Avionics Components Team Lead

Astranis Space Technologies; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Astranis Space Technologies in San Francisco is seeking an Avionics Components Team Lead to guide a growing team of engineers focused on sensor and actuator components for our GEO spacecraft. You will oversee hardware design, from concept to production, align schedules with the broader program, and drive supplier partnerships.

You’ll recruit and mentor engineers, push advanced analog/mixed-signal design, and ensure the hardware meets mission requirements while collaborating with diverse

Qualifications

• B.S. or higher in electrical or computer engineering, or similar technical degree.
• 5+ years of professional experience with fast-paced product design cycles.
• 5+ years of board level experience designing electronics hardware from concept through to production.
• A passion for hardware development & fostering teamwork in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to design, build, and test hardware, hands-on, from scratch.
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage teams of engineers and communicate clearly with other disciplines.
• Strong analog/mixed-signal circuit design skills.
• US Citizenship or Green Card

Responsibilities

• Directly manage and grow a team of junior and senior electrical engineers.
• Collaborate with a broad and multidisciplinary team to define the spacecraft sensor and actuator requirements and architectures.
• Oversee the design, build, and implementation of our in-house component hardware and systems.
• Manage a detailed schedule to ensure that our hardware development is in sync with the overall program schedule.
• Drive hardware design, specification, component selection, circuit board design, implementation, verification, board bring-up, and debugging.
• Own the technical relationship with third-party component suppliers to ensure our vendors provide robust and performant solutions.
• Support in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring additional teammates to our rapidly-growing team.
• Support the production and mission operations teams on the build and in-flight use of our component hardware.
• Drive the growth of the avionics components team through recruiting, interviewing, and hiring additional teammates to our rapidly-expanding team.

Skills

Team leadership

Electrical engineering

Hardware design

Analog/mixed-signal design

C/C++/Python

US Citizenship or Green Card

Education

B.S. in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Tools

Altium

SPICE

FPGA design tooling

Job description

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today, Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly‑sophisticated customers across the globe— large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military. With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts.

Avionics Components Team Lead

As the Team Lead for the Avionics Components Engineering Team, you will play a critical role in building and leading a team of engineers that own the sensor and actuator components within our avionics systems. You’ll support the team in pushing the boundary of what is possible in a geo‑synchronous spacecraft design and enable performance in space that has not been realized to date.

Role

• Directly manage and grow a team of junior and senior electrical engineers
• Collaborate with a broad and multidisciplinary team to define the spacecraft sensor and actuator requirements and architectures
• Oversee the design, build, and implementation of our in‑house component hardware and systems
• Manage a detailed schedule to ensure that our hardware development is in sync with the overall program schedule
• Drive hardware design, specification, component selection, circuit board design, implementation, verification, board bring‑up, and debugging
• Own the technical relationship with third‑party component suppliers to ensure our vendors provide robust and performant solutions
• Support in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring additional teammates to our rapidly‑growing team
• Support the production and mission operations teams on the build and in‑flight use of our component hardware
• Drive the growth of the avionics components team through recruiting, interviewing, and hiring additional teammates to our rapidly‑expanding team

Requirements

• B.S. or higher in electrical or computer engineering, or similar technical degree
• 5+ years of professional experience with fast‑paced product design cycles
• 5+ years of board level experience designing electronics hardware from concept through to production
• A passion for hardware development & fostering teamwork in a fast‑paced environment
• Demonstrated ability to design, build, and test hardware, hands‑on, from scratch
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage teams of engineers and communicate clearly with other disciplines
• Strong analog/mixed‑signal circuit design skills
• US Citizenship or Green Card

Bonus

• 5+ years of experience with designing and implementing signal conditioning, sensors, electro‑mechanical actuators, power switches, embedded computers, or such hardware.
• Experience with FPGAs, Microcontrollers, and communication schemes (RS-485, SPI, Ethernet, I2C)
• Strong understanding of C, C++, or Python
• Radiation effects knowledge
• Environmental test experience

What we offer:

All our positions offer a compensation package that includes equity and robust benefits.

Base pay is just one component of Astranis’s total rewards package. Your compensation also includes a significant equity package via incentive stock options, high‑quality company‑subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement planning, flexible PTO, and free on‑site catered meals.

Astranis pay ranges are informed and defined through professional‑grade salary surveys and compensation data sources. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, and the level and scope of the position.

Base Salary

$160,000—$210,000 USD

U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, Or Refugee/Asylee Status Required

(To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))

Our mission and our products are meant to connect the world and everyone in it, regardless of gender, race, creed, or any other distinction. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we encourage all people to join our team and bring their unique perspective to help make us stronger.