--- title: 'Chief Engineer, Space Vehicles and Satellites at ispace, inc.' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/chief-engineer-space-vehicles-and-satellites-ispace-inc-englewood-cazzmbd9j1sd' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-08' --- # Chief Engineer, Space Vehicles and Satellites at ispace, inc. - **Company:** ispace, inc. - **Location:** Englewood, CO - **Compensation:** $180k–$270k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-07-16 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/ispace-inc/f1b2e5e6-7a56-4075-854c-fed0c953765c ## Job description At ispace U.S., we’re not just going to the Moon—we’re redefining how we get there. Our missions push the boundaries of human and robotic exploration, driven by our belief: “Expand our Planet. Expand our Future.” By providing cost-effective lunar transportation, we are pioneering a future where space is within reach for scientific discovery, commercial ventures, and sustainable exploration. With locations in Japan, Luxembourg, and the United States, ispace is rapidly growing and leading the way in lunar exploration and development. Our U.S. branch is based in Englewood, Colorado, and focuses on high-capacity payload lunar landers designed to support future lunar missions. Our team is made up of innovators, problem-solvers, and visionaries committed to making space more accessible and fostering the next generation of space exploration. Let’s go to the Moon together! Our team is growing, and we are actively seeking talented individuals who share our passion for space. ## Key Responsibilities - Serve as the company's technical design authority and systems subject matter expert for a series of spacecraft, satellites/buses, and component-level space flight hardware - Establish vehicle performance requirements, spacecraft architecture, and configurations, and assess vehicle readiness level - Maintain an in-depth understanding of innovations in spacecraft design and development to ensure ispace remains cutting edge - Identify common challenges across program teams and facilitate collaboration to ensure technical topics are addressed robustly and consistently - Own the process for technical reviews, working to continuously improve product performance and reliability - Facilitate capture of technical lessons learned and ensure processes and design guidance tailored from industry meet best practices - Assure appropriate configuration control and documentation of the spacecraft and all technical content - Provide accountability for technical risk, system modeling and simulations, system performance, system architecture, and trade studies - Collaborate with software, hardware, supply chain, and integration teams - Take extreme ownership of the project, driving from concept through integration and launch - Collaborate with business development as a technical resource for capture pursuits ## Basic Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent - 12+ years of spacecraft design, systems engineering, or other relevant space mission experience, including at least 5 years in a technical leadership role - Thorough understanding of the full design lifecycle, including requirements, V&V, ICDs, CONOPS, design integration, test, and sustainability - Advanced knowledge of industry best practices and fundamentals of spacecraft design, construction, testing, and operations - Ability to quickly grasp technical concepts and understand complex technical and program interdependencies - Strategic mindset with the ability to link technology to business - Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across the organization and convey decisions, direction, and results clearly - Direct experience with satellite and/or spacecraft bus design, systems engineering, or integration, in addition to broader spacecraft experience - Demonstrated ability to build rapport across the team, globally, and with customers, and to work effectively across different cultures - Must be willing to travel internationally What Will Make You Stand Out - Master's or PhD in Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent - Previously served as Chief Engineer on a space program - ## Experience working on government or military programs - ## Experience with contract and supplier technical negotiations - Rapid prototyping experience - Knowledge of integrated software/hardware verification and test - Proficiency in Solidworks, Femap, NASTRAN (or equivalent), Confluence, and JIRA - ## Experience with complex spacecraft design and integration At ispace, we believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences, even if you don’t meet every listed requirement. If you’re passionate about our mission and think you can contribute, we encourage you to apply. Your unique skills and experiences may be exactly what we need to grow and succeed together. To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR .here. ispace is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with ispace is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status. All applicants who are offered employment with ispace US will be subject to a background investigation. Offers of employment are contingent on the successful completion of a background investigation conducted in accordance with Company policies and all applicable laws. ispace Technologies, US, Inc. is a drug-free workplace. ispace Technologies, US, Inc. participates in the E-Verify program. ## About ispace, inc. ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: ispace is a global lunar exploration company developing high-frequency, low-cost transportation services to the Moon and building the foundation for a sustainable cislunar economy. - **Entity Type**: Public (listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2023) - **Headquarters**: Tokyo, Japan (with offices in Denver, Colorado, USA and Luxembourg) - **Founded**: September 2010 - **Founders**: Takeshi Hakamada (Founder & CEO) ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Space exploration / Lunar transportation services - **Target customers**: B2B (space agencies, commercial payload operators, research organizations) - **Mission**: “Extend the sphere of human life into space and create a sustainable world by providing high-frequency, low-cost transportation services to the Moon.” ## Products & Services - **Lunar Lander Missions**: ispace designs, builds and operates robotic lunar landers. Current missions include “Mission 2.5” and the upcoming “Mission 3” featuring the new larger ULTRA lander. - **Payload Development & Integration**: Offers payload hosting and development services for lunar orbiting and landing missions. - **Lunar Surface Data**: Sale and survey of Moon surface data for research and commercial use. - **Space Resource R&D**: Research and development focused on utilizing lunar water resources. - **Marketing Support**: Supports space content industries with marketing services related to lunar activities. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed in provided sources (publicly listed, market cap fluctuates) - **Key Metric**: Total funding record – raised a record 10.35 billion yen in Series A in 2017 (private round). As a public company, revenue is reported but not listed in these materials. - **Notable Investors/Partners**: The company evolved from Team HAKUTO, a finalist in the Google Lunar XPRIZE. Global presence includes ispace technologies U.S. inc. and ispace Europe SA. - **Growth Signals**: - 317 employees as of March 31, 2025 - First Japanese space company to list on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (2023) - Multiple missions in the pipeline (Mission 2.5, Mission 3 with ULTRA lander) - Global offices in Japan, USA, and Luxembourg ## Competitive Advantages - **Early mover in commercial lunar services**: One of the few private companies with flight heritage (first mission launched in 2022). - **End‑to‑end lunar transportation**: Offers landers, payload integration, and data services – a vertically integrated lunar logistics provider. - **Global footprint**: Engineering and business presence across three continents enables access to diverse customers and talent. - **Heritage from Google Lunar XPRIZE**: Team HAKUTO experience provides technical and operational credibility. ## Strategic Focus ispace is focused on achieving high‑frequency, low‑cost lunar transportation to construct an Earth‑Moon economic zone. Key priorities include: - Launching Mission 2.5 and the larger ULTRA lander on Mission 3 - Developing space resource utilization (especially water on the Moon) - Expanding payload and data services to support a growing cislunar infrastructure - Scaling globally through its offices in Japan, the US, and Europe ## Why Work Here - **Diverse, inclusive culture**: As of December 2025, ispace reports ~24% non‑Japanese nationality and ~45% Japanese nationality, reflecting a commitment to global diversity. - **Mission‑driven team**: “Driven by a shared passion, our Crew of engineers, scientists and experts are shaping the future of space.” - **Work options**: Roles range from on‑site (Tokyo, Denver, Luxembourg) to hybrid (Tokyo CFO Office). Engineering roles include R&D, propulsion, GNC, and spacecraft systems. - **Fast‑growing organization**: 317 employees and growing, with a clear trajectory of missions and revenue expansion. - **Perks & culture**: Emphasis on inclusive hiring, professional development, and equitable pay; “true innovation comes when diverse viewpoints collaborate as equals.” ## Sources 1. [ispace Home Page](https://www.ispace-inc.com/) 2. [About Us – ispace](https://2022.ispace-inc.com/aboutus) 3. [Careers – ispace](https://www.ispace-inc.com/careers/) 4. [Career Overview – ispace](https://www.ispace-inc.com/career-overview/) 5. [Open Positions – ispace (Lever)](https://jobs.lever.co/ispace-inc) ## Other roles at ispace, inc. - [Cultural Development Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/cultural-development-specialist-ispace-inc-tokyo-drggmdfvwqbg) — Tokyo, Japan - [Senior Embedded Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-embedded-software-engineer-ispace-inc-tokyo-fgwwc6e7napr) — Tokyo, Japan - [Embedded Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/embedded-software-engineer-ispace-inc-tokyo-394fqkcg0qvq) — Tokyo, Japan - [Deputy Project Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/deputy-project-manager-ispace-inc-luxembourg-r3wpz7zd06m4) — Luxembourg - [Product Assurance Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/product-assurance-engineer-ispace-inc-luxembourg-a3dw8z8f5578) — Luxembourg - [General Affairs & Executive Assistant](https://feeny.ai/job/general-affairs-executive-assistant-ispace-inc-luxembourg-28h1mht11hn3) — Luxembourg - [Senior Consolidated Accounting Officer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-consolidated-accounting-officer-ispace-inc-tokyo-0caghgk0q9nb) — Tokyo, Japan - [IT Analyst – Engineering Applications](https://feeny.ai/job/it-analyst-engineering-applications-ispace-inc-tokyo-6c9zbr1bn06v) — Tokyo, Japan - [Legal Counsel](https://feeny.ai/job/legal-counsel-ispace-inc-englewood-7v2q6j9mczb6) — Englewood, CO - [Structural Analysis Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/structural-analysis-engineer-ispace-inc-tokyo-y3t1v37s4jxf) — Tokyo, Japan