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.

What You’Ll Do

: As a Senior Electrical Hardware Design Engineer you will own the design, development, integration, and testing of circuit cards and related electronics hardware for spacecraft and other advanced aerospace and defense systems. You will work closely with mechanical, software, systems, manufacturing, and test engineers to develop space rated flight hardware that performs reliably in demanding environments. Design, develop, and validate schematics, PCB layouts, circuit cards, electrical interfaces, and supporting electronics hardware.

Own circuit card design from concept through schematic capture, PCB layout, bring-up, debugging, testing, and release. Develop analog, digital, mixed-signal, and power electronics designs for embedded systems, sensors, actuators, controllers, and related flight hardware. Perform component selection, circuit analysis, worst-case analysis, derating reviews, and design trade studies.

Support PCB stack-up definition, grounding strategies, signal integrity considerations, power integrity considerations, and EMI/EMC design practices. Work closely with mechanical and thermal teams to support electronics packaging, board-level thermal management, heat dissipation strategies, and environmental constraints. Develop and execute electrical test plans for circuit cards, subsystems, and integrated hardware.

Collaborate with firmware, software, and controls teams to integrate electronics hardware with embedded processors, sensors, communication interfaces, and control systems. Support design for manufacturability, design for test, prototype builds, supplier coordination, and transition from engineering development to repeatable production. Drive rapid design iterations in a hands-on development environment where hardware is designed, built, tested, and improved quickly.

Qualifications

: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related engineering discipline. 7+ years of professional electrical engineering experience. Experience designing electrical hardware, circuit cards, schematics, and PCBs for spacecraft, satellites, aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability applications.

Experience working on spacecraft hardware or spacecraft electrical systems. Experience with flight systems, flight electronics, avionics, or other mission-critical electrical hardware. Strong understanding of analog and digital circuit design.

Experience with schematic capture and PCB design using Altium Designer. Experience owning board-level hardware through design, layout, bring-up, debugging, and testing. Experience selecting components and working with datasheets, reference designs, and supplier documentation.