Space Mission Architect, D2D Communications

The world still has coverage blind spots. You could help eliminate them at Skylo.

Skylo has pioneered a standards-based approach to satellite connectivity. We connect smartphones and IoT devices directly to satellites. No special hardware no entirely new networks. Just billions of existing devices suddenly reachable anywhere on Earth. Were not building toward this future. Were already in it.

Our direct-to-device service is live on millions of activated devices across five continents covering more than 72 million square kilometers in partnership with leading satellite operators mobile network operators Tier-1 chipset makers and OEMs worldwide. And were just getting started.

At the heart of it all is Skylos commercial NTN vRAN: a 3GPP standards-based cloud-native platform that seamlessly bridges terrestrial and satellite networks. Its the infrastructure that makes true anywhere anytime connectivity possible.

When you join Skylo youll work at the intersection of three markets reshaping how the world stays connected: mass-market consumer devices automotive and industrial IoT. Enabling people outdoors and critical workflows in the worlds most remote places.

This is a rare chance to work on technology that matters at a company thats already proving it works

About Skylo

Skylo is a global Non-Terrestrial Network service provider based in Mountain View CA offering a service that allows smartphone and IoT cellular devices to connect directly over existing satellites. Skylos direct-to-device service is now live on millions of activated devices across five continents with more than 60 million square kilometers of coverage in partnership with multiple satellite operators mobile network operators (MNOs) Tier-1 chipset makers and OEMs. Devices connected over satellite are managed and served by Skylos commercial NTN vRAN featuring a 3GPP standards-based cloud-native base station and core. Skylo provides an anywhere anytime connectivity solution that seamlessly roams between terrestrial and satellite networks. Our focus is on enabling connected services for people outdoors and connected workflows across three main verticals: mass-market consumer devices automotive and industrial IoT.

This role can be performed remotely with a preference for candidates located in Mountain View CA where we are onsite three days per week.

Summary Of How You Will Impact Skylo

Skylo is hiring a Space Mission Architect for our nextgeneration DirecttoDevice (D2D) / DirecttoCell LEO constellation owning the endtoend space segment architecture from concept through onorbit operations. This role is highly crossfunctional and ideal for a selfstarter who can move between highlevel constellation design and detailed payload and spacecraft integration in a fastmoving startup.

Remote - U.S

How You Will Contribute

• Architect an advanced D2D communications mission including constellation geometry coverage strategies link budgets and overall system performance allocations.

• Define and maintain missionlevel requirements CONOPS and interfaces across space ground and user segments for a dualuse (commercial and government) communications system.

• Lead constellationlevel trade studies (orbit design platform selection launch strategy intersat links spectrum use) to optimize capacity resiliency and cost.

• Drive the architecture requirements and integration approach for advanced communications payloads (RF digital and associated processing) ensuring they meet mission KPIs.

• Work closely with spacecraft design and manufacturing teams to ensure the LEO platform supports mission payload and production needs at scale.

• Own endtoend mission performance modeling and simulation including link analysis capacity modeling and coverage simulations.

• Partner with ground systems network and product teams to translate userlevel service requirements into systemlevel design and test criteria.

• Support system integration environmental test campaigns and onorbit validation including troubleshooting and rootcause analysis at the constellation level.

• Contribute to technical roadmap proposals and customer engagements with government and commercial partners clearly articulating architecture choices and tradeoffs.

• Champion a build fast learn fast culture mentoring engineers and helping establish best practices in mission and systems engineering.

What We Look For

• Significant experience in space mission architecture or space systems engineering with a focus on LEO communications constellations or similar complex space systems.

• Bachelors degree in aerospace engineering electrical engineering physics or related field; advanced degree preferred or equivalent experience.

• Handson experience in spacecraft design and manufacturing preferably with small satellites or LEO platforms.

• Direct experience with communications payload development and/or integration (e.g. cellular broadband RF SDR or similar advanced comms systems).

• Strong skills in mission and systemlevel modeling and analysis (e.g. link budgets constellation coverage performance simulations).

• Demonstrated ability to define and manage missionlevel requirements CONOPS and interface control across multidisciplinary teams.

• Track record of thriving in ambiguous fastpaced environmentsselfstarter comfortable taking ownership and driving decisions with imperfect information.

• Excellent communication skills able to work across hardware software product and business stakeholders.

• Every role at Skylo uses AI tools daily to amplify output. We expect active habits using AI tools and a track record of folding new ones into your workflow quickly

Security and eligibility

• U.S. person (citizen or permanent resident) required due to export control and government customer requirements.

• Ability and willingness to obtain and maintain a TSlevel clearance.
  
  

What We Offer

With employees working across three continents Skylo is proud to be an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. Our worldwide and inclusive culture encourages a flexible approach to work and we also offer an attractive range benefits such as:

• Competitive compensation packages including a stock option based equity program

• Comprehensive benefits including medical dental vision retirement plan

• Monthly allowances for wellness and education reimbursement

• A generous time off policy holidays and the opportunity to temporarily work abroad

• Once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of developing and running worlds first commercial live direct-to-device satellite network and service

• Access to world-class team and talent across tech domains: software hardware chipsets telecom satellite and network virtualization

• Open transparent inclusive culture that blends the Silicon Valley Nordic and South Asia characteristics

Additional information

The compensation range for this position is: $255000 - $270000. This range reflects the low and high end of the range Skylo reasonably and generally expects to pay the hired candidate in this role.

EEO Statement
Skylo is an equal-opportunity employer and we celebrate diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race religion color ancestry national origin caste sex sexual orientation parent or caregiver status political affiliation gender gender identity or expression age disability medical condition pregnancy genetic makeup marital status or military service consistent with applicable federal state and local laws.

We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. Please let us know if you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability.

Required Experience:

Staff IC