ELECTRICAL ENGINEER III, PCB Design & Avionics

Parallax Space; Redondo Beach (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Parallax Space in Redondo Beach is seeking a mid-level Electrical Engineer focused on PCB design to develop spacecraft electronics, payload electronics, avionics, and test hardware for high-reliability space systems. You will own circuit board design from schematic through build, bring-up, testing, and production transition, working with mechanical, software, systems, manufacturing, and supply chain teams.

The role emphasizes hands-on hardware, disciplined documentation, and the ability to move

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field.
• 3-7 years of electrical engineering experience with direct PCB design, development, test, or production support responsibility.
• Hands-on experience with schematic capture and PCB development using tools such as Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro/OrCAD, KiCad, or similar.
• Experience supporting mixed-signal, digital, power, sensor, communications, or embedded electronics development.

Responsibilities

• PCB Design & Electrical Development for spacecraft, payload, avionics, power, communications, sensor, and test applications.
• Develop schematics, select components, define interfaces, and support PCB layout for mixed-signal, digital, power, and high-reliability electronics.
• Define stackups, routing constraints, impedance control, power distribution, grounding, EMI/EMC considerations, and manufacturability requirements.
• Support design decisions related to signal integrity, power integrity, thermal constraints, derating, reliability, and environmental performance.
• Create and maintain design documentation including schematics, BOMs, interface control documents, assembly notes, design notes, and revision records.

Skills

PCB Design

Schematic Capture

Debugging

Electrical Troubleshooting

Documentation

Cross-functional Collaboration

ITAR/EAR access

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

Cadence Allegro/OrCAD

KiCad

Job description

Parallax Space is building critical mission infrastructure to enable rapid, reliable, and scalable access to space. We partner with commercial, civil, and national security customers to deliver high-performance satellite components, integrated payload systems, and mission capabilities that close critical gaps in modern space architecture.

Our model combines advanced engineering, mission execution, and scalable manufacturing to deliver high-TRL products and flight-ready systems at speed.

We are building the infrastructure backbone for the next generation of space systems.

Position Overview

Parallax Space is seeking a mid-level Electrical Engineer with a strong focus on PCB design to support the development of spacecraft electronics, payload electronics, avionics, test hardware, and mission-enabling electrical systems.

This role will contribute directly to the design, layout, build, test, and production transition of circuit boards and electrical assemblies used in high-reliability space systems. This role will work across schematic capture, component selection, PCB layout coordination, board bring-up, electrical testing, troubleshooting, design documentation, and cross-functional integration with mechanical, software, systems, manufacturing, and supply chain teams.

The ideal candidate brings hands-on PCB development experience, strong electrical engineering fundamentals, disciplined documentation habits, and the ability to move quickly while maintaining the rigor required for aerospace hardware.

Key Responsibilities

• PCB Design & Electrical Development
• Design and support development of printed circuit boards for spacecraft, payload, avionics, power, communications, sensor, and test applications
• Develop schematics, select components, define interfaces, and support PCB layout for mixed-signal, digital, power, and high-reliability electronics
• Work with layout resources to define stackups, routing constraints, impedance control, power distribution, grounding, EMI/EMC considerations, and manufacturability requirements
• Support design decisions related to signal integrity, power integrity, thermal constraints, derating, reliability, and environmental performance
• Create and maintain design documentation including schematics, BOMs, interface control documents, assembly notes, design notes, and revision records

Board Bring-Up, Test & Troubleshooting

• Perform board bring-up, electrical checkout, functional testing, debugging, and failure analysis on prototype and production electronics
• Develop and execute test procedures for PCBs, cable harnesses, electrical assemblies, and integrated systems
• Use lab equipment including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, power supplies, electronic loads, multimeters, and environmental test equipment
• Identify root causes of electrical issues and drive corrective actions through design updates, process improvements, or supplier feedback
• Support verification and validation activities for flight hardware and engineering development units

Avionics, Payload & System Integration

• Collaborate with systems, software, mechanical, manufacturing, and mission teams to ensure electrical designs meet system-level requirements
• Support development of avionics interfaces, payload electronics, sensor electronics, power distribution, command/data handling, and ground support equipment
• Contribute to interface definition, connector selection, harness coordination, grounding schemes, and electrical integration planning
• Participate in design reviews, test readiness reviews, integration activities, and technical issue resolution

Manufacturing & Production Transition

• Support transition of PCB designs from prototype builds into repeatable production and flight-ready configurations
• Partner with manufacturing, suppliers, and contract manufacturers on DFM, DFA, DFT, assembly yield, inspection criteria, and process feedback
• Review fabrication and assembly outputs, resolve nonconformances, and support supplier technical communication
• Develop rework instructions, assembly guidance, test fixtures, and production support documentation as needed

Engineering Process & Documentation

• Maintain disciplined design records, revision control, BOM accuracy, requirements traceability, and engineering release documentation
• Support configuration management and engineering change control processes
• Contribute to requirements development, verification planning, risk tracking, and technical trade studies
• Help improve electrical engineering workflows, design standards, test practices, and reusable templates as the company scales

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field
• 3-7 years of electrical engineering experience with direct PCB design, development, test, or production support responsibility
• Hands-on experience with schematic capture and PCB development using tools such as Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro/OrCAD, KiCad, or similar
• Experience supporting mixed-signal, digital, power, sensor, communications, or embedded electronics development
• Strong electrical troubleshooting and lab test skills, including use of common electronic test equipment
• Understanding of PCB layout fundamentals including grounding, power distribution, impedance control, EMI/EMC considerations, manufacturability, and testability
• Ability to read and create schematics, wiring diagrams, BOMs, test procedures, and engineering documentation
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced engineering and hardware development environment
• Eligibility to access ITAR/EAR-controlled information

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing electronics for aerospace, defense, spacecraft, launch, robotics, automotive, medical device, or other high-reliability hardware environments
• Experience with avionics, payload electronics, power electronics, RF interfaces, FPGA/SoC support circuitry, embedded systems, or sensor electronics
• Familiarity with IPC standards, PCB fabrication and assembly processes, and contract manufacturer coordination
• Experience with environmental testing, vibration testing, thermal vacuum, EMI/EMC testing, or qualification campaigns
• Experience with component derating, radiation considerations, fault tolerance, redundancy, or reliability analysis for space or defense applications
• Familiarity with PLM, configuration management, requirements management, and engineering release workflows
• Experience supporting government, DoD, NASA, SDA, or national security space programs

Core Competencies

• Ownership
• PCB Design Discipline
• Technical Curiosity
• Problem Solving
• Hands-On Execution
• Documentation Rigor
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Attention to Detail
• Adaptability
• Bias for Execution
• Mission Focus

Why Join Parallax Space

Join a team building critical infrastructure for the future of space. At Parallax Space, you will work on real hardware, real missions, and meaningful national-scale challenges alongside a high-performing team of engineers, operators, and builders.

This role offers the opportunity to own meaningful electrical design work, develop PCB hardware that supports flight systems, and help build the engineering foundation of a rapidly scaling aerospace company.

Compliance

Parallax Space is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. Certain positions may require eligibility to access export-controlled information under ITAR/EAR regulations and/or the ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance.