Chief Engineer

Blue Canyon Technologies, RTX's small satellite manufacturer and mission services provider, is solving some of the toughest challenges in space. Our components and bus platforms have completed missions ranging from very-low Earth orbits to lunar and interplanetary journeys at a fraction of the cost of traditional space systems. We support premier defense, commercial and civil organizations including the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA, MIT Lincoln Lab, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Colorado and more. Join our innovative and dynamic company as we build, test and operate the small spacecraft of the future.

The Chief Engineer serves as BCT’s primary engineering technical authority across the business enterprise.  As a key contributor to BCT business pursuits, the Chief Engineer assesses the integrity of technical decisions regarding new and current business execution, with an eye on assuring cross-functional coordination within the company. As a member of the innovation team, the CE contributes to BCT strategic product vision development, acting as a source of technical expertise for innovation and technical road mapping. The Chief Engineer reports to the Executive Director of Engineering and is a key technical liaison to that position as well as the Executive Director of Technology.

Title:  Chief Engineer

Position Type: Full Time

Pay Range: $180,000 - $255,000

(Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.)

Location:  Lafayette, CO

Benefits:

• 100% company paid health, dental and vision benefits for you and your dependents effective the first of the month following hire date


• Life insurance


• 401k (matching 4% with a minimum 5% contribution)


• Generous PTO (3 weeks of vacation + 3 floating holidays, 2 weeks of sick time, 7 paid holidays throughout the year) and parental leave

Duties & Responsibilities

• Responsible for collaborating with multidisciplinary leads on technical problem-solving processes and guiding engineering execution across the business by proactively identifying technical issues and implementing resolutions considering both achievement of objectives as well as company financial performance


• Provide technical authority to new business gate reviews, design reviews, engineering changes, anomaly resolutions, corrective actions, and QMS process updates


• In collaboration with executive team leaders, support new business initiatives by contributing to product line visions and strategies that grow markets and increase profits


• As a member of the Innovation Team, support internal research and development selection, implementation, and road mapping


• Guide the execution of engineering product development across a wide range of satellite architectures and component subsystems


• Provide technical mentorship, as needed, to engineering team

Essential Skills & Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, math, or related discipline


• 15+ years of experience in satellite system, subsystem, and component design, development, test, and operations across multiple flight projects/programs


• Experience taking a product from concept phase through prototyping, launch, and operation


• Demonstrated leadership of space systems engineering teams


• Demonstrated breadth and depth across multiple aerospace engineering disciplines


•  Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (written, verbal, and presentation) and ability to effectively communicate with multi-disciplinary Engineering teams (Hardware, Software, Firmware, Mechanical, Radiation Effects, Logistics, etc.), Development and Specialty Engineers, Program Managers, and customers

• Strong familiarity with typical customer expectations related to space system function, performance, design practices, and verification practices (NASA, NOAA, DoD, IC, JPL, Universities, Commercial customers)

What makes you stand out

• Familiarity with Blue Canyon Technology products (e.g. Components, Spacecraft)


• 20+ years of experience in satellite design, development, test, launch, and operations


• Masters or PhD in engineering, physics, math, or related discipline


• Experience with both low and high budget space systems, including satellite payload development, mission systems engineering, and launch vehicles


• Familiar with spacecraft and spacecraft subsystem design across multiple orbital regimes


• A broad-based understanding of spacecraft and subsystem environment definition (radiation, structural loads, thermal, EMI/EMC, orbital debris, etc.) and qualification, acceptance, and proto-flight verification approaches

Working Conditions:

This job operates in a professional office environment, but in a manufacturing company. This role uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, scanners, filing cabinets and fax machines.  BCT anticipates the application window closing approximately 40 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require BCT to shorten or extend the application window.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time.  The employee is occasionally required to stand, bend, reach, and walk. The position requires some light physical effort. This would require the ability to lift or move objects up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift or move objects up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities are required by this job which includes close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Blue Canyon Technologies is a drug-free workplace and an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected factor. Colorado Residents:  In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation.  You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.  Blue Canyon Technologies is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Melissa Po at HR@bluecanyontech.com.