Staff Avionics Engineer Verified today

Position Overview

As a Staff Avionics Engineer, you will be personally responsible for the architecture and implementation of the core compute elements for Inversion's next-generation vehicles. This includes system design, interface definition, component selection, high reliability strategy, circuit implementation, and testing and verification of the flight computer and other compute systems. You will report directly to the Director of Engineering, Avionics.

Key Responsibilities

• Test, qualify, and integrate spacecraft hardware for Arc, the company's maneuverable reentry spacecraft.
• Create and lead clean sheet design and analyses of flight hardware from component design through integration and testing.
• Develop, lead, and own digital, analog, and mixed-signal circuit avionic designs and rugged electronic hardware assemblies throughout the product lifecycle.
• Qualify designs through environmental testing including vibration, shock, thermal, and thermal vacuum testing.
• Lead and present trade studies to shape architecture and design.
• Assist in architecting flight software.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• 8+ years of professional experience in design, build, and test cycle for satellite, spacecraft, or launch vehicle compute electronics.
• Execute thorough mixed signal and digital circuit simulations.
• Experience designing PCBAs using Altium Designer or equivalent ECAD software.
• Experience implementing mixed-signal PCBs with digital communications (UART, I2C, SPI, RS422, RS485, CAN, PCIe, Ethernet, Spacewire).
• Experience implementing advanced microprocessors and FPGAs with support structures including DRAM, power distribution, clock generators, NAND flash, DDR, and other peripherals.
• Design, route, and analyze high-speed signals on printed circuit boards using Hyperlynx or equivalent signal integrity analysis software, ensuring compliance with industry standards and performance specifications.
• Experience designing fault-tolerant and failover-capable electronics.
• Strong understanding and experience with requirements, systems design, and test methods for space, launch, and reentry environments including thermal, vibration, shock, EMI/EMC, and radiation.
• Experience using common laboratory equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, spectrum analyzers, and data acquisition systems.
• Proven track record of delivering high visibility designs from rigorous methodology.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience designing high-reliability and safety-critical systems for spacecraft or automotive applications.
• Experience designing radiation-hardened or rad-tolerant systems.
• Familiarity with unique design requirements of long-duration orbital missions.
• Familiarity with common spacecraft ADCS sensors and propulsion components (star trackers, reaction wheels, thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors, pressure transducers, solenoid valves).
• Hands-on vehicle integration and troubleshooting experience.
• Experience with Hyperlynx.
• Prior experience working in startups and small independent teams.

Compensation and Location

California annual base salary: $161,000 to $221,000. This position requires in-office presence in Playa Vista, CA.

ITAR Compliance

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.