Avionics Engineer

Darwin Recruitment; City Of London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative space technology firm in London is seeking an experienced Avionics Engineer to handle PCB design and system-level debugging. You will work closely with mechanical, systems, and software teams to ensure seamless hardware integration. The ideal candidate has a BEng/MEng in Electrical Engineering and strong expertise in high-speed designs. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge space robotics.

Qualifications

• Proven expertise in PCB design, layout, and hardware bring-up/testing.
• Knowledgeable in high-speed interface design and signal integrity analysis.
• Skilled in hardware debugging, fault isolation, and performance characterization.

Responsibilities

• Perform PCB design, layout, simulation, and validation for high-speed designs.
• Conduct hardware debugging and system-level testing using lab instrumentation.
• Collaborate with teams to ensure avionics hardware integration.

Skills

PCB design

Hardware debugging

Electrical assembly

Signal integrity analysis

Education

BEng/MEng in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

Job description

Darwin Recruitment are currently hiring for an Avionics Engineer on behalf of a start‑up space business in London that are specializing in autonomous robotics for orbital operations. The company is developing a platform-agnostic robotic arm and associated autonomous manipulation/vision software as a service. Notably they emphasise that they’re not building the full spacecraft, but a system that can integrate with host spacecraft or tugs to enable servicing or defence functions in orbit. Their mission is to develop the first “Protect and Defend” capability for high-value space assets in orbit. Their flagship product, is their hardware-agnostic, AI-enabled autonomy software suite that enables them to augment any off-the-shelf spacecraft with the ability to autonomously detect, characterise, and reversibly neutralise orbital threats. By building on the proven space heritage of their best-in-class satellite-bus partners and fully integrating into a single unified platform, they deliver an end-to-end, autonomous in-space bodyguarding service.

What You’ll Do

• Perform PCB design, layout, simulation, and validation for high-speed and mixed-signal designs.
• Conduct hardware debugging and system-level testing using oscilloscopes, logic analysers, and other lab instrumentation.
• Build, test, and maintain electrical harnesses and wiring assemblies for flight and development hardware.
• Collaborate closely with mechanical, systems and software teams to ensure seamless integration of avionics hardware into flight systems.
• Support environmental qualification and verification testing (EMC, vibration, thermal vacuum, etc.).

Qualifications

• BEng/MEng in Electrical Engineering, related field or equivalent experience.
• Proven expertise in PCB design, layout, and hardware bring‑up/testing.
• Knowledgeable in high-speed interface design and signal integrity analysis.
• Skilled in hardware debugging, fault isolation, and performance characterization.
• Familiar with lab test equipment including oscilloscopes, DAQs, logic analyzers, and power supplies.
• Hands‑on experience with electrical assembly, including soldering, crimping, and harness fabrication.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience designing carrier boards for Linux-based SoCs.
• Familiarity with NVIDIA SoCs.
• Hands‑on experience with FPGA design and integration.
• Proficient with PCB simulation workflows, including signal integrity, power integrity, and EMC/thermal analysis.
• Background in space-rated electronics and high-reliability design practices, including radiation effects analysis, fault‑tolerant architectures, and qualification processes for space systems.

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

James Godfrey