Electrical Engineer

Job description

As an Electrical Engineer at Aetherflux, you will have ownership over the hardware that drives our space-based solar power systems. This role sits at the intersection of electrical, mechanical, thermal, software, and optical engineering. Your work will directly contribute to the design, testing, and integration of complex electrical systems, ensuring our satellites perform reliably in space. There may be several focus areas within our engineering team, including power systems integration, space-grade avionics, failure analysis, on-orbit reliability, and hardware testing automation. Placement within these sub-teams will be determined based on your technical fit, expertise, and preferences. Responsibilities: Design, develop, and test highly reliable electronics for space-based power beaming systems and satellite components. Evaluate third-party electrical designs and solutions for integration into Aetherflux satellite systems. Collaborate closely with software, mechanical, thermal, optical, and manufacturing teams to ensure tight integration of all system components. Drive system trades, requirements capture, component selection, analysis, schematic capture, PCB layout, prototyping, hardware bring-up, debugging, and documentation of complex electrical designs. Provide hands-on support for hardware development from prototype through full-scale production, satellite integration, and in-orbit testing. Work across disciplines to deliver tightly integrated, high-performance hardware that can withstand the extreme conditions of space. Continuously improve designs by building tools for analyzing data collected both in the lab and during in-orbit operations. Troubleshoot and challenge assumptions to find simple, elegant solutions to complex technical problems. Potential sub-systems of Ownership: Satellite Payload Systems – Design and implement high-density power conversion systems and precision laser control circuits. Satellite Avionics & Bus Systems – Design, develop, and test space-hardened avionics hardware for satellite control and communication. Ground Stations & Gateways – Design, build, and test electronics for ground stations that serve as critical links between satellites and Earth-based receivers. Hardware Test & Automation – Oversee design validation and testing from initial concept to full-scale production, including thermal and mechanical stress testing. F ailure Analysis & On-Orbit Reliability – Conduct root cause analysis of production and operational issues, leading efforts to improve design for enhanced product reliability. High-Power Laser Systems – Focus on the electrical aspects of controlling, powering, and monitoring our satellite-based high-power laser systems. Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or physics. 1+ years of experience designing circuits, electronic products, or hardware systems. Preferred Skills and Experience: Master’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or similar engineering discipline. 2+ years of professional experience designing and delivering highly reliable products, with a focus on the full life cycle of new hardware development. 2+ years of experience designing mixed-signal circuit boards (processors, FPGAs, Ethernet, multi-GHz SerDes, DRAM interfaces, I2C, SPI, ADCs, DACs, and power supply components). Experience with electrical and mechanical integration for space-based or aerospace systems. Experience with testing, troubleshooting, and debugging electronics in both lab and production environments. Proficiency in programming languages like Python and C/C++ for automation and hardware control. Strong understanding of electrical engineering principles, circuit design, and systems integration.