Senior Avionics Engineer - Own Flight Electronics for an Advanced Launch System

Alameda, California | On-site

Opportunity Summary

Join a venture-backed aerospace startup developing an advanced launch platform designed to reduce the cost of delivering payloads to orbit. The company is building flight hardware that must perform in one of the most demanding aerospace environments, requiring robust electronics, embedded systems, communications, and power architectures that can withstand extreme operating conditions. As a Senior Avionics Engineer, you will own the vehicle's complete avionics system from initial architecture through design, integration, qualification, and flight. This is a highly hands-on engineering role with responsibility across embedded electronics, flight computing, telemetry, power systems, instrumentation, and system integration. You will work alongside mechanical, systems, software, and flight engineers to design, build, test, and iterate hardware from concept through launch.

About Us

We are an early-stage aerospace company developing advanced launch technologies that expand access to space through innovative engineering and rapid hardware development. Backed by venture funding and led by an experienced technical team, we move quickly, emphasize first-principles engineering, and give engineers broad ownership over the systems they develop. Every team member plays a direct role in shaping both the product and the company.

Job Duties

• Own the overall avionics architecture, including flight computers, command and data handling systems, and onboard electronics
• Design, develop, and qualify embedded electronic hardware for demanding aerospace environments
• Develop embedded firmware using C/C++, RTOS, or bare-metal architectures
• Design multilayer printed circuit boards, perform schematic capture, support board bring-up, and validate new hardware
• Lead development of onboard sensor systems, instrumentation, signal conditioning, and data acquisition
• Design and integrate telemetry, RF communication systems, antennas, and flight communication hardware
• Develop vehicle power distribution architecture, battery integration, and power conditioning systems
• Design and support flight safety electronics and associated qualification activities
• Build and maintain hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and software-in-the-loop (SIL) test environments
• Plan and execute environmental testing including vibration, shock, thermal cycling, and high-load qualification testing
• Support integrated vehicle testing and field test campaigns through instrumentation, troubleshooting, and data collection
• Analyze test results, identify root causes, and implement hardware improvements
• Create and maintain engineering documentation, interface definitions, schematics, and qualification records
• Partner closely with systems, software, guidance, navigation and control, and mechanical engineering teams throughout development

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related technical field
• 4+ years of professional experience designing avionics, embedded electronics, or other high-reliability hardware systems
• Strong embedded software development experience using C/C++, RTOS, or bare-metal firmware
• Experience designing, debugging, and validating custom electronic hardware
• Experience designing multilayer PCBs using Altium Designer, KiCad, or similar tools
• Strong understanding of schematic capture, board bring-up, and hardware debugging
• Hands-on laboratory experience using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters, power supplies, and soldering equipment
• Experience taking hardware from concept through integration, testing, and qualification
• Ability to work on-site in Alameda, California, with occasional travel to test facilities
• U.S. Person status required due to export control regulations

Preferred Experience

• RF communications, telemetry systems, antenna integration, and wireless link analysis
• Battery systems, power electronics, and power distribution design
• Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and software-in-the-loop (SIL) development
• Data acquisition systems, instrumentation, and automated test equipment
• Experience developing electronics for harsh operating environments involving vibration, shock, thermal extremes, or sustained acceleration
• Familiarity with aerospace or defense qualification standards
• Experience integrating avionics with flight software or guidance, navigation, and control systems
• Python or MATLAB for engineering analysis, test automation, or data reduction
• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline

Why Join Us

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and paid sick leave
• Equity opportunity
• Professional development support
• Structured onboarding and integration program
• Broad technical ownership with the opportunity to influence system architecture and product direction
• Small, experienced engineering team where your work directly impacts flight hardware and company growth

Compensation Details

$150,000 - $190,000

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