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Payload Integration Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Seasats

Payload Integration Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$95K - $130K/yr

Payload Integration Engineer Location: San Diego, CA (in-office) Salary: $95,000 - $130,000 / yr + stock options, 401k matching, and other benefits Role Overview: Seasats' autonomous surface vehicles ...

Seasats

Payload Integration Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$95K - $130K/yr

Payload Integration Engineer Location: San Diego, CA (in-office) Salary: $95,000 - $130,000 / yr + stock options, 401k matching, and other benefits Role Overview: Seasats' autonomous surface vehicles ...

Seasats

Payload Integration Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$95K - $130K/yr

Payload Integration Engineer Location: San Diego, CA (in-office) Salary: $95,000 - $130,000 / yr + stock options, 401k matching, and other benefits Role Overview: Seasats' autonomous surface vehicles ...

Seasats

Payload Integration Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

Payload Integration Engineer Location: San Diego, CA (in-office) Salary: $95,000 - $130,000 / yr + stock options, 401k matching, and other benefits Role Overview: Seasats' autonomous surface vehicles ...

Rocket Lab

Payload Integration Engineer II

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$109.40K - $147.20K/yr

PAYLOAD INTEGRATION ENGINEER II Rocket Lab is seeking an experienced payload integration engineer with previous launch vehicle or spacecraft integration experience. This role will work under the ...

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Payload Integration Engineer information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Payload Integration Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Payload Integration Engineer, you need a solid background in aerospace or mechanical engineering, experience with systems integration, and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools, and industry standards such as NASA or ESA requirements, as well as certifications like EIT or PE, are often required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective collaboration and communication skills set top candidates apart. These competencies ensure that complex payloads are integrated safely and efficiently, meeting mission requirements and minimizing risks.

What are some common challenges Payload Integration Engineers face when coordinating with multiple teams during a satellite launch campaign?

Payload Integration Engineers frequently collaborate with cross-functional teams, including spacecraft engineering, mission operations, and launch providers. A common challenge is ensuring all payload requirements are met while aligning schedules and technical specifications across these groups. Effective communication and strong organizational skills are essential to anticipate and resolve integration issues, manage last-minute changes, and ensure safety and mission objectives are upheld. Successfully overcoming these challenges not only ensures a smooth launch but also fosters valuable experience in multidisciplinary teamwork.

What are Payload Integration Engineers?

Payload Integration Engineers are professionals responsible for ensuring that spacecraft payloads, such as satellites or scientific instruments, are properly designed, tested, and integrated with the launch vehicle. They coordinate between payload providers, launch vehicle teams, and mission planners to ensure compatibility and safe installation. Their work includes overseeing mechanical, electrical, and thermal interfaces, performing integration tests, and troubleshooting any issues that arise during the process. These engineers play a crucial role in successful space missions by ensuring payloads are delivered to orbit safely and efficiently.
What are popular job titles related to Payload Integration Engineer jobs in California? For Payload Integration Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Payload Integration Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Payload Integration Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Payload Integration Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Payload Integration Engineer job openings:
Payload Integration Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Payload Integration Engineer job openings in California as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution.
Payload Integration Engineer

Payload Integration Engineer

Seasats

San Diego, CA • On-site

$95K - $130K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 23 days ago

Job description

Role: Payload Integration Engineer
Location: San Diego, CA (in-office)
Salary: $95,000 - $130,000 / yr + stock options, 401k matching, and other benefits
Role Overview:
Seasats' autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) operate at sea for months at a time, carrying a wide variety of payloads. Ensuring those payloads are correctly integrated, tested, and documented is critical to every mission we run.
As a Payload Integration Engineer, you'll support the integration of payloads onto our vehicles. You'll work closely with engineers, the testing team, and cross-functional partners to help bring payloads from early development through testing and into production. This role is hands-on and detail-oriented, with an emphasis on learning, execution, and building repeatable processes.
Role Details:
You will be responsible for:
  • Conducting research and testing to evaluate payload capabilities
  • Understanding and in some cases designing electrical systems, components, and products
  • Working closely with the sales team to translate customers' system requirements into payload specifications
  • Coordinating with engineers to develop test hardware, wiring harnesses, mechanical interfaces, etc. to build and test payload integrations
  • Requirements management, system integration, test plan development, and test execution throughout a payload system's entire development, demonstration, and production phases
  • Developing test plans and documentation such as user manuals, integration guides and troubleshooting guides
  • Helping troubleshoot integration issues across electrical, software, and system boundaries
  • Supporting the transition of payloads from R&D into production, including test setup and data handling workflows
  • Serving as a technical point of contact for payload questions, with mentorship and support from electronics team members

About You:
You're an independent, proactive engineer who enjoys owning problems and seeing projects through. You like figuring out how things work, documenting what you learn, and improving processes over time. You have:
  • A Bachelor's degree or relevant coursework in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or a related field (or equivalent hands-on experience)
  • 3-5 years of experience building, assembling, or testing hardware systems (academic, personal, or professional)
  • Familiarity with PCBAs and basic electronics assembly or testing
  • Some programming experience in C or C++ (e.g., test scripts, simple tools, or embedded coursework)
  • Strong attention to detail and willingness to follow and improve documented procedures
  • Clear written and verbal communication skills

In addition, it's nice (though not essential) if you have:
  • Exposure to embedded systems, robotics, or autonomy platforms
  • Basic networking knowledge (e.g., static IPs, SSH, device setup)
  • Startup, research, or R&D team experience

About Seasats:
At Seasats, we're passionate about delivering maritime robotics solutions to redefine the maritime industry. Our primary products are autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs), designed to carry sensors at sea for months at a time. Our ASVs provide persistent monitoring and data acquisition to defense, scientific, and commercial customers, and have autonomously crossed both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. After thousands of years in which the only way to gather information from the ocean was to put people on a boat, these uncrewed vessels are transforming how humanity monitors and interacts with the ocean. Here, you'll find the space and opportunity to do your life's best work.
Along with your salary, you'll receive perks including:
  • Competitive insurance (including a 99% employer-covered Gold HMO plan or other options)
  • 401k matching up to 4% of salary
  • Four free lunches per week
  • An employee activity fund
  • A pet-friendly office
  • Unlimited/Flex PTO

Hiring Notes:
When applying, you'll be asked to provide a resume and answer a few screening questions.
Please note that we are currently unable to sponsor employment visas, so candidates must be independently authorized to work in the United States.
We appreciate diverse perspectives and life experiences, and we're committed to building a team that reflects a wide range of backgrounds. Seasats provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination of any type based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law.
We look forward to reviewing your application!

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