Sr. EMC Engineer

Astrolab; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership

Comprehensive health benefits

401(k) plan with match

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Astrolab, The Lunar Operations Company, seeks an EMC Engineer in Hawthorne, CA to design and validate avionics systems capable of withstanding the harsh electromagnetic environment of space. You will help define EMC criteria for lunar rover and hardware, focusing on EMC, in-space charging effects, and cross-disciplinary requirements.

You will work within cross-functional teams to ensure robust EMI/EMC performance across system and component levels, participate in qualification activities, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in STEM is required.
• 5+ years of EMI/EMC experience for spacecraft/avionics.
• Experience with LTSpice and circuit analysis tools.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with engineering teams to capture EMI/EMC requirements and trades.
• Lead system-to-component design with EMI/EMC criteria.
• Analyze grounding, shielding, and isolation to ensure EMC.
• Troubleshoot EMI issues from board to system level.
• Operate EMI/RF test equipment (spectrum analyzers, network analyzers).
• Create and update technical docs and test reports.
• Support spacecraft integration testing and risk management.

Skills

EMI/EMC design

EMI testing

Schematic reading

RF compatibility

Electromagnetic analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

LTSpice

Spice

Oscilloscopes

Network analyzers

Multimeters

Job description

Compensation: $155,000 - $200,000 / year

Department: Avionics

Location: Hawthorne, California

Compensation: $155,000 - $200,000 / year

Description

Astrolab is The Lunar Operations Company. We design and build the systems and hardware the lunar economy will come to depend on — rovers, power, and data networks for sustained operations on the Moon. We are focused on the problems that must be solved before the next chapter of human exploration can scale. The Moon does not forgive untested assumptions. The people who work here know that, and they wouldn't have it any other way.

As an EMC Engineer, you will be responsible for ensuring Avionics components are designed to endure the harsh electromagnetic environmental effects of interplanetary space. You will play a pivotal role in defining the design criteria for state-of-the‑art avionics and electro‑mechanical systems for the lunar surface with a strong focus on electromagnetic compatibility, in‑space charging effects, and interdisciplinary requirements. You will be joining a company at the ground‑level and have immense influence over the future of lunar exploration.

What you'll do:

• Collaborate closely within cross‑functional Engineering teams to capture requirements, lead design trades with respect to EMI/EMC, and integrate the design into the rover systems
• Contribute to full avionics and electro‑mechanical systems/subsystems from system to component level with specific focus on E3 design criteria and operational/survivability requirements
• Analyze and contribute to designs relating to the effects of circuit and power system grounding architectures, structural electrical bonding, circuit isolation, shielding effectiveness, radiated/conducted emissions and susceptibility, near field/far field electromagnetics, transient protection, signal and power integrity, and general RF compatibility
• Troubleshoot EMI issues from board to system level
• Operate and automate a variety of EMI, RF, and electronics test equipment (spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, signal generation, oscilloscopes) within the context of avionics development and in house EMC testing
• Create and update technical documentation including command media, system diagrams, schematics, interface control documents, procedures, work and/or build orders, vendor and payload requirements, and test/anomaly reports
• Support flight hardware component qualification and spacecraft integration testing, including production issue dispositions, troubleshooting failures, and managing overall spacecraft risk

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) related field
• 5+ years of experience in EMI/EMC requirements, analysis, design, and testing for spacecraft systems and/or avionics component design (academic and personal projects apply)
• Experience with Analytics/Modeling/Simulation tools such as LTSpice, and experience with electrical circuit analysis using simulation tools such as Spice or equivalent

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, signal generators, logic analyzers, etc.
• Familiarity with SMC-S-016 testing requirements, and testing per SMC-S-016
• Knowledge of electrical safety and EMC commercial compliance standards and/or testing
• MIL-STD-461 experience across the full range of EMC test (radiated susceptibility, radiated emissions, conducted susceptibility, conducted emissions) standards
• Experience in high power avionics system designs for spacecraft including: LDO Regulators, Buck/Boost converters, power line filters and various spacecraft grounding schemes for high voltage systems
• Experience in motor controller system designs for brushless DC motors (BLDC) and permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) in both low and high voltage systems
• Ability to read, interpret and follow circuit schematics, PCB layouts, engineering drawings, BOMs, cable harnesses, wiring schematics, interface diagrams, layout drawings, mechanical drawings, and CAD software

Benefits and Perks

• Join a team of best-in‑class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
• Equity ownership in the company
• Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Flexible PTO and parental leave
• Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on‑site
• Once a month social hour on‑site with food and drinks