Spacecraft Electrical Power Subsystem (EPS) Lead Engineer

About the role

The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) is seeking a Spacecraft Electrical Power Subsystem (EPS) Lead Engineer for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA), a deep‑space mission launching in early 2028. The EPS design is mature and flight hardware is in integration and test. The role involves taking ownership of an established power subsystem through spacecraft assembly, integration, and test (AIT/I&T), launch, and mission operations, building on LASP’s experience with the Emirates Mars Mission.

Responsibilities

• Lead the electrical power subsystem team through spacecraft integration and test, launch, and early mission operations
• Serve as responsible engineer for the battery, power conditioning and distribution electronics, high‑voltage electric propulsion power electronics, and solar array electrical interfaces
• Plan and execute subsystem functional and performance tests, and support system‑level test campaigns, ground support equipment (GSE/EGSE) usage, and program level reviews
• Lead EPS troubleshooting and anomaly investigation and resolution during integration, test, and operations
• Finalize EPS command and telemetry definitions and develop EPS telemetry displays for integration, test, and operations
• Perform and oversee final pre‑launch power analyses and high‑fidelity power system simulations
• Develop and maintain operations power analysis tools and power models used for mission planning
• Author and maintain EPS user’s manuals, operator’s guides, flight rules, and other operations products
• Support mission simulations, launch operations, and cruise‑phase operations as the EPS subject matter expert
• Maintain EPS requirements verification status, technical budgets, and subsystem documentation
• Mentor junior engineers and students, including team members from an international partner
• Communicate subsystem status, risks, and performance to spacecraft leadership and at program reviews

Requirements

• BS in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field and 9+ years of relevant spacecraft experience
• Experience with spacecraft electrical power systems, including batteries, solar arrays, and power electronics
• Spacecraft assembly, integration, and test experience, including functional test execution and hardware troubleshooting
• Experience leading engineering tasks or small teams
• Strong written and verbal communication, including technical documentation and presentations at design and program reviews
• Team player, willing to contribute where needed to get the job done, yet also self‑motivated with minimal supervision on tasks
• Willingness to travel and work with international partners
• Due to US Export Control restrictions, only US Citizens and Permanent Residents may apply

Qualifications

• Mission operations experience, including console operations, flight rule development, mission simulations, or flight anomaly response
• Experience with lithium‑ion battery systems and photovoltaic power generation
• Experience with high‑voltage power electronics or solar‑electric propulsion systems
• Experience with spacecraft command and telemetry systems, ground support equipment, and test‑like‑you‑fly test programs
• Experience developing power system models and analysis tools in MATLAB and/or Python
• Experience working with hardware vendors and contracted development partners

Benefits