Principal Space Hardware Engineer

CesiumAstro; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

CesiumAstro in Cambridge, UK, invites applications for a Principal Hardware Engineer I to lead end-to-end hardware development of complex electronics for space and aerospace platforms. You will drive architecture, schematics, PCB layouts, and verification, while mentoring engineers and coordinating with software and mechanical teams.

The role demands hands-on work across concept, design, layout, build, test, and delivery, with opportunities for technical leadership and high-impact contributions

Qualifications

• BS degree or higher in Electrical Engineering from an accredited university.
• 9+ years of industry or university research experience in board-level electronics design, analysis, and test.
• Experience with high-reliability space/defense electronics, including derating and thermal constraints.
• Experience owning the design phase of complex board-level electronics.
• Experience delivering hardware through production and deployment.
• PCB layout expertise, HDI stackups, and IPC standards.
• Ability to derisk designs with signal and power integrity simulations (SIwave, SIPro, Hyperlynx).
• Strong cross-functional collaboration with software and mechanical teams.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end design of complex electronics modules and systems from concept to production.
• Lead teams of hardware engineers to develop products with multiple modules.
• Develop hardware architecture and write hardware requirements for complex systems.
• Create detailed schematics and PCB layouts for high-density boards in Altium Designer.
• Perform worst-case, signal integrity, and power integrity analyses and guide methodology.
• Develop bring-up plans and verification plans for new hardware and systems.
• Execute bring-up and verification testing with a team to validate designs.
• Release modules to production in collaboration with M&T teams.
• Mentor junior and senior engineers to build expertise and growth.
• Collaborate with adjacent software and mechanical engineers to streamline development.

Job description

CesiumAstro in Cambridge, UK, invites applications for a Principal Hardware Engineer I to lead end-to-end hardware development of complex electronics for space and aerospace platforms. You will drive architecture, schematics, PCB layouts, and verification, while mentoring engineers and coordinating with software and mechanical teams.

The role demands hands-on work across concept, design, layout, build, test, and delivery, with opportunities for technical leadership and high-impact contributions