Systems Engineering Team Lead
Key Skills
Job Description
The Systems Engineering (SE) team at ISISPACE handles the satellite-level engineering of our missions across the full lifecycle — from mission definition and proposal development through design, integration, verification, delivery, and in-orbit operations. The team translates customer and mission requirements into system requirements and maintains them throughout the project. As core members of the project team, Systems Engineers work closely with the Project Manager and Product Assurance, coordinating technical activities across disciplines and managing system-level interfaces to ensure the complete satellite meets its mission objectives. During the proposal phase, the team also supports Sales with technical input, feasibility assessments, and preliminary system concepts. We are looking for a Team Lead who ensures that the SE team is well organised, supported, and able to deliver high-quality engineering work, while creating an inspiring, healthy team environment with open communication lines. If required, Team Leads may also contribute to discipline-specific work alongside their team members. Specific tasks and responsibilities include: Strategic Alignment & Planning Translate department goals and initiatives into clear team objectives and plans. Define priorities, expected results, and assign team members to projects based on needs, competencies, and capacity. Support resource planning in coordination with internal stakeholders. Ensure the team develops the technical expertise and capacity needed to support current and future project requirements. Team Leadership & Development Lead and coordinate the day-to-day activities of the Systems Engineering team. Provide professional guidance, mentorship, and support to team members. Monitor progress, address issues, and escalate where necessary. Conduct performance reviews and identify development and training needs in alignment with management. Encourage knowledge sharing and the continuous development of technical expertise within the team. Process & Compliance Develop, implement, and maintain team processes and improvements in alignment with company and department initiatives. Ensure team processes are documented and adhered to. Coordinate process improvements with other stakeholders, teams, and departments. Ensure team members comply with applicable processes, standards, rules, and regulations, and address deviations. Promote consistent systems engineering practices across projects, including requirements management, system architecture, interface management, and verification and validation. Collaboration & Culture Facilitate effective collaboration with internal stakeholders. Promote a positive, professional, and supportive team environment. Support recruitment and onboarding where applicable. Encourage cross-functional knowledge sharing and alignment of technical activities with overall satellite system requirements. Degree in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field. Previous professional experience in systems engineering for space systems or satellite projects. Minimum 4 years of proven experience in a leadership or team management role. Good understanding of satellite systems engineering, mission requirements and system architecture. Experience with requirements engineering, system interfaces and cross-disciplinary technical coordination. Understanding of systems engineering throughout the mission lifecycle, including design, integration, verification and validation. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to guide, mentor, and collaborate effectively. Ability to translate strategic goals into actionable team objectives. Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills. Proficiency in monitoring progress, addressing issues, and ensuring compliance with processes and regulations. Strong organizational and coordination skills to manage day-to-day activities and long-term initiatives.
Core Responsibilities
Lead and develop the Systems Engineering team, translating department goals into team plans, assigning work, supporting resource planning, and monitoring progress. Maintain effective engineering processes and compliance while coordinating technical activities and interfaces across disciplines throughout the satellite mission lifecycle.
Requirements
A degree in aerospace, systems, mechanical, electrical, or a related engineering field is required, along with professional systems engineering experience on space or satellite projects and at least four years in a leadership or team management role. Candidates should understand satellite systems, requirements, architecture, interfaces, and lifecycle verification, and demonstrate strong communication, organizational, coordination, and decision-making skills.
About ISISPACE Group
Industry: Defense and Space Manufacturing
Company size: 51-200 employees
ISISPACE Group is a vertically integrated small satellite company, focused on providing high value, cost-effective space solutions by making use of the latest innovative technologies. As one of Europe’s leaders in the nanosatellite domain, ISISPACE offers small satellite missions for a broad range of customers and applications with a strong focus on in-orbit testing, climate action and security. In addition, ISISPACE provides a select range of its products and services for third-party satellite developers, including satellite power systems, launch equipment and rideshare launch services. Headquartered in the Netherlands, ISISPACE Group employs about 100 specialist employees with a background in space technology and engineering and the company operates from two different sites in the Netherlands (Delft) and South Africa (Somerset West). The company’s core competencies lie in the application of space systems engineering in combination with an expertise in the following technical areas: radiofrequency systems and payloads, deployable systems and hold-down and release mechanisms, attitude determination systems, and embedded systems. We are growing and looking for people. If you are interested to join our team, please check out our vacancies at https://www.isispace.nl/careers.