Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field
2+ years of experience in designing and fielding electronics hardware
Strong PCB design experience in Altium, KiCad, or similar tools
Solid understanding of circuit analysis, signal integrity, and EMI/EMC
Experience with sensor and actuator integration
Hands-on skills in soldering, rework, and debugging
Ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance
Responsibilities
Define avionics architecture for flight computer and power systems
Design and simulate PCBs for various functions
Manage schematic capture, layout, and vendor coordination
Develop power systems including DC-DC conversion and protection circuitry
Integrate sensors and electromechanical actuators
Design low-latency interfaces for flight software
Lead electrical qualification testing and partner with embedded engineers
Benefits
On-site work environment
Opportunity to work directly with founders and cross-functional teams
Hands-on role with direct impact on flight hardware
Involvement in cutting-edge technology for next-generation interceptors
Potential for equity in a startup environment
Full Job Description
Avionics Engineer - Design, build, and fly the electronics inside a next-generation interceptor
El Segundo, California | On-site
Opportunity Summary
This hands-on role owns the electronics across the interceptor, from board-level design and power systems to sensor integration, harnessing, and the electrical interface to the launcher. You will design boards, build and debug them yourself, and carry them through qualification and into flight.
You will work directly with the founders and with seeker, GNC, embedded software, propulsion, and mechanical engineers. The hardware you design will fly and intercept targets.
Job Duties
Define the avionics architecture across the flight computer, power distribution, and data buses
Design, simulate, and lay out PCBs for computing, sensing, actuation, and power
Own schematic capture, layout, component selection, DFM, and board vendor coordination
Develop power systems including DC-DC conversion, batteries, protection circuitry, and transient management
Integrate the seeker, IMUs, GNSS receivers, and electromechanical actuators
Design signal conditioning and low-latency sensor and actuator interfaces for flight software and the autopilot
Design wiring harnesses and the launcher electrical interface with the mechanical team
Design electronics to survive high-G launch, vibration, shock, and thermal extremes
Lead electrical qualification testing including EMI/EMC, vibration, thermal, and high-G
Partner with embedded engineers on processor selection, drivers, and the hardware-firmware interface
Bring up and debug hardware using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and DAQ systems
Support vehicle integration, ground test, and flight test, and write requirements, test plans, and documentation
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field
2+ years designing and fielding electronics hardware, including at least one system taken through test (student rocketry and similar teams count)
Strong PCB design experience in Altium, KiCad, or similar, including mixed-signal and power electronics
Strong fundamentals in circuit analysis, signal integrity, noise, grounding, and EMI/EMC
Experience integrating sensors, actuators, and power systems
Hands-on soldering, rework, bring-up, and debugging skills
Comfortable with oscilloscopes, logic and protocol analyzers, and other lab equipment
U.S. Person status required (ITAR) and ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance
Preferred Experience
Avionics for missiles, rockets, UAVs, or other high-speed flight vehicles
High-G electronics design and qualification
Wiring harness design or vehicle and launcher electrical interfaces
High-speed digital buses or RF systems
Embedded firmware in C or C++ with an RTOS
Motor drives or actuator control
MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-810, or comparable flight hardware standards