The Aerospace Corporation

Digital Design Engineer - Engineering Specialist

The Aerospace Corporation$129K — $193K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related field with 8+ years in engineering/scientific roles.
  • Expertise in FPGA/ASIC design using VHDL, Verilog, and/or System Verilog.
  • Experience with high-speed PCB design and layout.
  • Proficient in troubleshooting digital mixed-signal circuits.
  • Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing projects.
  • Strong communication skills and ability to work on-site up to four days a week.

Responsibilities

  • Design and verify FPGA/ASIC systems using advanced digital tools.
  • Conduct independent verification of contractor's designs.
  • Develop software/scripts and support hardware testing equipment.
  • Attend technical meetings at contractor facilities for troubleshooting.
  • Lead or collaborate with teams for successful project alignment and execution.
  • Perform risk assessments and resolve hardware anomalies.
  • Prepare technical reports and brief stakeholders.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
  • Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
  • Flexible work schedules, including telework options
  • Generous 401(k) plan with immediate vesting
  • Education assistance and professional development programs
  • Relocation assistance available
  • Inclusive work environment that values diversity and teamwork.
Full Job Description

This position will support the Avionic Systems Division’s Command and Data Handling Branch of the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) Engineering Directorate. It will function as an FPGA design engineer providing design support to various human exploration programs.

The selected candidate will be required to work full time on-site at the Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

What You’ll Be Doing

  • Utilize cutting-edge digital design tools, technologies, and best practices to design, implement, test, and verify advanced FPGA/ASIC, boards, units, and systems for digital electronics applications.

  • Perform independent verification and validation of contractor designs (boards, units, and FPGA/ASIC) to ensure requirement conformances.

  • Develop and test software/scripts, firmware, and support test equipment (STE) for hardware testing.

  • Provide on-site presence and support at contractor facilities for technical meetings, reviews, hardware testing, and troubleshooting.

  • Lead technical teams or work independently, fostering collaboration across both internal and external organizations to ensure resource alignment and project success.

  • Conduct risk assessments and resolve anomalies for FPGA/ASIC, electronic hardware, and systems.

  • Prepare and brief technical reports and project updates to customers, management, and other stakeholders.

  • Mentor staff and interns on design processes and best practices.

What You Need to be Successful – Engineer Specialist

Minimum Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field from an accredited university, with 8+ years of experience in engineering/scientific roles related to digital and microelectronic hardware.

  • Experience in FPGA/ASIC design using hardware description languages such as VHDL, Verilog, and/or System Verilog and CAD tools.

  • Experience with the design, implement, test, and verification of advanced FPGA/ASIC, boards, units, and systems for digital electronics applications

  • Experience in high-speed Printed Circuit Board (PCB) designs from schematic capture, parts placement, signal routing, stack-up, and board layout.

  • Hands-on troubleshooting skills and proficient in lab equipment and measurements for hardware anomalies and failures, with experience in root-cause analysis and resolution in digital and mixed-signal circuits and subsystems.

  • Experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams across design, manufacturing, test, and integration.

  • Serve as the technical authority, consultant, primary investigator, or project leader on multiple programs, collaborating seamlessly with both internal and external stakeholders.

  • Excellent communication, teamwork, and documentation skills; ability to work on-site at least 4 days per week, travel up to 25% of the time.

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

  • Hands-on knowledge of space qualification for electrical components, radiation effects, board/component-level radiation testing, and worst-case circuit analysis (WCCA), including use of analysis tools (HyperLynx, PSPICE).

  • Experience with space hardware and/or FPGA designs.

  • Advanced degree in electrical engineering or a related field from an accredited university.

  • Proven ability to identify risks and lead risk reduction initiatives in digital and mixed-signal electronics systems.

  • Demonstrated expertise in the full lifecycle of digital and mixed-signal systems—concept, requirements, design, manufacturing, assembly, integration, and test at all system levels.

  • Strong knowledge of mixed-signal analog design, including active filters, precision current drives, data converter support circuitry, and related simulation techniques.

  • Skilled in signal integrity simulation, analysis, and testing, with a solid background in transmission line theory, electromagnetics, PCB, and package layout techniques.

  • In-depth understanding of high-speed digital communications, space payload electronics and subsystems, C&DH systems, and digital signal processing;

  • Ability to obtain/maintain a U.S. government security clearance (U.S. citizenship required).

  • Experience with space system engineering practices and standards

  • Experience working closely with customers and/or contractors.

  • Experience in human space flight

  • Knowledge and understanding of the NASA program life cycle

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business.  The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below.  Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills.

(Min - Max)

$129,000.00 - $193,500.00

Pay Basis: Annual

Leadership Competencies

Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:

  • Operate Strategically
  • Lead Change
  • Engage with Impact
  • Foster Innovation
  • Deliver Results

Ways We Reward Our Employees

During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.

Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type.  A few highlights include:

  • Comprehensive health care and wellness plans

  • Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation

  • Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options

  • 401(k) Plan 6 Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire

  • Flexible spending accounts

  • Variable pay program for exceptional contributions

  • Relocation assistance

  • Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career

  • Education assistance programs

  • An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

We are all unique, from various backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other 6the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.

About The Aerospace Corporation

The Aerospace Corporation is a nonprofit corporation that operates a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) headquartered in El Segundo, California. The corporation provides technical guidance and advice on all aspects of space missions to military, civil, and commercial customers. Aerospace also designs and develops spacecraft, sensors, and other systems in support of national security, civil, and commercial customers. The corporation has more than 4,000 employees and operates a number of laboratories and test facilities across the United States.
Learn more about The Aerospace Corporation
Size
4,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1960

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