Avionics PCB Librarian/Designer

Intuitive Machines, LLC; Houston, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive Machines is seeking an experienced PCB Designer to join the Avionics team as Librarian/Designer in Houston, TX. You will build and maintain the central ECAD component database, and translate system requirements into flight-ready schematics and footprints for complex avionics boards.

Responsibilities include 3D model integration, lifecycle management of components, and ensuring space-grade manufacturing and testability.

Qualifications

• IPC CID Certification required.
• Hands-on experience with Altium and ECAD tools.
• Schematic capture and PCB layout for complex avionics boards.
• High-reliability layout with return-path control, grounding and thermal considerations.

Responsibilities

• Create, maintain, and update the central ECAD component database for Avionics.
• Design schematic symbols and PCB footprints to IPC standards.
• Integrate 3D STEP models for mechanical clearance.
• Monitor lifecycles, mark parts active or obsolete.
• Own PCB layout execution from schematic to fabrication for flight boards.
• Support circuit-level analysis, SPICE, and signal/power integrity validation.

Skills

IPC CID Certification

Altium

Schematic capture

PCB layout

High-reliability design

Return-path control

Grounding strategy

Space avionics lifecycle

Tools

Altium

Job description

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Houston, TX, US

Houston, Texas, United States

Company Overview:

Intuitive Machines is an innovative and cutting-edge space company making cislunar space accessible to both public and private customers. We believe our mission is to further research, communications, and exploration beyond low lunar orbit. With multiple NASA lunar missions in the making and additional private missions on our manifest, we pride ourselves in supporting NASA, our customers and the nation in paving the way to return humans to the surface of the moon. Our world-class team includes experts in all spacecraft subsystems design, development, and test, on-orbit operations, and safety.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a talented and experienced PCB Designer to join our Avionics team as a Librarian/Designer. This role will work in collaboration with Avionics Leadership and Engineering to develop and maintain out component database. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in PCB Design and experience working in a fast paced Avionics environment.

Responsibilities

• Create, maintain, and update the central ECAD component database across the Avionics organization.
• Design accurate schematic symbols and physical PCB footprints using IPC standards, and requirements from Avionics leadership.
• Work with mechanical engineers to create and integrate 3D STEP models into footprints for precise mechanical clearance checks.
• Aid engineering team in monitoring component lifecycles, marking parts as active, or obsolete.
• Own PCB layout execution for avionics boards, translating system and power requirements into electrically correct, flight-ready schematics and physical implementations.
• Collaborate on circuit-level analysis and simulation, supporting signal-integrity, power-integrity, and basic SPICE-based validation to ensure schematic intent is preserved through layout.
• Apply space-grade layout practices, including return-path control, grounding strategy, creepage/clearance, and thermal conduction.
• Define and manage PCB stackups and materials, including copper weights, plane strategy, controlled impedance, and compatibility with space avionics fabrication and assembly standards.
• Ensure manufacturability and testability, producing fabrication and assembly documentation, defining test points and probing strategy, and supporting board bring-up and debug.
• Support the full space avionics hardware lifecycle and testbeds, including configuration-managed releases, SRR/PDR/CDR participation as layout authority.

Required Skills

• IPC CID Certification.
• Hands-on experiences in using Altium and other ECAD tools.
• Schematic capture and PCB layout expertise for complex analog, power, and mixed-signal avionics boards, with ownership from schematic release through layout and fabrication.
• High-reliability PCB layout proficiency, including switching-loop control, return-path management, grounding strategy, Kelvin sensing, creepage/clearance, and thermal via implementation.
• PCB stackup and materials knowledge, including copper weights, plane strategy, controlled-impedance routing, and space-compatible laminate selection.
• Manufacturability and testability focus, with experience generating fabrication/assembly documentation, defining test points, and supporting board bring-up and debug.
• Simulation and analysis support capability, including basic SPICE, signal-integrity, or power-integrity analysis to validate schematic and layout intent.
• Space avionics hardware lifecycle experience, including configuration-controlled releases and participation in SRR/PDR/CDR and flight-hardware reviews.

Desired Skills

• 5-8 years of direct spaceflight avionics layout experience, including Single board computer, EPS, or payload boards flown or qualified for space.
• IPC CID+ Certification.
• Familiar with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and basic drawing dimension practices.
• Experience maintaining Component Library.
• Experience developing design plans and reports as needed.
• Experience in documenting, implementing, and improving processes involving PCB Layout and Component Libraries.
• High-power or high-speed design experience, including dense power distribution, high-current rails, or high-speed interfaces (e.g., PCIe, Ethernet) and control bus (CAN, RS485).
• Radiation-aware and derating-driven design familiarity, including layout considerations for long-life space missions.

US EEO Statement

Intuitive Machines is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.