Senior Electrical Engineer, Power Electronics & Embedded Systems

Space Kinetic; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity-Based Compensation

Comprehensive Medical Coverage

Competitive PTO

Job summary

Space Kinetic, a cutting-edge startup, is seeking a Senior Mixed Signal Electrical Engineer to design and develop prototypes crucial to the future of space operations.

This position requires collaboration across teams, hands-on circuit design experience, and the ability to troubleshoot complex systems. Ideal candidates have extensive knowledge in both analog and digital systems.

Located in El Segundo, CA, the role comes with competitive pay, equity options, and comprehensive healthcare benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a closely related STEM field.
• Minimum of 7 years of hands-on electrical engineering experience.
• Experience developing hardware for aerospace or similar applications.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop electrical prototypes for core technology.
• Refine and finalize electrical design for prototypes.
• Support PCB layout design and vendor coordination.

Skills

Analog circuit design

Digital circuit design

Embedded systems

Troubleshooting

Circuit testing

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s in electrical engineering or related field

Tools

Altium

Oscilloscopes

Multimeters

Job description

Drones have fundamentally changed the nature of conflict and maneuver. The next theater to be changed by drone technology is space. Space Kinetic is a space‑technology startup company building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of drone technology to space missions without relying on consumable fuel.

This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40‑hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first‑of‑its‑kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space.

Position Overview

The Senior Mixed Signal Electrical Engineer will play a critical role in designing, building, and maturing prototypes for Space Kinetic’s core technology. You will design systems that process both analog and digital signals and bridge the gap between real‑world physical inputs like pressure and temperature sensors and the processor in an embedded system. With your knowledge of analog electronics, you will design signal conditioning circuitry, and with additional knowledge of discrete electronic components and integrated circuits, you will help design actuator controllers such as the driver circuitry required in a motor controller and the interfaces to power electronics.

You will support the team in refining the electrical architecture of the current prototype and driving the system closer to a flight‑ready configuration with each iteration. Your first project will involve a custom motor controller with power levels never before implemented in space and an electromechanical system with novel energy‑recycling functions. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys taking concepts from schematic to hardware, solving complex electrical challenges, and working closely with mechanical and manufacturing teams to bring cutting‑edge space hardware to life.

What You’ll Do

• Design, develop, and build electrical prototypes for Space Kinetic’s core technology.
• Refine and finalize the current prototype’s electrical design to support all phases of prototype maturation.
• Undertake and complete circuit design tasks, generate detailed schematics, and perform component selection aligned with environmental and system requirements.
• Apply detailed tolerancing, design‑for‑manufacture principles, and thorough documentation across all electrical prototype phases.
• Support PCB layout design and coordinate with external vendors for fabrication and assembly of PCB components.
• Collaborate closely with the Space Kinetic manufacturing and engineering team to integrate electrical systems into mechanical assemblies.
• Verify and validate your electrical designs through testing, troubleshooting, debugging, and iteration to improve system reliability and performance.
• Actively participate in design reviews, contribute to system‑level engineering discussions, and ensure the electrical subsystem progresses toward flight‑readiness.
• Support the creation and maintenance of electrical documentation, including BOMs, wiring diagrams, interface control documents (ICDs), and test procedures.
• Ensure each design iteration moves the system closer to a flight‑ready prototype aligned with Space Kinetic’s 2‑year flight demonstration goal.

What It Takes

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a closely related STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) field.
• Experience developing hardware for aerospace, defense, robotics, or similarly rigorous applications.
• Minimum of 7 years of hands‑on electrical engineering experience, ideally involving prototype development.
• Experience designing analog circuitry such as signal conditioning circuitry.
• Experience designing digital circuitry and output drivers such as gate drivers and motor drivers.
• Experience working with embedded systems.
• Proficiency in circuit design, schematic creation, and component selection.
• Experience with schematic/PCB design tools (e.g., Altium).
• Demonstrated experience building and testing electrical systems or prototypes.
• Strong understanding of electronics fundamentals, wiring practices, and system integration.
• Ability to troubleshoot circuits, debug hardware, and iterate rapidly.
• Hands‑on experience with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, logic analyzers).
• Experience collaborating with vendors for PCB fabrication and assembly.
• Excellent documentation, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced startup environment with evolving requirements.
• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (green card holder).
• Ability to maintain or obtain a Government Security Clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of 9 years of hands‑on electrical engineering experience.
• Experience in developing embedded systems.
• Experience in developing power electronics.
• Experience with the C programming language.
• Knowledge of field‑oriented controls, microcontrollers, sensors, and power electronics.
• Experience with environmental or functional testing of electrical systems.

Our vision is unique, and so is the team we’re building. If you’re driven to succeed in this role, even if your background doesn’t fully align with every qualification, we want your application.

Where You’ll Be

The position will be on site at our headquarters in El Segundo, CA.

What We Offer

• Competitive Base Salary + Equity‑Based Compensation
• Highly Competitive PTO and Holiday Calendar
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

Pay Range

$140,000 – $180,000