Program Chief Engineer

Job description

**At [Kepler Communications](https://kepler.space/), we're not just imagining the future of on-demand space connectivity - *we're leading it!*** Our mission is to provide real-time on-orbit connectivity for critical missions, enabling a new era of data-driven intelligence and innovation. With **33 satellites launched to date,** Kepler operates the first commercial optical data relay constellation, enabling real-time, continuous space communications while supporting advanced on-orbit compute and hosted payload capabilities. Industry-leading technology is only part of the story. **What sets Kepler apart is our team:** bold thinkers, skilled builders, and passionate problem-solvers who thrive on pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space. We believe great ideas come from diverse perspectives, and we’re committed to creating an environment where you can grow, lead, and make a global impact. If you’re ready to reach higher, move faster, and do work that shapes the future space economy - this is your launchpad. **Come build the future with Kepler!** **What We Offer:** **\* Competitive compensation** with a robust equity plan to share in our success. **\* Comprehensive coverage for health, dental, and vision insurance**—including dependents. **\* Unlimited vacation, supportive parental leave policy,** and company-wide holiday shutdown. **\* Semi-annual company-wide parties** and frequent in-office team events. **\* Relocation packages** available for approved roles. **\* $1,500 annual professional development fund** to support your growth. **\* Fully stocked Toronto office kitchen** with snacks, drinks, games and top-notch kitchen appliances. **\* Town Halls, Celebration Calls, and Company-wide events** to stay connected and engaged. **\* We’re a certified [Great Place to Work](https://www.greatplacetowork.ca/en/certification-menu/certified-organizations-updated#certified-organizations2/view-sub-list-details70/5f3438830d6f2900170827a4/)**®, seven years in a row! As the **Program Chief Engineer**, you are the senior technical authority for the spacecraft program and the single point of technical accountability for mission success. Reporting directly to the Senior Director of Satellite Systems, you provide technical leadership across all engineering disciplines to ensure the spacecraft is designed, built, verified, and operated as an integrated system. You establish the technical direction, drive engineering execution, make timely decisions, conduct rigorous technical reviews, and communicate effectively with engineering teams, executive leadership, customers, and suppliers. The Chief Engineer is accountable for the overall technical success of the mission. You are responsible for maintaining technical integrity, driving engineering progress, ensuring design maturity, balancing performance, reliability, cost, schedule, manufacturability, and mission risk, and delivering flight-ready spacecraft that enable successful mission execution. ### Key Responsibilities: - Please note: Though this role provides a Hybrid flexibility, it will require an on-site work presence at Kepler's Toronto HQ **Technical Leadership:** - Provide technical leadership across Systems, Software, Electrical, Mechanical, RF, GNC, Payload, AIT, Manufacturing, Operations, and Product Assurance - Drive engineering convergence toward a technically coherent spacecraft - Ensure engineering activities remain aligned with mission objectives **Engineering Execution:** - Drive engineering progress and maintain technical momentum - Identify and remove technical roadblocks - Ensure timely technical decision-making and accountability across engineering disciplines **Design Reviews & Technical Oversight:** - Lead rigorous technical reviews across all spacecraft subsystems - Challenge assumptions, analyses, margins, interfaces, and verification evidence - Lead design reviews, anomaly reviews, and readiness reviews **Decision Making:** - Make timely, evidence-based technical decisions - Balance performance, cost, schedule, manufacturability, reliability, and mission risk - Remove technical barriers or blockers to maintain engineering momentum **Communication & Alignment:** - Communicate technical direction clearly and consistently across the engineering organization - Translate complex technical issues into concise recommendations for executive leadership - Represent Engineering during customer reviews, supplier meetings, executive briefings, and governance boards - Ensure decisions, assumptions, risks, and actions are clearly documented and communicated - Build alignment across Engineering, Program Management, Product Assurance, Manufacturing, Operations, and executive leadership **Engineering Excellence:** - Mentor senior engineers and future technical leaders - Continuously raise the standard of technical rigor, engineering reviews, and engineering excellence - Drive continuous improvement, platform standardization, and lessons learned ### Required Skills & Qualifications: - Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline - 15+ years of experience developing complex spacecraft or aerospace systems - Experience serving as the technical authority or senior technical leader for at least one spacecraft development program - Extensive knowledge of spacecraft architecture, integration, verification, manufacturing, qualification, launch, and mission operations - Exceptional technical judgment, communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills ### Bonus Points: - Chief Engineer, Deputy Chief Engineer, or equivalent technical leadership experience - Constellation or multi-spacecraft program experience - Experience across multiple spacecraft disciplines - Mission assurance, Integration and test campaign, launch campaign, and on-orbit operations experience - Experience driving engineering standardization and AI-enabled engineering workflows