Space Launch Systems Integrator

About the role

Waypoint Sierra Consultants is seeking an experienced integrator to take responsibility for the connection between a spacecraft and its launch vehicle on National Security Space Launch missions. You will carry that work from the definition of integration requirements through payload processing and launch operations.

The role brings together engineering, government acquisition, and mission execution. You will coordinate satellite program offices and launch providers, manage the documents that define their interfaces, and brief government leaders on the decisions and risks affecting the mission. Direct experience owning the spacecraft-to-launch-vehicle interface is central to the position.

What you’ll do

• Own integration requirements. Write and maintain Integration Requirements Documents (IRDs), coordinate interface requirements, and help resolve requirements negotiations between spacecraft and launch-vehicle teams.
• Manage technical interfaces. Work with Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and the teams responsible for satisfying them. Coordinate subject-matter experts in propulsion, structures, avionics, ground systems, and range operations.
• Connect engineering and acquisition. Develop statements of work and Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs). Evaluate how changes affect mission requirements and mission-specific costs.
• Lead mission coordination. Prepare presentations, run integration meetings, and brief senior government and military stakeholders, including General Officer leadership, on technical status and risk.
• Track mission dependencies. Analyze schedules across the spacecraft and launch vehicle. Identify dependencies and raise issues early enough for the program to respond.
• Support the launch campaign. Follow the integration effort into payload processing and launch-site activities, maintaining coordination across the organizations supporting the mission.

Required qualifications

• At least seven years of space-systems experience focused on launch-vehicle and spacecraft integration.
• A bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, systems engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Direct experience managing spacecraft-to-launch-vehicle interfaces, including IRDs, ICDs, requirements negotiation, and integration activities.
• Familiarity with launch facilities, payload processing, and launch campaign operations.
• Experience developing statements of work, engineering changes, and requirements in a government acquisition environment.
• The ability to explain complex technical issues to senior government and military leaders and work on-site in a classified facility.

Preferred qualifications

• Ten or more years of relevant experience and a master’s degree.
• Experience with multiple launch vehicles, such as Falcon, Atlas, Delta, Electron, or Vulcan.
• An active security clearance is strongly preferred. Inactive clearances or eligibility may also be considered; discuss current program access requirements with the recruiter.

Your impact on the mission

The integration team needs a shared understanding of what each organization must deliver and which decisions remain open. Your work helps turn interface requirements into coordinated action, makes schedule dependencies visible, and gives leadership a clear account of the technical risks.

When discussing your background, focus on a mission where you personally managed the interface. Describe the documents you owned, a change you negotiated, and how you carried the resolution through integration or launch preparation.

Compensation and work environment

This is a full-time, on-site role in El Segundo, California, in a classified work environment. The annual salary range is $175,000–$210,000, depending on experience and qualifications. Benefits listed for the role include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement, and paid time off.

Waypoint Sierra supports defense and intelligence space missions across acquisition, development, integration, launch, and on-orbit operations.