Principal Avionics Systems Engineer

About the role

You will be the Responsible Engineer for system design, analysis, testing and integration of Avionics with specialized focus on spacecraft charging, radiation, EMI, and/or RF. You will have the unique opportunity to partner with a cross-functional team of engineers to make impactful architecture trades, design new spacecraft hardware, and characterize the overall Avionics System performance on some of the largest, most powerful satellites. You will help establish production test infrastructure and qualify the spacecraft for the demanding environments of MEO and GEO. In your first two years, you will have qualified hardware for flight, completed Avionics integration on the satellite bus, and flown your first spacecraft.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Responsible Engineer for Avionics system design, performance, and hardware across the computing, power system, instrumentation, RF components, GNC sensors, and harnessing on the satellite bus
• Collaborate closely within the cross-functional Engineering teams to capture requirements, lead design trades, and integrate the design into the spacecraft systems
• Create and update technical documentation including system diagrams, schematics, interface control documents, procedures, test/anomaly reports
• Execute Avionics component and system testing on flight hardware through development acceptance, qualification, and integration testing
• Support spacecraft integration testing, production issue dispositions, troubleshooting failures, and managing overall spacecraft risk
• Design, develop and build Avionics production infrastructure
• Write modular, reusable test, analysis, and automation software in Python and Rust
• Effectively manage and communicate project plan, milestones, and schedule execution

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering or any equivalent combination of education and experience
• 8+ years of experience in the architectural design, development, test, and integration of space-grade avionics systems
• Experience programmatically interfacing with hardware test automation and data analysis tasks
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and high-velocity start-up atmosphere
• Creative problem solver that can assess risk and make collaborative design and development decisions

Nice to Have

• Hands-on experience with environmental testing for space electronics and harnessing such as thermal, thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, radiation, and EMI/EMC testing per SMC-S-016
• Expertise with vehicle grounding architecture, spacecraft charging, EMI, and/or RF testing and compatibility
• Competence with electrical test equipment (multimeters, oscilloscopes, network analyzers, etc.)
• Strong presentation experience in highly technical design forums and reviews (Preliminary Design Reviews, Critical Design Reviews, Flight Readiness Reviews, etc.)
• Proficient with NX or similar CAD software including electrical harness routing
• Expertise in PCB schematic capture and board layout, ideally using Altium or similar software
• Experience with Linux, Bash, C++, MODBUS
• Experience with vehicle level testing including writing test procedures, creating robust and efficient test sequencing, and analytical data review to evaluate hardware health
• Familiarity with vehicle power analysis, flight software state machine structures, and communication systems

Pay

Base salary range for this role is $180,000 - $240,000 + equity in the company. Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Many other perks

If you don’t meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!

Export Compliance: The person hired for this role must be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license, as the role involves access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including ITAR.