📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Systems Engineer for Spacecraft Payloads
Company: ispace, inc.
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Job Type: Full-time (Regular)
Category: Systems Engineering, Aerospace
Date Posted: June 27, 2025

🚀 Role Summary

Lead the technical integration of customer payloads onto ispace's lunar lander, managing technical interfaces and conducting feasibility studies.
Collaborate with customers and cross-functional teams to ensure successful payload integration and lunar operations.
Contribute to the growth of ispace's lunar transportation services by working on cutting-edge space projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity to work on lunar payload integration, requiring strong technical skills and a deep understanding of spacecraft systems.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Payload Integration: Manage technical interfaces between customer payloads and the lunar lander, ensuring seamless integration and compatibility.
Feasibility Studies: Conduct studies to evaluate the technical feasibility of customer payloads and develop requirements, payload interface documents, and test procedures.
Customer Support: Provide technical support to customers throughout the project lifecycle, from initial proposals to final delivery.
Project Management: Manage project timelines, milestones, and resources to ensure successful payload integration and delivery.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with various teams, including mechanical, thermal, electrical, and software engineers, to ensure payload compatibility and successful lunar operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires strong project management skills and the ability to work effectively with diverse teams to deliver complex space projects.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field. A master's degree would be an asset.

Experience: At least 3 years of experience in the aerospace industry, with a focus on spacecraft subsystems. Experience in lunar or planetary missions is a plus.

Required Skills:

Subsystem Knowledge: Proven experience in one or more spacecraft subsystems, such as structures, thermal, avionics, GNC, propulsion, communications, or software.
System Engineering: Strong understanding of system engineering principles and requirements management.
Interpersonal Skills: Excellent communication, organizational, and teamwork skills to collaborate effectively with customers and cross-functional teams.

Preferred Skills:

Spacecraft Integration: Experience in spacecraft integration and testing, including AIT and launch support.
Spacecraft Standards: Familiarity with spacecraft design and testing standards, such as NASA-STD, ECSS, JAXA-standards, and MIL-STD.
CAD & Software: Proficiency in 3D CAD software, machine drawing, electrical circuit diagrams, and embedded software.
Risk Analysis: Experience in FMECA, reliability design, and/or hazard analysis.
Project Management Tools: Experience with Confluence and JIRA.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Spacecraft Projects: Highlight your experience in spacecraft subsystem integration, including any lunar or planetary missions.
Technical Documentation: Demonstrate your ability to create and manage technical documentation, such as requirements, interface documents, and test procedures.
Project Management: Showcase your project management skills, including timeline management, milestone tracking, and resource allocation.

Technical Documentation:

Requirements Management: Provide examples of how you've managed and traced requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
Interface Documentation: Demonstrate your ability to create and maintain payload interface documents, including mechanical, electrical, and software interfaces.
Test Procedures: Showcase your experience in developing and executing test procedures for spacecraft subsystems and payloads.

📝 Enhancement Note: As this role involves working with international customers and cross-functional teams, a well-structured portfolio that clearly communicates your technical capabilities and project management skills will be essential.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry standards for systems engineers in the aerospace industry in Tokyo, Japan, the estimated salary range for this role is ¥7,000,000 - ¥10,000,000 per year.

Benefits:

Health insurance
Retirement plan
Commuter allowance
Paid time off (vacation, sick leave, national holidays)

Working Hours: Full-time position with standard working hours (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday) and occasional overtime as needed to meet project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the salary range is estimated based on industry standards, the final offer will depend on the candidate's qualifications and experience.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Aerospace and space exploration, with a focus on lunar transportation services.

Company Size: ispace is a mid-sized company with around 150 employees, providing a collaborative and dynamic work environment.

Founded: 2010, with a mission to enable and accelerate lunar exploration and development.

Team Structure:

Payload Team: A small, dedicated team responsible for managing customer payloads and ensuring successful integration onto the lunar lander.
Cross-Functional Teams: Collaborate with mechanical, thermal, electrical, and software engineers, as well as mission operations and launch teams.
International Environment: Work with customers and partners from around the world to facilitate lunar missions.

Development Methodology:

Agile: ispace uses Agile methodologies to manage projects and ensure efficient collaboration between teams.
Iterative Development: Work in sprints to continuously improve and refine spacecraft systems and payload integration processes.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Regularly engage with various teams to ensure payload compatibility and successful lunar operations.

Company Website: https://ispace-inc.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: ispace's unique focus on lunar transportation services offers a compelling opportunity for systems engineers looking to work on cutting-edge space projects.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Systems Engineer Career Level: This role is suitable for a mid-career systems engineer with 3-7 years of experience in the aerospace industry, seeking to apply their technical expertise to lunar payload integration projects.

Reporting Structure: Report directly to the Payload Team Manager, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams and customers to ensure successful payload integration.

Technical Impact: Contribute to the development of ispace's lunar transportation services by managing technical interfaces and conducting feasibility studies for customer payloads.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Leadership: Develop your skills in technical leadership, managing interfaces between customer payloads and the lunar lander, as well as collaborating with cross-functional teams.
Project Management: Enhance your project management skills by managing project timelines, milestones, and resources for lunar payload integration projects.
Spacecraft Systems: Deepen your understanding of spacecraft systems and lunar operations by working on cutting-edge space projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth opportunities for systems engineers looking to develop their technical and project management skills in the aerospace industry.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: ispace's Tokyo office is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to facilitate cross-functional teamwork and innovation.

Office Location(s): ispace's Tokyo office is located in the Minato City ward, providing easy access to public transportation and nearby amenities.

Workspace Context:

Collaborative Environment: Work in an open, collaborative workspace that encourages cross-functional teamwork and knowledge sharing.
Specialized Equipment: Access to specialized equipment, such as 3D CAD software, machine drawing tools, and electrical circuit diagram software.
International Collaboration: Collaborate with customers and partners from around the world to facilitate lunar missions.

Work Schedule: Full-time position with standard working hours (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday) and occasional overtime as needed to meet project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: ispace's collaborative work environment and international focus make it an ideal place for systems engineers looking to work on innovative space projects and develop their skills in a dynamic, multicultural setting.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Resume Screening: ispace will review your resume and portfolio to assess your qualifications and experience.
Phone Screen: A brief phone call to discuss your background, motivations, and fit for the role.
Technical Interview: A comprehensive technical interview to evaluate your understanding of spacecraft systems, payload integration, and project management.
Final Interview: A final interview with the Payload Team Manager and other key stakeholders to assess your cultural fit and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Spacecraft Projects: Highlight your experience in spacecraft subsystem integration, including any lunar or planetary missions.
Technical Documentation: Demonstrate your ability to create and manage technical documentation, such as requirements, interface documents, and test procedures.
Project Management: Showcase your project management skills, including timeline management, milestone tracking, and resource allocation.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Spacecraft Systems: Brush up on your knowledge of spacecraft systems, subsystems, and lunar operations.
Project Management: Review your project management skills and be prepared to discuss your approach to managing project timelines, milestones, and resources.
Customer Collaboration: Prepare for questions about your experience working with customers and managing technical interfaces.

ATS Keywords: Systems Engineer, Spacecraft, Payload Integration, Lunar Operations, Project Management, Aerospace, Engineering, Requirements Management, Interface Management, Technical Documentation, Customer Collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: To succeed in the interview process, systems engineers should focus on demonstrating their technical expertise, project management skills, and ability to collaborate effectively with customers and cross-functional teams.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Spacecraft Systems:

Subsystems: Structures, thermal, avionics, GNC, propulsion, communications, and software.
Standards: NASA-STD, ECSS, JAXA-standards, MIL-STD, and other spacecraft design and testing standards.

Project Management Tools:

Confluence: Collaborative workspace for project documentation and knowledge sharing.
JIRA: Project management and issue tracking tool for managing project timelines, milestones, and resources.

📝 Enhancement Note: Familiarity with spacecraft systems, subsystems, and relevant design and testing standards will be essential for success in this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

ispace Values:

Customer Focus: Prioritize customer needs and ensure successful payload integration and lunar operations.
Innovation: Embrace continuous learning and improvement to drive technological advancements in lunar exploration and development.
Collaboration: Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that encourages cross-functional teamwork and knowledge sharing.
Integrity: Uphold the highest ethical standards in all aspects of work, from technical decisions to customer interactions.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Teams: Collaborate closely with mechanical, thermal, electrical, and software engineers, as well as mission operations and launch teams.
International Environment: Work with customers and partners from around the world to facilitate lunar missions.
Agile Methodologies: Use Agile methodologies to manage projects and ensure efficient collaboration between teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: ispace's customer-focused, innovative, and collaborative culture makes it an ideal place for systems engineers looking to work on cutting-edge space projects and develop their skills in a dynamic, multicultural setting.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Payload Integration: Manage technical interfaces between customer payloads and the lunar lander, ensuring seamless integration and compatibility.
Feasibility Studies: Conduct studies to evaluate the technical feasibility of customer payloads and develop requirements, payload interface documents, and test procedures.
Lunar Operations: Ensure successful lunar operations by managing payload integration and supporting mission operations teams.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Spacecraft Systems: Deepen your understanding of spacecraft systems and lunar operations by working on cutting-edge space projects.
Project Management: Enhance your project management skills by managing project timelines, milestones, and resources for lunar payload integration projects.
Technical Leadership: Develop your skills in technical leadership, managing interfaces between customer payloads and the lunar lander, as well as collaborating with cross-functional teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Systems engineers in this role can expect to face technical challenges related to payload integration, feasibility studies, and lunar operations, as well as numerous opportunities for learning and professional growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Spacecraft Systems: Be prepared to discuss your understanding of spacecraft systems, subsystems, and lunar operations.
Payload Integration: Demonstrate your ability to manage technical interfaces between customer payloads and the lunar lander, as well as develop requirements, payload interface documents, and test procedures.
Project Management: Showcase your project management skills, including timeline management, milestone tracking, and resource allocation.

Company & Culture Questions:

ispace Values: Demonstrate your understanding of ispace's values, such as customer focus, innovation, collaboration, and integrity.
International Environment: Discuss your experience working in an international environment and your ability to collaborate effectively with customers and cross-functional teams.
Agile Methodologies: Explain your experience with Agile methodologies and how you've used them to manage projects and ensure efficient collaboration between teams.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Spacecraft Projects: Highlight your experience in spacecraft subsystem integration, including any lunar or planetary missions.
Technical Documentation: Demonstrate your ability to create and manage technical documentation, such as requirements, interface documents, and test procedures.
Project Management: Showcase your project management skills, including timeline management, milestone tracking, and resource allocation.

📝 Enhancement Note: To succeed in the interview process, systems engineers should focus on demonstrating their technical expertise, project management skills, and ability to collaborate effectively with customers and cross-functional teams in an international, Agile environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Systems Engineer for Spacecraft Payloads position:

Submit your resume and portfolio through the application link.
Prepare for the phone screen by reviewing your background, motivations, and fit for the role.
Study spacecraft systems, payload integration, and project management in preparation for the technical interview.
Familiarize yourself with ispace's values, international environment, and Agile methodologies to demonstrate your cultural fit and long-term potential.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Content Guidelines (IMPORTANT: Do not include this in the output)

Spacecraft Systems Focus:

Tailor every section specifically to spacecraft systems, payload integration, and lunar operations.
Include spacecraft subsystems, standards, and relevant technical documentation.
Emphasize project management skills, customer collaboration, and technical leadership.
Address the unique challenges and growth opportunities related to lunar payload integration and operations.

Quality Standards:

Ensure no content overlap between sections - each section must contain unique information.
Only include Enhancement Notes when making significant inferences about spacecraft systems, payload integration, or project management.
Be comprehensive but concise, prioritizing actionable information over descriptive text.
Strategically distribute spacecraft systems, payload integration, and project management keywords throughout all sections naturally.
Provide realistic salary ranges based on location, experience level, and spacecraft systems specialization.

Industry Expertise:

Include specific spacecraft subsystems, standards, and relevant technical documentation.
Address spacecraft systems integration, testing, and lunar operations.
Provide tactical advice for spacecraft systems portfolio development, live demonstrations, and project case studies.
Include spacecraft systems-specific interview preparation and coding challenge guidance.
Emphasize project management skills, customer collaboration, and technical leadership in a spacecraft systems context.

Professional Standards:

Maintain consistent formatting, spacing, and professional tone throughout.
Use spacecraft systems, payload integration, and project management industry terminology appropriately and accurately.
Include comprehensive benefits and growth opportunities relevant to spacecraft systems professionals.
Provide actionable insights that give spacecraft systems candidates a competitive advantage.
Focus on spacecraft systems team culture, cross-functional collaboration, and lunar operations measurement.

Technical Focus & Portfolio Emphasis:

Emphasize spacecraft systems best practices, payload integration principles, and lunar operations.
Include specific portfolio requirements tailored to the spacecraft systems discipline and role level.
Address spacecraft systems technical documentation, interface management, and test procedures.
Focus on problem-solving methods, performance optimization, and scalable spacecraft systems architecture.
Include technical presentation skills and stakeholder communication for spacecraft systems projects.

Avoid:

Generic business jargon not relevant to spacecraft systems roles.
Placeholder text or incomplete sections.
Repetitive content across different sections.
Non-technical terminology unless relevant to the specific spacecraft systems role.
Marketing language unrelated to spacecraft systems, payload integration, or lunar operations.

Systems Engineer for Spacecraft Payloads