Senior Electrical Engineer - Payload Systems

Xona; Burlingame (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Xona is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer to join our payload hardware team. You will design, develop, and integrate electrical systems powering the payload and collaborate with other subsystems to ensure end-to-end integration for space-grade hardware.

This hands-on role involves lab testing, debugging, and assembly, with opportunities to learn through system-level test processes and contribute to the deployment of highly reliable, aerospace-grade electronics.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience from schematic to layout and system integration.
• Strong fundamentals in analog/digital circuit design, power, signal integrity, and DFT/DFM.
• Experience with embedded control using FPGAs and MCUs and communication buses (I2C, SPI, CAN, RS-422, Ethernet).

Responsibilities

• Design electrical subsystems including power distribution, communications, and FDIR.
• Develop reliable PCBAs; select components for space-grade reliability.
• Lead design cycles from concept to schematic, layout, and test.
• Lab bring-up, troubleshooting, and debugging with test equipment.
• Document interfaces and support integration and system testing.
• Mentor teammates and improve engineering practices.

Skills

Analog/Digital design

Power systems

Signal integrity

Embedded control (FPGA/MCU)

DFT/DFM

PCB design

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium

OrCAD

Spice

Job description

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

Overview

We are looking for a Senior Electrical Engineer to join our payload hardware team. In this role, you will design, development, and integrate electrical systems that power and control our payload as well as work closely with engineers from other subsystems to integrate your designs.

This is a hands-on, collaborative role where you’ll assist with electrical design, testing, and debugging in the lab, while gaining experience in assembly, integration and system test processes. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a team that’s building cutting-edge technology for space.

What You’ll Do

• Design Sub-Systems: Own and design electrical subsystems such as power distribution, communication, FDIR. Capture requirements and manage trade studies.
• Develop PCBAs: Design and develop reliable PCBAs. Source, derate, and test electrical components to ensure they can survive the harshness of space.
• Own the Design Cycle: Take designs from initial concept through schematic capture, layout, multi-disciplinary reviews, and comprehensive test plan execution.
• Be Hands on in the Lab: Bring up, troubleshoot and debug electrical systems in a lab environment using test equipment (e.g., oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power meters).
• Document Your Design: Maintain engineering documentation and develop electrical interface documents for satellite subsystems.
• Support Integration and Test: See design through assembly, integration, and test activities, including system-level testing, validation, and integration onto the satellite.
• Raise the Technical Bar: Mentor others and elevate team function through implementation of improved design practices and standards.

Knowledge

What You Bring:

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• Strong fundamentals in analog/digital circuit design, power systems, signal integrity, layout, and Design for Test/Manufacturing (DFT/DFM).
• Experience with embedded control, architectures featuring FPGAs, MCUs, and communication buses (I2C, SPI, CAN, RS-422, Ethernet, etc).
• Understanding of reliability methods, including Worst-Case Circuit Analysis (WCCA), part derating, and FMEA.

Industry Experience

• 5+ years of experience taking designs from schematic to layout, manufacturing, test and system integration.
• Proficiency with electrical design and simulation tools (e.g., Altium, OrCAD, Spice).
• Proven lab experience with hardware bring-up, board-level troubleshooting, and test automation.

Company Culture

• A collaborative, team-oriented mindset and the ability to communicate effectively.
• Rigorous attention to detail and a commitment to continuous process improvement.
• Mentorship mindset with a desire to build repeatable engineering practices.

Bonus

• Exposure to satellite systems, bus avionics or payload electronics.
• Working knowledge of space radiation effects and space design practices.
• Experience with EMI/EMC design and mitigation

For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).

For Canada Roles: Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.