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Payload Integration Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Ventus Solutions

Integration Engineer

Newport, RI

$104K - $140K/yr

You will possess strong technical expertise supporting submarine combat systems, payload integration efforts, systems engineering activities, and future capability development initiatives. In this ...

Ventus Solutions

Integration Engineer

Newport, RI

$104K - $140K/yr

You will possess strong technical expertise supporting submarine combat systems, payload integration efforts, systems engineering activities, and future capability development initiatives. In this ...

Ventus Solutions

Integration Engineer

Newport, RI · On-site

$104K - $140K/yr

You will possess strong technical expertise supporting submarine combat systems, payload integration efforts, systems engineering activities, and future capability development initiatives. In this ...

Apex

Senior Mission Integration Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$140K - $190K/yr

These buses hold the payloads of our customers and are flown on launch vehicles. Apex manufactures ... The Senior Mission Integration Engineer is also responsible for acting as a generalist across our ...

Heven AeroTech

UAS Integration Engineer

Winchester, VA · On-site

$101K - $136K/yr

UAS Integration Engineer Company: Heven AeroTech Location: Winchester, Virginia FLSA: Exempt About ... Perform hands-on mechanical and electrical integration of UAS subsystems including payload ...

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Payload Integration Engineer information

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$44.5K

$124.3K

$173.5K

How much do payload integration engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for payload integration engineer in the United States is $124,275.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,000.00 and $140,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a payload integration engineer?

A payload integration engineer is responsible for designing, testing, and implementing the integration of payloads—such as sensors, instruments, or equipment—into aerospace or defense systems. They work closely with systems engineers and use tools like CAD software and testing facilities to ensure payloads function correctly within the overall system, often requiring knowledge of electrical, mechanical, and software engineering. The role typically involves troubleshooting, documentation, and adherence to safety and quality standards.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior Payload Integration Engineers in aerospace, defense, or high-tech industries can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills, and advanced certifications. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, particularly in large companies or executive roles.

How much does a payload systems engineer make at NASA?

A payload systems engineer at NASA typically earns between $80,000 and $130,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and location. Salaries may also include benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans, and the role often requires knowledge of systems integration, testing, and aerospace standards.

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 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 does a payload engineer do?

A payload integration engineer designs, tests, and manages the installation of payloads such as scientific instruments, sensors, or communication equipment onto spacecraft, aircraft, or other vehicles. They ensure payloads meet technical specifications, are properly integrated with the host system, and function correctly in the operational environment, often using tools like CAD software and following safety standards. This role requires strong technical skills, attention to detail, and knowledge of aerospace or related engineering fields.
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Payload Integration Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Payload Integration Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 25% Full Time, and 75% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $124,275 per year, or $59.7 per hour.
Director of Mission Products & Payload Integration

Director of Mission Products & Payload Integration

Inversion

Vista, CA • On-site

$238K - $249K/yr

Full-time

Posted 28 days ago

Job description

Turning Space into a Transportation Layer for Earth
Who We Are:
Inversion builds advanced reentry systems to deliver next-generation capabilities from space.
Our mission is to make Earth radically more accessible by turning Low-Earth Orbit into an on-demand logistics domain. We see space not as a destination, but as a platform - one that unlocks unprecedented speed and global reach.
Our spacecraft are designed to deliver payloads anywhere on Earth in under an hour, operating through extreme reentry conditions and landing with high precision. These systems open the door to new ways of testing, delivering, and operating at hypersonic speeds.
Inherently dual-use, our technology is built to meet urgent national security needs while laying the groundwork for future commercial applications. Backed by leading investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, and working with partners such as the U.S. Space Force and NASA, Inversion is pushing the boundaries of what's possible in space-based defense and logistics.
Position Overview:
We're looking for a Director or Senior Director of Mission Products & Payload Integration to lead this new organization. You'll sit at the intersection of engineering, product, mission design, and customer needs - defining and building the technical products that make Arc valuable: payload bay architectures, mounting solutions, trajectory and mission design offerings, and the avionics and software interfaces that make payload integration seamless.
This is a strategic and hands-on leadership role. The ideal candidate combines deep aerospace engineering judgment with strong product instincts, customer empathy, and the ability to lead high-performing teams. You should have a strong sense for what hypersonic test customers, defense customers, and advanced payload developers will want to fly - and how their payloads need to interface mechanically, electrically, thermally, and digitally with Arc.
Key Responsibilities:
Product & Roadmap Leadership
  • Define and own the technical roadmap for Arc's mission product layer - payload integration, mission design, and customer-facing capabilities
  • Identify new product opportunities driven by customer demand across hypersonic testing, defense, space systems, materials, sensors, communications, and other advanced aerospace fields
  • Drive roadmap execution through engineering, from concept through flight

Payload Bay & Accommodation
  • Own Arc's payload bay design strategy and accommodation approach
  • Define standard payload envelopes, mounting solutions, modular interface concepts, and environmental constraints
  • Develop separation and deployment options and customer-specific integration approaches
  • Partner with vehicle engineering to translate customer needs into robust, manufacturable, flight-ready interfaces

Mission Design & Analysis
  • Lead development of customer-facing mission design capabilities: trajectory design, mission analysis, flight environment characterization, launch vehicle integration, and CONOPS development
  • Collaborate across GNC, flight software, avionics, structures, thermal, propulsion, recovery, business development, and program teams

Payload Interface Ecosystem
  • Define the avionics, software, data, and customer interface ecosystem that enables efficient payload integration
  • Deliver payload electrical interfaces, command and data handling, and telemetry access
  • Build mission planning tools, software APIs, test equipment, integration documentation, and customer onboarding workflows

Customer Engagement
  • Serve as one of Arc's primary technical voices with customers - communicating capabilities, shaping mission concepts, and advancing customer objectives
  • Work directly with business development to identify patterns across customer payloads and translate them into scalable product offerings

Team Building & Leadership
  • Recruit, manage, and develop a multidisciplinary team owning mission products end-to-end
  • Team may include mission designers, systems engineers, payload integration engineers, mechanical engineers, avionics/software interface engineers, and technical product leads
  • Set technical direction, manage priorities, and build a culture of creativity, accountability, and excellence

Required Qualifications:
  • 10+ years of applicable experience
  • Deep aerospace engineering background across spacecraft, launch vehicles, reentry vehicles, missiles, hypersonics, aircraft, or advanced defense systems
  • Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams through complex product development, system integration, test, and flight operations
  • Experience with payload integration, mission design, systems engineering, avionics or mechanical interfaces, launch integration, or flight test programs
  • Technical depth to make sound architectural decisions across mechanical, electrical, software, thermal, GNC, trajectory, and operational domains
  • Strong product instincts - ability to turn ambiguous customer needs into clean, repeatable technical offerings
  • Understanding of how aerospace customers think about payloads, test objectives, mission assurance, flight environments, data collection, and integration risk
  • Excellent communication skills, especially translating complex engineering into clear customer-facing options

Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in office presence.
The California annual base salary for this role is currently $180,000 - 260,000. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education and experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.
ITAR Compliance:
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.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
Inversion provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or disability.
Inversion collects and processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws. If you are a US Job Applicant see the CCPA Privacy Policy Noticefor further details.

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