Mission Architect, Tactical Space

Irvine, CAfull timeOn Site

Apply on Employer Site

senior

$250k–$300k

H1B: no

Turion Space The Mission Architect, Tactical Space at Turion Space defines mission-level concepts and architectures for Tactical Space missions, overseeing design, development, and integration. This role collaborates with technical teams and customers to ensure mission feasibility and alignment with operational environments.

Responsibilities

Serve as the mission architect for Turion’s Tactical Space portfolio, defining mission-level concepts, architectures, and integration frameworks.
Develop and maintain mission-specific Design Reference Missions (DRMs) to guide system design, performance analysis, and operational concepts.
Translate customer and stakeholder mission needs into clear architectural requirements and mission construct definitions.
Lead mission modeling, simulation, and performance characterization activities, ensuring alignment with tactical mission use cases.
Conduct and guide mission-level trade studies, evaluating system, operational, and architectural options to inform design and investment decisions.
Define and communicate material and non-material architectural solutions responsive to mission needs, capability gaps, and operational constraints.
Demonstrate how Turion’s solutions deliver mission outcomes within the context of the DRMs and tactical operational environments.
Collaborate closely with engineering teams to ensure system designs, payload choices, and CONOPS flow down from sound mission architecture.
Partner with business development to align customer priorities, competitive positioning, and technical credibility within mission architecture frameworks.
Communicate architectural insights, recommendations, and analysis results to executives, engineering leadership, and customers.

Qualification

Mission ArchitectITAR Requirements

Required

M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.
10+ years of experience in mission architecture, mission engineering, systems engineering, or modeling and simulation, including responsibility for defining mission concepts or architectures.
Deep knowledge of national security missions for both US DoW and IC, primarily in Space Control and/or Space Domain Awareness
Demonstrated experience developing DRMs and performing mission-level modeling, simulation, and analysis.
Proven ability to lead mission or system trade studies and support architectural development across material and non-material domains.
Strong understanding of space mission design, tactical operational concepts, and end-to-end mission performance analysis.
Experience working across engineering disciplines and with non-technical stakeholders to develop integrated mission architectures.

Preferred

M.S. or Ph.D. in aerospace, astronautical, systems engineering, or a related field.
Experience supporting business development, capture, or proposal efforts for aerospace or defense missions.
Experience contributing to or guiding the development of integrated mission architectures and cross-functional engineering alignment.
Experience with USG controlled access programs
Mission Architect, Tactical Space Salary Range: $250,000 - $300,000 USD
Employees may be asked to support alternate shifts, extended shifts, and/or travel during peak work periods.
ITAR Requirements:
This position may include access to technology and/or software source code that is subject to U.S. export controls. 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.