Senior Electrical Engineering - Satellite Systems (San Jose California)

Astro Digital; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Astro Digital designs, builds, and operates a diverse range of small satellite systems supporting space-based turnkey missions. Astro Digital is headquartered in Littleton, Colorado with offices in San Jose, California, Sydney, Australia with roughly 85 employees and infrastructure around the globe.

We are seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer to lead hardware design, debugging, and power electronics, guiding engineers and setting the technical direction for flight-ready spacecraft hardware.

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering (or related).
• 6+ years of hardware development experience in complex, high-reliability electronics (aerospace, defense, medical devices, automotive, telecom, or similar industries all welcome).
• Strong, hands-on background in debugging electronics - especially digital systems and power systems.
• Proficiency with PCB design tools (Altium or similar).
• Solid knowledge of serial communication protocols (I²C, SPI, UART, CAN, Ethernet).
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to mentor junior engineers and collaborate across teams.

Responsibilities

• Work with electrical engineering team across design, debug, and system integration.
• Provide technical guidance to junior engineers, helping them build confidence and capability through reviews, coaching, and hands-on problem solving.
• Stay hands-on when needed - reviewing schematics, debugging in the lab with scopes and analyzers, and supporting board bring-up.
• Debug digital systems (logic-level circuits, microcontrollers, interfaces) and power systems (DC/DC converters, power distribution, system-level power integrity).
• Troubleshoot and validate serial protocols (I²C, SPI, UART, CAN, Ethernet).
• Define engineering standards and oversee design reviews, test processes, and validation.
• Collaborate with software, systems, and mechanical teams to deliver integrated, flight-ready hardware.

Skills

Hardware debugging

PCB design

Serial protocols

Mentoring

Cross-team collaboration

Altium

Education

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

Tools

Altium

Job description

Astro Digital designs, builds, and operates a diverse range of small satellite systems supporting space-based turnkey missions for several business applications, including earth observation, communications, in-orbit demonstrations, risk reduction, science, and exploration. Astro Digital is headquartered in Littleton, Colorado with offices in San Jose, California, Sydney, Australia with roughly 85 employees and infrastructure around the globe.

About the Role

We're looking for an exceptional electrical engineer who is ready to take the next step as our Senior Electrical Engineering. This role is ideal for someone who has mastered hardware design, digital system debugging, and power electronics.

You'll guide engineers of all experience levels, help troubleshoot tough problems, and set the technical direction that ensures our spacecraft hardware is reliable, testable, and space-ready.

What You'll Do

• Work with electrical engineering team across design, debug, and system integration.
• Provide technical guidance to junior engineers, helping them build confidence and capability through reviews, coaching, and hands-on problem solving.
• Stay hands-on when needed - reviewing schematics, debugging in the lab with scopes and analyzers, and supporting board bring-up.
• Debug digital systems (logic-level circuits, microcontrollers, interfaces) and power systems (DC/DC converters, power distribution, system-level power integrity).
• Troubleshoot and validate serial protocols (I²C, SPI, UART, CAN, Ethernet).
• Define engineering standards and oversee design reviews, test processes, and validation.
• Collaborate with software, systems, and mechanical teams to deliver integrated, flight-ready hardware.

What We're Looking For

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering (or related).
• 6+ years of hardware development experience in complex, high-reliability electronics (aerospace, defense, medical devices, automotive, telecom, or similar industries all welcome).
• Strong, hands-on background in debugging electronics - especially digital systems and power systems.
• Proficiency with PCB design tools (Altium or similar).
• Solid knowledge of serial communication protocols (I²C, SPI, UART, CAN, Ethernet).
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to mentor junior engineers and collaborate across teams.

Bonus:

• Spacecraft or aerospace hardware experience.
• Familiarity with environmental testing (thermal, vibration, EMI/EMC).
• Knowledge of design-for-test, fault tolerance, or rad-hard electronics.