Power Electronics Engineer - Develop Advanced Spacecraft Propulsion Power SystemsLos Angeles, CA | On-site
Opportunity SummaryJoin a seed-stage space technology startup developing advanced spacecraft and next-generation electric propulsion systems for demanding orbital missions. As the company expands its engineering team, we are seeking a Power Electronics Engineer to lead the design and development of high-performance power processing hardware that serves as the electrical backbone of advanced propulsion systems. This is a hands-on engineering role with end-to-end ownership of power electronics development from architecture and circuit design through hardware bring-up, environmental qualification, and flight integration. You will work closely with propulsion, avionics, software, and systems engineers to deliver reliable, flight-ready power electronics capable of operating in challenging space environments.
Job Duties- Lead the architecture and development of power electronics supporting advanced electric propulsion systems.
- Design high-performance power conversion hardware, including isolated DC-DC converter topologies and power processing units.
- Own electrical designs from system requirements through schematic capture, PCB layout, prototype development, qualification, and flight readiness.
- Define electrical power and communication interfaces between propulsion systems and spacecraft avionics.
- Perform circuit analysis, component selection, and design optimization for high-reliability aerospace applications.
- Develop and execute laboratory bring-up, integration, and performance testing of power electronics hardware.
- Create test plans, automation tools, and validation procedures for hardware verification.
- Support environmental qualification activities including vibration, thermal vacuum, shock, EMI/EMC, and radiation testing.
- Collaborate with propulsion, software, avionics, and systems engineering teams to ensure seamless subsystem integration.
- Troubleshoot hardware issues, analyze test results, and continuously improve system performance.
Qualifications- BS in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- 5+ years of experience designing and developing power electronics hardware.
- Experience designing isolated DC-DC converters from concept through testing and validation.
- Proficiency with schematic capture and PCB layout tools such as Altium, KiCad, or similar.
- Experience performing circuit simulation using LTSpice or comparable software.
- Hands-on experience bringing up and testing electronic hardware in a laboratory environment.
- Programming experience using C++, Python, or similar languages for test automation or embedded development.
- Strong understanding of power conversion, analog electronics, and system integration.
- Ability to solve complex engineering challenges using first-principles thinking.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment with significant technical ownership.
Preferred Experience- Experience developing power processing units for spacecraft or electric propulsion systems.
- Background supporting plasma devices, electric thrusters, or other high-voltage aerospace hardware.
- Familiarity with radiation-tolerant electronics and component selection for space applications.
- Experience supporting environmental qualification including vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, EMI/EMC, and radiation testing.
- Knowledge of spacecraft electrical power systems and avionics integration.
- Startup or early-stage hardware development experience.
Why Join Us- Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications.
- Equity participation through stock options.
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- 401(k) program.
- Paid time off.
- Opportunity to own a critical spacecraft subsystem from initial architecture through flight.
- Significant technical ownership with direct collaboration alongside experienced aerospace engineers.
- Career growth within a rapidly expanding seed-stage space company.
Compensation Details$180,000 - $220,000
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