Electrical Engineer - Space Systems

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Livermore (CA); On-site; USD 146,000 - 223,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

DOE clearance (Q) requirement

Flexible schedules

Job summary

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in Livermore, CA, is seeking an Electrical Engineer - Space Systems to design, develop, and deliver advanced spacecraft electronics for national security applications. You will contribute across the full lifecycle from concept to mission delivery.

The role requires full-time on-site presence due to the work nature, with higher responsibility at SES.3 level and potential leadership of complex projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field; or equivalent experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of electronic engineering principles, circuit design, embedded systems, and hardware development.
• Experience designing, generating PCB layouts and electronic systems.
• Experience with hardware integration, system verification, and laboratory testing.
• Experience applying engineering analysis and testing methodologies.
• Experience with low-level embedded software development.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for multidisciplinary work.
• Interpersonal and collaboration skills for team success.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, integrate, and evaluate electronics and embedded hardware for spaceflight payloads and sensing systems.
• Apply electronic engineering principles to analog, digital, mixed-signal, and embedded systems.
• Perform hardware integration, verification, troubleshooting, and testing across the development lifecycle.
• Develop analyses, modeling, simulation, and lab testing to evaluate performance and guide decisions.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated hardware/software solutions for spacecraft payloads and missions.
• Document approaches, results, and recommendations in reports and design reviews.
• Interface with sponsors, providers, and collaborators to support mission objectives.
• Evaluate emerging electronics technologies to enhance future spaceflight capabilities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Embedded systems

PCB design

Hardware testing

System architecture

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

PCB Layouts

Embedded software tools

Job description

Mid-Senior Level | Full-time
Engineering | Livermore, CA | 08/07/2026
Reference #: REF8670U
Job Code: SES.2 Science & Engineering MTS 2 / SES.3 Science & Engineering MTS 3
Organization: Engineering
Position Type: Career Indefinite
Security Clearance: Anticipated DOE Q clearance (requires U.S. citizenship and a federal background investigation)
Drug Test: Required for external applicant(s) selected for this position (includes testing for use of marijuana)
Medical Exam: Not applicable

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has turned bold ideas into world-changing impact advancing science and technology to strengthen U.S. security and promote global stability.

Our mission spans four critical national security areas nuclear deterrence, threat preparedness, energy security, and multi-domain defense empowering teams to take on the toughest challenges of today and tomorrow. With a culture built on innovation and operational excellence, LLNL is a place where your expertise can make a real impact.

Job Description

We have an opening for anElectrical Engineer - Space Systemsto contribute to the design, development, integration, and delivery of advanced electronics supporting spaceflight payloads and sensing systems for national security applications. As a member of the Space Sciences and Security Program (SSSP), you will work on multidisciplinary teams developing next-generation spacecraft electronics and integrated hardware/software solutions that enable innovative sensing capabilities for challenging space environments. Your work will span the complete engineering lifecycle - from concept development and system architecture through hardware implementation, integration, verification, and mission delivery - while contributing to the Laboratory's leadership in space technologies.

This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work.

This position will be filled at eitherlevel based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.

You will

• Design, develop, integrate, and evaluate electronics and embedded hardware supporting advanced spaceflight payloads, sensing systems, and mission-critical national security applications.
• Apply electronic engineering principles to develop analog, digital, mixed-signal, and embedded electronic systems that satisfy performance, reliability, environmental, and mission requirements.
• Perform hardware integration, verification, troubleshooting, and test activities to ensure successful system performance throughout the engineering development lifecycle.
• Develop and apply engineering analyses, modeling, simulation, and laboratory testing to evaluate electronic system performance, investigate technical issues, and support design decisions.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering and scientific teams to develop integrated hardware and software solutions supporting spacecraft payloads, technology demonstrations, and future mission concepts.
• Analyze technical requirements, evaluate engineering alternatives and system-level tradeoffs, and document technical approaches, results, and recommendations through reports, presentations, technical documentation, and design reviews.
• Interface with internal organizations, project teams, sponsors, spacecraft providers, and/or external collaborators to support successful execution of engineering activities and mission objectives.
• Evaluate emerging electronics technologies, embedded systems, and engineering approaches to enhance future spaceflight capabilities, mission performance, and sensing architectures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.3 level

• Independently establish technical approaches and lead complex engineering efforts involving spacecraft electronics, embedded systems, hardware/software integration, and flight system development while exercising independent technical judgment with minimal direction.
• Serve as the primary technical representative for assigned projects, leading technical exchanges with sponsors, spacecraft providers, industry partners, and multidisciplinary engineering teams. Lead engineering trade studies, technical risk management, and formal design reviews while providing technical guidance and mentoring to less-experienced engineers.

Qualifications

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline, or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of electronic engineering principles, circuit design, embedded systems, and hardware development, demonstrating full competency in applying engineering principles to independently perform moderately complex technical assignments.
• Experience designing, generating PCB layouts, developing, integrating, testing, or evaluating printed circuit boards and electronic systems through professional experience, graduate research, laboratory work, or related engineering activities.
• Experience with hardware integration, system verification, laboratory testing, troubleshooting, and technical evaluation of electronic systems.
• Experience applying engineering analysis, computational methods, laboratory techniques, or test methodologies to investigate technical problems and develop engineering solutions.
• Experience with any low-level embedded software development.
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a multidisciplinary engineering environment and present technical information.
• Effective interpersonal and collaboration skills necessary to work successfully with multidisciplinary technical teams.

Additional qualifications at the SES.3 level

• Advanced knowledge of electronic engineering, embedded systems, hardware/software integration, and spacecraft or mission-critical electronic systems, with demonstrated experience independently leading complex technical assignments and establishing technical direction.
• Experience serving as a technical lead or primary engineering representative, leading multidisciplinary engineering efforts, presenting technical recommendations to management or sponsors, evaluating technical risk, and mentoring less-experienced engineers.

Qualifications We Desire

• Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience developing electronics, embedded systems, or integrated hardware/software solutions for spacecraft, remote sensing, aerospace, defense, or other mission-critical applications.
• Experience with common data communication protocols, networking, or Linux/Unix based systems.
• Experience collaborating on multidisciplinary engineering projects involving system integration, technical design reviews, and customer or sponsor interactions.
• Experience with constraints of space environments applications, including thermal, vacuum, or radiation considerations.

Pay Range
$146,340 - $222,564 Annually
$146,340 - $185,544 Annually for the SES.2 level
$175,530 - $222,564 Annually for the SES.3 level

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting; pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Additional Information

#LI-Onsite

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2026Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)

This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level clearance. If you are selected, wewill initiate a Federal background investigation to determine if youmeet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or matter. Also, all L or Q cleared employees are subject to random drug testing. Q-level clearance requires U.S. citizenship.

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the useand/or possession ofmobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area whereyou are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile devicein your possession. This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.

Ifyou useamedical device, whichpairs with a mobile device,you must still follow the rules concerningthe mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas. Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities requireseparate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Reasonable Accommodation

Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please use our online form to submit a request.

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitlesjob applicants, employees, and non-employee workers to be notified of what personal information LLNL collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here .

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 91.6K subscribers

Operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC for theDepartment of Energy's National Nuclear Security AdministrationLearn about the Department of Energy's Vulnerability Disclosure Program