Spacecraft Electrical Engineer

Xona-Space-Systems; Burlingame (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Xona-Space-Systems in Burlingame, CA seeks an Electrical Engineer to design and integrate spacecraft electrical systems for propulsion. You will lead hardware design, lab testing, and ensure reliability in harsh space environments while collaborating with firmware, power electronics, and avionics teams.

The role requires a BS in Electrical/Computer Engineering and 2+ years in mixed-signal design, PCB layout, and DC/DC converter development.

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• 2+ years bringing mixed-signal designs from schematic to lab bring-up.
• Experience with Altium or KiCad and SPICE for design and simulation.
• Strong understanding of power electronics, signal integrity, and hardware reliability in space environments.
• Experience with embedded MCU hardware and peripheral interfaces.
• Ability to write Python scripts for test automation.
• Familiarity with CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, and RS-422 communication.

Responsibilities

• Hardware Design: Design and develop electrical subsystems for propulsion electronics, including embedded microcontroller hardware, sensor interfaces, valve drivers, and power conversion.
• PCB Development: Lead schematic capture and multi-layer PCB layout design from breadboard prototypes to flight hardware.
• Power & Driver Stages: Design, tune, and validate DC/DC converters and driver stages for inductive and resistive loads.
• Analog Acquisition: Implement precision analog front-ends for telemetry (current sensing, pressure transducers, temperature).
• Firmware Collaboration: Define hardware/ firmware interfaces, peripheral pin mappings, register maps, and communication protocols (CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, RS-422).
• Reviews & Quality: Conduct hardware design and layout reviews; support sourcing while ensuring standards and derating.
• Testing & Automation: Develop and execute electrical test plans from breadboard to flight hardware, writing Python scripts for test automation and data logging.
• Lab Debugging: Troubleshoot hardware in lab using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and power meters.
• Documentation: Develop electrical interface documentation (ICDs) and test procedures.
• Integration Support: Support AIT activities including TVAC, vibration, EMI/EMC.

Skills

Embedded HW

Power electronics

Analog design

Lab validation

Python scripting

Embedded interfaces

Education

B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field

Tools

Altium

KiCad

SPICE

Job description

Xona-Space-Systems in Burlingame, CA seeks an Electrical Engineer to design and integrate spacecraft electrical systems for propulsion. You will lead hardware design, lab testing, and ensure reliability in harsh space environments while collaborating with firmware, power electronics, and avionics teams.

The role requires a BS in Electrical/Computer Engineering and 2+ years in mixed-signal design, PCB layout, and DC/DC converter development.