Senior Avionics Engineer

Karman+; Broomfield (CO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Equity plan

Medical plans

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) plan

FAMLI program

Job summary

Karman+ is seeking a senior avionics engineer to lead the development of the spacecraft's flight computer system. You will drive architectures, data handling, guidance and control, and collaborate with senior engineers to meet mission requirements in a deep-space vehicle program.

This role demands hands-on hardware and software debugging in a test lab, plus interface design for hardware/software. Experience with space hardware, CAD modeling, and reliable systems is essential; you will influence

Qualifications

• Space hardware avionics experience with flight computer systems.
• Strong problem-solving; CAD and modeling experience.
• Ability to work in a lab and debug at system level.

Responsibilities

• Drive the design, development, integration, testing, and deployment of the spacecraft’s flight computer system, focusing on data handling, guidance and control.
• Develop and refine requirements for the flight computer and navigation computer.
• Contribute to all phases of the flight computer lifecycle, from concept to flight-readiness and post-deployment support.
• Collaborate with senior engineers to make technical decisions on system architecture, hardware/software interfaces, and design trade-offs that meet mission requirements.
• Troubleshoot and resolve hardware and software issues during integration and testing, maintaining hands-on involvement to ensure quality and functionality.
• Assist in the procurement process by supporting evaluations of off-the-shelf components and custom hardware, working with vendors to ensure compliance with mission requirements.
• Help identify and mitigate risks related to the flight computer system, contributing to regular risk assessments and implementing mitigation strategies as directed.

Skills

Avionics for space hardware

Flight computer design

CAD & modeling

Test lab debugging

Hardware/software interfaces

Tools

CAD tools

Test equipment

Job description

Karman+ is building vehicles for beyond Earth orbit. Your role is to drive the development of core compute architectures for a deep space vehicle. Leveraging your expertise you will determine architectures and hardware solutions that meet our mission’s needs, for reliability, and performance.

Salary Range: $150k - 180k annually

Key Responsibilities

• Drive the design, development, integration, testing, and deployment of the spacecraft’s flight computer system, focusing on functions such as data handling, guidance, and control.
• Develop and refine requirements for the flight computer and navigation computer.
• Contribute to all phases of the flight computer lifecycle, from concept to flight-readiness and post-deployment support, ensuring reliability and mission success.
• Collaborate with senior engineers to make technical decisions on system architecture, hardware/software interfaces, and design trade-offs that meet mission requirements.
• Troubleshoot and resolve hardware and software issues during integration and testing, maintaining hands‑on involvement to ensure quality and functionality.
• Assist in the procurement process by supporting evaluations of off-the-shelf components and custom hardware, working with vendors to ensure compliance with mission requirements.
• Help identify and mitigate risks related to the flight computer system, contributing to regular risk assessments and implementing mitigation strategies as directed.

What You Bring

• Experience in avionics or electronics engineering for space hardware, with hands‑on experience designing, integrating, and testing flight computer systems.
• Strong problem‑solving skills—you’re as comfortable working with CAD and models as you are in a test lab debugging system‑level issues.
• Experience designing resilient microcontrollers and system on module compute platforms for space vehicles.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex avionics topics to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• A desire to keep design cycles tight, by following a build and break philosophy.
• Motivation to challenge the status quo, and be an integral part of an elite team.

Karman+ Benefits Overview

• 1. Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) policy
  We focus on what you get done, not how many hours or days you work.
• 2. Equity Incentive Plan
  We firmly believe in recognizing and rewarding the invaluable contributions made by our employees. To this end, we have established an Equity Incentive Plan that includes granting non‑qualified stock options to employees. These Non‑Qualifying Stock Options will be awarded in a separate agreement.
• 3. Medical plans
  We offer you a choice of three different plans that provide comprehensive medical and prescription drug coverage. We cover 100% of your premium for the Gold plan.
  We cover 100% of your premiums.
• 5. Life insurance
  We cover the premium for a $50,000 policy.
• 6. Short-term and Long-term Disability Insurance
  We cover the whole premium.
• 7. 401(k) Retirement Plan
  We offer you an opportunity to plan for retirement by contributing to your 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan on a pre‑tax or after‑tax basis (Roth) through Guideline.
• 8. FAMLI
  You are eligible for Colorado's Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program, which provides paid leave for qualifying family and medical reasons. This includes up to 12 weeks of leave (or 16 weeks for pregnancy/childbirth complications), with contributions shared by the Company and you as required by law. For more details on eligibility, contributions, and applications, please visit the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment's FAMLI website or contact human resources.