Senior Space PCB Designer – Avionics & Flight-Ready Boards

Sophia Space Inc.; Pasadena, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 122,000 - 181,000; Full time

Job summary

Sophia Space Inc. in Pasadena, CA seeks a Senior PCB Designer / Layout Engineer to own the physical realization of Tile avionics hardware from schematic intake through layout release, fabrication, assembly, and test support.

You will translate complex analog, power, and high-speed designs into quiet, flight-ready PCBs that survive vibration, vacuum, radiation, and thermal cycling; this role is not CAD-only and requires space avionics insight.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experiences in using Altium and LTSpice and other ECAD tools.
• Schematic capture and PCB layout expertise for complex analog, power, and mixed-signal avionics boards, with ownership from schematic release through layout and fabrication.
• High-reliability PCB layout proficiency, including switching-loop control, return-path management, grounding strategy, Kelvin sensing, creepage/clearance, and thermal via implementation.
• PCB stackup and materials knowledge, including copper weights, plane strategy, controlled-impedance routing, and space-compatible laminate selection.
• Manufacturability and testability focus, with experience generating fabrication/assembly documentation, defining test points, and supporting board bring-up and debug.
• Simulation and analysis support capability, including basic SPICE, signal-integrity, or power-integrity analysis to validate schematic and layout intent.
• Space avionics hardware lifecycle experience, including configuration-controlled releases and participation in SRR/PDR/CDR and flight-hardware reviews.

Responsibilities

• Own schematic capture and PCB layout execution for Tile avionics boards (including the compute element and EPS), translating system and power requirements into electrically correct, flight-ready schematics and physical implementations.
• Collaborate on circuit-level analysis and simulation, supporting signal-integrity, power-integrity, and basic SPICE-based validation to ensure schematic intent is preserved through layout.
• Apply space-grade layout practices, including switching-loop minimization, return-path control, grounding strategy, Kelvin sensing, creepage/clearance, and thermal conduction.
• Define and manage PCB stackups and materials, including copper weights, plane strategy, controlled impedance, and compatibility with space avionics fabrication and assembly standards.
• Ensure manufacturability and testability, producing fabrication and assembly documentation, defining test points and probing strategy, and supporting board bring-up and debug.
• Support the full space avionics hardware lifecycle and testbeds, including configuration-managed releases, SRR/PDR/CDR participation as layout authority, and support of TVAC, vibration, and EMC testing.

Skills

Altium

LTSpice

ECAD tools

Schematic capture

PCB layout

High-reliability PCB

Tools

Altium

LTSpice

ECAD tools

Job description

Sophia Space Inc. in Pasadena, CA seeks a Senior PCB Designer / Layout Engineer to own the physical realization of Tile avionics hardware from schematic intake through layout release, fabrication, assembly, and test support.

You will translate complex analog, power, and high-speed designs into quiet, flight-ready PCBs that survive vibration, vacuum, radiation, and thermal cycling; this role is not CAD-only and requires space avionics insight.