Senior Electrical Engineer - Space

Clutch Canada; Pleasanton (CA); On-site; USD 142,000 - 186,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Platinum-level health coverage

401(k) contributions

Paid time off & holidays

Job summary

Vector Atomic, an IonQ Company, seeks a Senior Electrical Engineer to lead the electronics design for next-gen quantum sensors intended for LEO missions. You will own PCB development from concept through test and deployment, coordinating with physics, firmware, and mechanical teams to ensure mission-ready hardware.

You’ll work in a multidisciplinary group, applying expertise in high-speed PCB design, radiation effects, and space-grade testing to deliver reliable electronics for spaceflight

Qualifications

• Six+ years in electrical design for space or aerospace environments.
• Experience with power, analog and mixed-signal circuitry for flight systems.
• Knowledge of radiation effects (TID/SEE) and mitigation strategies.
• Experience selecting or qualifying radiation-tolerant components, including COTS parts.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-level electrical architecture for next-generation quantum sensors (LEO).
• Own end-to-end PCB development: requirements, schematic, layout, fabrication, verification.
• Translate system requirements into detailed electronic designs with cross-functional teams.
• Design circuits for reliable operation in LEO radiation and thermal environments.
• Collaborate with firmware and RTL on radiation-tolerant techniques.
• Support system integration, testing, and troubleshooting to meet instrument requirements.
• Create environmental test plans and evaluate electronics lifetime against mission parameters.
• Characterize designs using standard lab test equipment.

Skills

Space electronics design

Radiation-tolerant design

PCB design

FPGA design

RTL/firmware collaboration

High-speed interconnects

Lab test & measurement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering (optional)

Tools

LTSpice

Oscilloscopes

Spectrum analyzers

VNAs

Job description

About IonQ:

IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum platform and merchant supplier - delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security. IonQ’s newest generation of quantum computers, the IonQ Tempo, is the latest in a line of cutting‑edge systems that have been helping customers and partners including Amazon Web Services, and AstraZeneca achieve 20x performance results and accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. In 2025, the company achieved 99.99% two‑qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance. Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, IonQ has operations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Washington, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Our quantum computing services are available through all major cloud providers, while we also meet the needs of networking and sensing customers across land, sea, air, and space. IonQ is making quantum platforms more accessible and impactful than ever before.

About Vector Atomic:

Vector Atomic, an IonQ company, is building quantum technology to transform navigation, timing, geophysical exploration, and telecommunications. Our team of engineers, scientists, software developers, and operations professionals works together to solve complex challenges and turn bold ideas into real‑world solutions. We value collaboration, curiosity, and diverse perspectives, and we give every team member the opportunity to make an immediate impact while growing their skills. If you’re excited to work on breakthrough technology in a fast‑paced, hands‑on environment, we’d love to hear from you.

Location:

This role is based onsite at our office in Pleasanton, CA.

Travel:

Up to 5%, domestic or international.

Job ID:

1688

The Role:

We're looking for a Senior Electrical Engineer to join a multidisciplinary team of physicists and electrical, mechanical, software, and optical engineers designing next‑generation quantum sensors for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) missions.

This is a newly created, high‑impact role central to our space sensor programs. You'll lead the design of advanced electronics, specifying, designing, characterizing, and testing PCB assemblies with FPGA, MCU, mixed‑signal, and RF architectures, built to meet the demanding reliability and environmental requirements of spaceflight.

You’ll join a growing electronics team of engineers, reporting to our Engineering Director, with close daily collaboration across firmware, RTL, mechanical, and optical disciplines. This is an individual‑contributor role with significant technical ownership and visibility into every stage of hardware development, from concept through on‑orbit deployment.

Responsibilities:

• Lead high‑level electrical architecture for next‑generation quantum sensors, balancing size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP‑C).
• Own end‑to‑end PCB development: requirements definition, schematic design, layout, fabrication coordination, and performance verification.
• Translate system‑level requirements into detailed electronic designs in collaboration with physicists, and mechanical, software, and optical engineers.
• Design and adapt circuits for reliable operation in the LEO radiation and thermal environment.
• Partner with firmware and RTL engineers on radiation‑tolerant techniques (error detection/correction, bit scrubbing, recovery methods).
• Support system integration, test, and troubleshooting to ensure instrument‑level requirements are met.
• Build environmental test plans simulating LEO conditions; estimate FIT rates and electronics lifetime against mission parameters.
• Characterize and validate designs using standard lab test and measurement equipment.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (or related field) with 6+ years of experience, or a Master’s degree with 3+ years.
• 3+ years designing electronics for space applications (LEO preferred).
• Experience with power, analog, and mixed‑signal circuit design for satellite or other flight systems.
• Working knowledge of radiation effects (TID, SEE) and common mitigation strategies.
• Experience selecting or qualifying components for radiation performance, including COTS parts.
• Solid grounding in high‑speed PCB design practices: controlled impedance, length matching, grounding, decoupling, shielding.
• Comfortable in a lab environment, using oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, VNAs, power supplies, and related test equipment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to work cross‑functionally with hardware, firmware, and physics teams.
• To comply with the US export control laws, Vector Atomic employees must be US citizens (born or naturalized), lawful US permanent residents (i.e. green card holders), and certain categories of refugees, and asylees.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with space‑qualified microprocessors or FPGA families.
• Exposure to FPGA RTL or radiation‑mitigation algorithms (TMR, SEU handling).
• Familiarity with digital signal processing and FPGA implementation constraints.
• Circuit simulation experience (e.g., LTSpice).
• Experience in AS9100‑compliant environments

**Benefits will be provided by Vector Atomic, an IonQ Company, and will differ from the benefits listed on the IonQ website.**

Benefits:

• Platinum‑level family health coverage (medical, dental, vision)
• Health and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Employer 401(k) contributions
• 20 days of paid time off & 11 paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Fully stocked kitchen

The approximate base salary range for this position is $142,113 - $186,063 per year. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity and benefits. It's atypical to be hired at the top end of this range for the role, as actual pay is based on several factors, including job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Compensation will vary based on individual factors such as education, qualifications, and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location, and calibration against relevant market data and internal team equity. Posted base salary figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available. Our benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, matching 401(k), unlimited PTO and paid holidays, parental/adoption leave, legal insurance, and a home technology stipend. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided when a candidate receives an offer of employment.

At IonQ, we believe in fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all while striving to identify and eliminate barriers. We empower employees to thrive by fostering a culture of autonomy, productivity, and respect. We are dedicated to creating an environment where individuals can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued.

We are committed to equity and justice. We welcome different voices and viewpoints and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

US Technical Jobs.

The position you are applying for will require access to technology that is subject to US export control and government contract restrictions. Employment with IonQ is contingent on either verifying "US Person" (e.g., US citizen, US national, US permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the US as a refugee or granted asylum) status for export controls and government contracts work, obtaining any necessary license, and/or confirming the availability of a license exception under US export controls. Please note that in the absence of confirming you are a US Person for export control and government contracts work purposes, IonQ may choose not to apply for a license or decline to use a license exception (if available) for you to access export‑controlled technology that may require authorization, and similarly, you may not qualify for government contracts work that requires US Persons, and IonQ may decline to proceed with your application on those bases alone. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.

US Non-Technical Jobs.

Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a US citizen or national, US permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the US as a refugee or granted asylum. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.