Senior Electrical Engineer, Space Systems (LEO)

Physics World; Pleasanton (CA); On-site; USD 142,000 - 186,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Platinum-level family health coverage

Health and dependent care FSA

Employer 401(k) contributions

20 days of paid time off & 11 paid HOL

Paid parental leave

Fully stocked kitchen

Job summary

IonQ is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer to join a multidisciplinary team designing next-generation quantum sensors for LEO missions. You will lead the design of advanced electronics, including PCB assemblies with FPGA, MCU, mixed-signal, and RF architectures, built to meet spaceflight reliability requirements.

You will collaborate across firmware, RTL, mechanical, and optical teams, operating as an individual contributor with technical ownership from concept through on-orbit deployment, in

Qualifications

• 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.

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.

Skills

SWaP-C optimization

PCB design

Radiation effects understanding

Hardware testing

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering

Master's in related field

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Spectrum Analyzers

VNAs

Power Supplies

Job description

IonQ is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer to join a multidisciplinary team designing next-generation quantum sensors for LEO missions. You will lead the design of advanced electronics, including PCB assemblies with FPGA, MCU, mixed-signal, and RF architectures, built to meet spaceflight reliability requirements.

You will collaborate across firmware, RTL, mechanical, and optical teams, operating as an individual contributor with technical ownership from concept through on-orbit deployment, in