Lead Electrical Engineer

Northwood Space; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwood Space in Los Angeles seeks a Lead Electrical Engineer to drive digital compute and power electronics for high-rate antenna systems deployed worldwide. You will guide system architecture, design high-speed digital networks, and ensure reliable, manufacturable products.

You will collaborate with hardware and software teams, bring up prototypes, test in lab and field, and support production ramp. Candidates should have 5+ years in electrical design and strong PCB and EMI/EMC skills.

Qualifications

• Experience in electrical design for complex hardware.
• Experience leading hardware development in high-stakes environments.
• Proficient in high-speed design including FPGAs and SerDes.
• Proficient in schematic capture and PCB layout.
• Experience with EMI/EMC troubleshooting and board stack‑up definition.
• Experience with full product lifecycle from concept to production.

Responsibilities

• Lead electrical system architecture across compute, networking, and power.
• Drive electrical design for high-speed digital systems and multilayer PCBs.
• Work with 100G networking and complex digital power trees to inform architecture decisions.
• Perform schematic capture, layout, and bring‑up for FPGAs, MCUs, and peripherals.
• Collaborate across hardware and software teams to optimize performance and design.
• Test prototypes and assess performance in lab and field.
• Work with production teams to ensure testable and manufacturable products.

Skills

Electrical design

Led hardware team

High-speed PCB design

FPGAs & SerDes

EMI/EMC troubleshooting

Product lifecycle

Schematic capture

Tools

Oscilloscope

Soldering & rework

Lab instrumentation

PCB design tools

Job description

About Northwood:

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real‑time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

Role:

Northwood is looking for a Lead Electrical Engineer to help drive the development of our digital compute and power electronics. These complex digital systems ensure that our antennas can meet high‑rate processing needs no matter where they are deployed around the world. Our hardware team prioritizes excellent engineering, building end products that are known for their reliability, scalability, and cost.

Responsibilities:

• Lead electrical system architecture, providing expertise on compute, networking, and power

• Drive electrical design for high-speed digital communication systems, implementing RF and mixed-signal designs in complex, multilayer PCBs

• Work with 100G high speed networking, complex digital power trees, and drive system trades for architecture decisions

• Perform schematic capture, layout, and bring‑up on a variety of different digital systems including FPGAs, microcontrollers, and their associated peripherals

• Collaborate across hardware and software teams to optimize system performance and overall design

• Test prototypes and assess performance in the lab and in the field

• Work with production teams to make testable and manufacturable products that we can integrate in‑house

Basic Qualifications:

• 5+ years of professional experience in electrical design

• Experience running electrical engineering team in high‑stakes environments

• Proficient in high‑density/high‑speed design (including FPGAs, high speed data converters, SerDes, 10/100 GigE, networking, JESD204C)

• Proficient in schematic capture and good PCB layout design

• Experience with troubleshooting EMI/EMC, either conducted or radiated

• Knowledge of PCB materials and developing board stack‑up definition

• Familiarity with soldering and hot air rework methods

• Experience with full product lifecycle (concept through production)

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience designing high-speed mixed-signal electronics and complex multilayer PCBs for FPGA- or processor-based systems

• Strong expertise in high-speed interfaces and networking technologies such as multi-gigabit SerDes, DDR, JESD204B/C, and 10/100G Ethernet

• Deep understanding of signal integrity, power integrity, EMI/EMC mitigation, PCB stack‑up definition, and high-performance board layout practices

• Proven experience leading hardware development from architecture and prototype bring‑up through validation, manufacturing, and production ramp

• Hands‑on experience debugging complex hardware systems using advanced lab instrumentation and driving root‑cause analysis across board and system levels

• Ability to lead cross‑functional technical efforts, mentor junior engineers, and make sound engineering trade‑offs in fast‑paced development environments

Additional Information:

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Northwood Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.