VP of Electrical Engineering (Aerospace/Defense)

Key Responsibilities

• Define the end-to-end electrical architecture: from power generation and storage (solar/batteries) to the main avionics compute hardware and RF communication systems.
• Develop the strategy for component selection, balancing high-performance modern electronics with the necessary radiation tolerance (TID, SEE) for deep space.
• Lead the transition from breadboard prototyping to flight-ready, space-qualified printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs).
• Directly execute and oversee schematic capture, PCB layout, and the manufacturing pipeline for all internal hardware.
• Drive the electrical integration of "Software-Defined" payloads, high-speed digital computing modules, and Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) sensors.
• Manage rigorous EMI/EMC (Electromagnetic Interference/Compatibility) design and thermal management strategies at the board level.
• Dual-Use & Reliability: Develop robust, fault-tolerant power distribution systems and redundancy protocols that allow the spacecraft to survive localized hardware failures. Apply these ruggedized hardware principles to terrestrial markets, such as automotive safety systems, deep-sea robotics, or remote industrial monitoring.
• Leadership & Team Building: Recruit and mentor a team of electrical engineers, PCB designers, RF specialists, and hardware test engineers (post-funding). Enforce rigorous hardware design, review, and manufacturing standards (e.g., IPC Class 3, NASA-STD-8739) appropriate for safety-critical systems.

Requirements

• Required Qualifications:
  • Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
  • Experience: 10+ years in electrical engineering with significant experience designing hardware for embedded systems, aerospace, or extreme environments.
  • Core Competency: Expert proficiency in ECAD tools (Altium, OrCAD, etc.), mixed-signal PCB design, power electronics, and avionics architecture.
  • Environment: Experience designing and shipping hardware for safety-critical or regulated industries (Space, Defense, Automotive, Medical, or Avionics).
  • Citizenship: U.S. citizen with active TS security clearance or clear eligibility to obtain one.
• Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience with radiation-tolerant design methodologies and testing (TID, SEL, SEU mitigation).
  • Background in RF engineering, antenna integration, or high-speed digital design for communications.
  • Familiarity with aerospace environmental testing campaigns (Thermal Vacuum [TVAC], vibration, shock).
  • Previous experience in a technical leadership role within a hardware-heavy startup.