance meets mission design
• Author and maintain system-level documentation including CONOPS, requirements documents, V&V plans, and system test plans

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Systems Engineering, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in spacecraft systems engineering or multidisciplinary aerospace programs
• Experience supporting space missions across concept design, integration, testing, and/or operations
• Strong understanding of propulsion, structures, thermal, aerodynamics, mechanisms, and basic avionics for interface management and integration
• Hands-on experience in requirements flow-down, interface control, trade studies, and system-level analysis
• Ability to define and track mass, power, and delta-V budgets
• Familiarity with system integration testing including vibration, TVAC, propulsion, and aero/thermal testing
• Proficiency with tools such as STK, MATLAB, Python, or system modelling frameworks
• Experience conducting or contributing to FMECA analyses

Nice to have:

• Prior experience on spacecraft or reentry systems that have flown
• Strong technical problem-solving ability across multiple engineering domains
• Experience with configuration management tools and PLM systems
• Familiarity with safety and regulatory compliance in aerospace programs
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Flexibility to support extended hours or weekend work during critical integration or test phases 

Compensation & benefits:

• Competitive salary (details will be shared with shortlisted candidates), 
• health insurance
• Provident fund.

How to apply:

Apply via Zoho Recruit: https://catalyxspace.zohorecruit.in/jobs/Careers/193193000000342604/Systems-Engineer?source=CareerSite

We only contact candidates from @catalyx.space emails. No fees are required at any stage of our hiring process.

Equal Opportunity: Catalyx Space is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on any protected characteristic.