Lead Spacecraft Power Systems Engineer — From Ground Up

Darwin Recruitment; Santa Maria (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation package

Healthcare premiums paid

4% 401k match

Job summary

Darwin Recruitment is seeking an Electrical Engineer, Power Systems for a California Central Coast project with a leading aerospace client. You will own the design from requirements to production on a brand-new spacecraft power system.

The role covers power distribution, battery interfaces, and high-reliability hardware analysis, with hands-on power electronics and PCB work in Altium. Collaboration with defence and commercial space programs is expected, along with mentoring junior engineers.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in electrical design, PCB layout and test.
• Aerospace or spacecraft power systems experience, including BMS.
• Clear communication with peers and customers.

Responsibilities

• Own the design of a new spacecraft and launch vehicle power system, from requirements to production
• Design power distribution, power conditioning and battery interfaces
• Build DC power architectures, including grounding, fault protection and redundancy
• Support lithium ion battery integration, charge and discharge profiles and protection circuitry
• Run power budgets, load analysis and efficiency trade studies across mission phases
• Carry out worst case, derating and thermal analysis on high reliability hardware
• Design schematics and Class III PCBs, mostly in Altium
• Support EMI and EMC compliance on switching regulators and high current paths
• Write specifications, ICDs and customer documentation, including CDRLs
• Share knowledge and give informal guidance to junior engineers

Skills

Electrical design

Power systems

Power electronics

Power integrity

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Associate's degree with 5+ years experience

Tools

Altium

Job description

Darwin Recruitment is seeking an Electrical Engineer, Power Systems for a California Central Coast project with a leading aerospace client. You will own the design from requirements to production on a brand-new spacecraft power system.

The role covers power distribution, battery interfaces, and high-reliability hardware analysis, with hands-on power electronics and PCB work in Altium. Collaboration with defence and commercial space programs is expected, along with mentoring junior engineers.