The posting
A New Paradigm For Space Operations.
Who We Are:
Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a ‘one-to-many’ system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster.
This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space.
Position Overview:
The Senior Electrical Engineer, Power Electronics & Embedded Systems (Mixed Signal) will play a critical role in designing, building, and maturing prototypes for Space Kinetic’s core technology. You will design systems that process both analog and digital signals and bridge the gap between real-world physical inputs like pressure and temperature sensors and the processor in an embedded system. With your knowledge of analog electronics, you will design signal conditioning circuitry and with additional knowledge of discrete electronic components and integrated circuits, you will help design actuator controllers like the driver circuitry required in a motor controller and the interfaces to power electronics.
You will support the team in refining the electrical architecture of the current prototype and driving the system closer to a flight-ready configuration with each iteration. Your first project will involve a custom motor controller with power levels never before implemented in space and an electromechanical system with novel energy recycling functions. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys taking concepts from schematic to hardware, solving complex electrical challenges, and working closely with mechanical and manufacturing teams to bring cutting-edge space hardware to life.
What You’ll Do:
- Design, develop, and build electrical prototypes for Space Kinetic’s core technology.
- Refine and finalize the current prototype's electrical design to support all phases of prototype maturation.
- Undertake and complete circuit design tasks, generate detailed schematics, and perform component selection aligned with environmental and system requirements.
- Apply detailed tolerancing, design-for-manufacture principles, and thorough documentation across all electrical prototype phases.
- Support PCB layout design and coordinate with external vendors for fabrication and assembly of PCB components.
- Collaborate closely with the Space Kinetic manufacturing and engineering team to integrate electrical systems into mechanical assemblies.
- Verify and validate your electrical designs through testing, troubleshooting, debugging, and iteration to improve system reliability and performance.
- Actively participate in design reviews, contribute to system-level engineering discussions, and ensure the electrical subsystem progresses toward flight-readiness.
- Support the creation and maintenance of electrical documentation, including BOMs, wiring diagrams, interface control documents (ICDs), and test procedures.
- Ensure each design iteration moves the system closer to a flight-ready prototype aligned with Space Kinetic’s 2-year flight demonstration goal.
What It Takes:
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a closely related STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic) field.
- 5+ years of hands-on electrical engineering experience, ideally involving prototype development.
- Experience developing hardware for aerospace, defense, robotics, or similarly rigorous applications.
- Experience designing analog circuitry such as signal conditioning circuitry.
- Experience designing digital circuitry and output drivers such as gate drivers and motor drivers.
- Experience working with embedded systems.
- Proficiency in circuit design, schematic creation, and component selection.
- Experience working with Schematic / PCB design tools (e.g., Altium).
- Demonstrated experience building and testing electrical systems or prototypes.
- Strong understanding of electronics fundamentals, wiring practices, and system integration.
- Ability to troubleshoot circuits, debug hardware, and iterate rapidly.
- Hands-on experience with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, logic analyzers).
- Experience collaborating with vendors for PCB fabrication and assembly.
- Excellent documentation, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment with evolving requirements.
- To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder).
- Ability to maintain or obtain a Government Security Clearance.
What We'd Love:
- A minimum of 9 years of hands-on electrical engineering experience.
- Experience in developing embedded systems.
- Experience in developing power electronics.
- Experience with the C programming language.
- Knowledge of field-oriented controls, microcontrollers, sensors, and power electronics.
- Experience with environmental or functional testing of electrical systems.
Where You’ll Be:
- The position will be on site at our headquarters in El Segundo, CA.
What We Offer:
- Equity-Based Compensation
- 401(k) retirement plan with a 3.5% company match
- Highly Competitive PTO
- Paid company holidays + winter break
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Unique Performance-based bonus opportunities
ITAR Requirements: To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here
Equal Employment Opportunity: Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.
The annual base salary for this role is below. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.
Pay Range
$165,000—$205,000 USD
