---
title: 'Systems Engineer, Payload Electronics & Integration at Turion Space'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/systems-engineer-payload-electronics-integration-turion-space-irvine-d8gyh1dryzfg'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-03'
---

# Systems Engineer, Payload Electronics & Integration at Turion Space

- **Company:** Turion Space
- **Location:** Irvine, CA
- **Compensation:** $125k–$175k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-10-30
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-03
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/turion-space/3974a7f3-b939-488f-a2fc-974eb86ae599

## Job description

Turion is developing the critical infrastructure of the space economy. We're doing this by building vertically integrated hardware and software: DROID, our line of space vehicles, and Starfire, our software suite covering simulation, modeling, planning, and operations. We're a group of people who fell in love with the future sci-fi promised us, and we're building it into reality. We build hard things. We build them well. And we're just getting started. We are seeking a Mid-Level Systems Engineer, Payload Electronics & Integration with strong hardware to software systems focus on integrated electronic payloads to join our team in Irvine, CA. In this role, you will ensure seamless system-level thinking across our entire payload stack. You will serve as the technical connective tissue for our payload team by interfacing directly with Electrical Engineering (EE), FPGA, and Firmware teams to define, integrate, and validate the complex electronic systems powering our next-generation technologies.

## Key Responsibilities

- Drive system-level thinking across integrated software, firmware, and electronics, ensuring payload architectures meet functional, performance and reliability requirements.
- Act as the primary technical bridge between the payload team and the EE, FPGA, and Firmware engineering disciplines to translate high-level system requirements into actionable hardware/software specifications.
- Document and manage Interface Control Documents (ICDs) for data links, power distribution and command/control telemetry.
- Collaborate, document, and track, hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing, board-level bring-up strategies, and payload integration test plans to validate and de-risk electronic subsystems early.
- Participate in interdisciplinary troubleshooting efforts to perform root cause analysis to diagnose complex anomalies occurring at the intersection of hardware, firmware, and software.

## Minimum Qualifications

- 3 to 6+ years of experience in systems engineering, electrical engineering, embedded systems, or a closely related multidisciplinary field.
- Proven ability to analyze systems past the component layer, with a deep understanding of how firmware architectures impact hardware performance and vice versa. Familiarity with Python, C/C++, or MATLAB for data analysis, hardware automation, or system modeling.
- Strong familiarity with embedded systems concepts, microcontrollers, FPGA development workflows and low-level firmware/software architectures. Experience with electro-optical (EO/IR) payloads, sensor integration, or camera systems.
- Working knowledge of digital electronics, power budgeting, and common communication protocols (e.g., SPI, I2C, UART, PCIe, Ethernet, or High-Speed SerDes).
- Exceptional communication and collaborative skills with a track record of translating complex concepts between pure hardware engineers and low-level software developers and providing status updates to stakeholders.
- Proficiency with systems engineering tracking tools (e.g., Jama, DOORS, Jira) to maintain clear traceability between high-level requirements and firmware/hardware specifications.

## Preferred Qualifications

- Experience working in aerospace, robotics, defense, or high-reliability consumer electronics.
- Experience with interfacing EE, FPGA, Firmware with optical hardware.
- Experience developing automated test scripts (e.g., Python, PyTest) or frameworks for hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) validation and continuous integration.
- Familiarity with Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) or embedded Linux architectures and their constraints on hardware resource allocation.
- Hands-on experience using high-speed oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and protocol analyzers to debug complex hardware-to-firmware communication boundaries.

Systems Engineer Salary Range: $$125,000 - $175,000 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.

Benefits: We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package designed to support the well-being and professional growth of our employees. In addition to a competitive base salary and company stock, determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, and market demand, full-time employees are eligible for:

- Equity: Receive equity in Turion Space, letting you benefit from the company's success
- Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their dependents.
- Retirement Plans: Access to a 401(k) plan with a 3% Employer Direct Contribution to help you plan for your future.
- Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, personal days, sick days, and holidays to ensure you have time to recharge.
- Parental Leave: Paid parental leave following the birth of a newborn or adoption.
- Emotional Wellbeing: A no-cost Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support you and your household’s emotional health and wellbeing.
- Professional Development: Opportunities for ongoing internal training, workshops, and courses to advance your skills and career growth.
- Team Building Activities: Regular social events, team outings, and company-sponsored activities to foster a positive work environment.

We are dedicated to providing a supportive and enriching environment for our team members, recognizing that our collective success is built upon the well-being and satisfaction of each individual. Turion Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Turion Space 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.

## About Turion Space

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Turion Space builds critical space infrastructure—an integrated platform of software, spacecraft, payloads, and mission command & control to enable space logistics, tactical space operations, and space domain awareness.
- **Entity Type**: Private (venture-backed, $112M+ total raised)
- **Headquarters**: Irvine, California, USA (also has an office in Washington, DC)
- **Founded**: 2021
- **Founders**: Not publicly disclosed

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Space infrastructure, space logistics, defense, space domain awareness, orbital servicing
- **Target customers**: Government and defense agencies (US Space Force, NASA, NRO, DARPA) and likely commercial satellite operators
- **Mission statement**: “For all of human history, space was the destination. Now it becomes the foundation. Turion builds critical space infrastructure: the systems that turn humanity’s dream of colonizing space into a reality.”

## Products & Services
Turion operates three core missions supported by an integrated platform:

- **Mission Software (Starfire core: PRISM & TMPL)**: End-to-end mission planning software that consolidates modeling & simulation, ground and flight software into a unified command & control platform. Already tested and in active use on orbit.
- **Payloads (Farsight, Beholder, Spectre)**: Self-developed, industry-leading imagery and sensing payloads for space domain awareness and reconnaissance.
- **Space Vehicles**: Maneuverable spacecraft proven in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), deploying soon to Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), designed for long-duration missions including orbital transport, refueling, and servicing.
- **Space Logistics**: Orbital transport, refueling, and servicing capabilities to make long-duration space operations sustainable and economically viable.
- **Tactical Space**: Highly maneuverable space missions, including rendezvous and proximity operations for objects across orbits, supporting space domain awareness and defensive operations.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly available
- **Key Metric – Total Funding**: $112M+ raised (seed round noted on website)
- **Key Growth Signal**: 276% year-over-year growth
- **Key Operational Metrics**: 200+ team members, 30+ government contracts, 29 months on orbit, 72k+ images captured, 21,256 (likely number of objects tracked or orbits logged)
- **Notable Customers/Partners**: US Space Force (USSF), NASA, National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), DARPA
- **Recent Milestones**: AUGUSTA contract awarded (2024–2025 timeline); Acquisition of Tychee Research Group (date not specified)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Integrated platform**: Software, spacecraft, payloads, and command & control designed and built as a cohesive system—drives reliability and mission success.
- **Proven in orbit**: Hardware already demonstrated in LEO with successful missions; expanding to GEO.
- **Deep government relationships**: 30+ government contracts with top-tier defense and space agencies.
- **Rapid growth**: 276% YoY growth signals strong product-market fit and scaling capability.
- **Maneuverability & logistics focus**: Differentiating capabilities in orbital transport, refueling, and servicing that most competitors are still developing.

## Strategic Focus
- Continue scaling hardware and software for orbital logistics and tactical space operations.
- Expand from LEO to GEO and beyond.
- Deepen partnerships with defense and intelligence agencies (USSF, NRO, DARPA).
- Grow the team rapidly (hiring across propulsion, avionics, GNC, software, and operations) to support increasing government contracts and commercial opportunities.

## Why Work Here
- **High-impact mission**: Directly contribute to building space infrastructure that enables human colonization of space.
- **Fast-growing startup**: 200+ employees with 276% YoY growth – a rapidly scaling environment.
- **Location**: Irvine, CA (HQ) and Washington, DC office. Likely hybrid/office presence (not specified but typical for defense space companies).
- **Engineering culture**: Hiring for propulsion, avionics, GNC, software, operations – deep technical challenges.
- **Veterans welcome**: Explicitly states “Veterans welcome” on careers page.
- **Diverse contract portfolio**: Work on projects for USSF, NASA, NRO, DARPA.
- **Perks**: Not detailed on the site, but typical of well-funded space startups (equity, competitive salary, meaningful roles).

## Sources
1. [turionspace.com](https://www.turionspace.com/) – Company overview, products, metrics, about page
2. [turionspace.com/careers](https://www.turionspace.com/careers) – Careers page
3. [linkedin.com/company/turion-space](https://www.linkedin.com/company/turion-space) – LinkedIn company profile
4. [tracxn.com](https://tracxn.com/d/companies/turionspace/__sGL_i7ZEjj-LWAjAObXwRaMIrfxPaEgL_JkGz9luChM) – Tracxn company profile (2026)

## Other roles at Turion Space

- [Spacecraft Integration Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/spacecraft-integration-engineer-turion-space-irvine-87k610jz08mz) — Irvine, CA
- [Mechanical Engineer II](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-ii-turion-space-irvine-5g901h0f0dwy) — Irvine, CA
- [Electrical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/electrical-engineer-turion-space-irvine-36yv647zc5y3) — Irvine, CA
- [Senior Propulsion Engineer, Cryogenic & Chemical Systems](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-propulsion-engineer-cryogenic-chemical-systems-turion-space-irvine-tt5xcjpnapx5) — Irvine, CA
- [Spacecraft Systems Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/spacecraft-systems-engineer-turion-space-irvine-7sedj6gtv3j0) — Irvine, CA
- [Vice President, Space Logistics](https://feeny.ai/job/vice-president-space-logistics-turion-space-irvine-qgknt6ed56ra) — Irvine, CA
- [GNC Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/gnc-engineer-turion-space-irvine-8fq865s62jf4) — Irvine, CA
- [Staff Ground Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-ground-software-engineer-turion-space-irvine-5k75xbpw4x9y) — Irvine, CA
- [Mission Architect, Tactical Space](https://feeny.ai/job/mission-architect-tactical-space-turion-space-ca-77v959157j38) — CA
- [Senior Mission Operations Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mission-operations-engineer-turion-space-irvine-fbwgmfs9evk0) — Irvine, CA