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CesiumAstro creates out-of-the-box communication systems for space and airborne platforms.
The Role
Lead end-to-end design and verification of high-reliability space/airborne electronics: architecture, schematic, PCB layout, SI/PI analysis, bring-up, validation, production release, and technical leadership/mentoring.
Summary Generated by Built In
Please Note: To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.
We are looking to add a Principal Hardware Engineer II to our team. If you are great at what you do, enjoy working in a startup environment, and are passionate about developing leading-edge electronics for satellites, spacecraft, and aerospace systems, we would like to hear from you.
At the Principal level, you will be tasked with full-stack hardware development for complex modules and hardware systems. You will have the opportunity to start at concept development and progress through detailed design, analysis, layout, build, test, and delivery, doing hands-on work at each phase. The Principal level also includes technical leadership opportunities, gaining responsibility for critical designs and teams of engineers developing new products and systems.
At a small company and a startup, your work will make direct contributions to the success of the business. The work is challenging and impactful, requiring both breadth and depth of technical knowledge. Our products are made for high-reliability space and airborne applications, so designs require high levels of technical rigor while maintaining the agility of a startup environment.
The successful candidate will also present engineering design review materials to our customers and executive team. As such, excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Own end-to-end design of complex electronics modules and systems, from concept and architecture through schematic, layout, test, and production. Products may include high-speed digital, power electronics, and/or RF.
- Lead teams of hardware engineers to develop new products with multiple electronics modules.
- Provide subject matter expertise in support of hardware development across the company.
- Develop hardware architecture and write hardware requirements for systems of high complexity.
- Perform detailed and complete schematic design for complex boards, ranging from key components to supporting passives.
- Perform detailed PCB layout in Altium Designer for complex boards, often working with a PCB Drafter.
- Complete analysis such as worst-case circuit analysis, signal integrity analysis, and power integrity analysis. Guide analysis methodology.
- Develop bring-up plans and design verification plans for new hardware and complex systems.
- Perform bring-up and key verification testing of modules and complex integrated systems, often working with a team to complete validation.
- Release modules and assemblies to production, working with the Manufacturing and Test Engineering teams.
- Mentor junior and senior engineers to build technical understanding and professional development.
- Use strong working knowledge of adjacent fields, such as software and mechanical, to streamline development of complex hardware systems.
JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor of Science (BS) degree or higher in Electrical Engineering from an accredited university.
- Minimum of 11 years of industry or university research experience in board-level electronics design, analysis, and test.
- Direct experience designing high-reliability electronics and small systems for space or defense applications, including part derating, worst-case analysis, and thermal constraints.
- Experience owning the design phase of complex board-level electronics and small hardware systems, including architecture design, trade studies, key part selection, and detailed design.
- Multiple experiences delivering hardware products through production and deployment.
- Expertise in PCB layout and manufacturing, including high-density interconnect (HDI) stackup design, IPC standards, and industry best practices.
- Expertise derisking designs with board-level signal integrity and/or power integrity simulation tools such as Ansys SIwave, ADS SIPro, or Mentor Hyperlynx.
- Strong understanding of adjacent fields, such as software and mechanical, that contributes to judicious design of hardware system architectures.
- Expert-level proficiency in electronics design tools such as Altium.
- Extensive lab experience for bring-up and verification of new hardware, based on in-depth understanding of specialized lab equipment.
- Excellent written and spoken communication skills.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
- Experience leading teams of hardware engineers to develop multi-module assemblies, including hardware architecture, requirements, and interconnects.
- Design for space radiation environments.
CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills. Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.
CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.
Skills Required
- Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering or higher
- Minimum 11 years industry or university research experience in board-level electronics design, analysis, and test
- Direct experience designing high-reliability electronics for space or defense (part derating, worst-case analysis, thermal constraints)
- Experience owning design phase of complex board-level electronics and small hardware systems (architecture, trade studies, part selection)
- Multiple experiences delivering hardware products through production and deployment
- Expertise in PCB layout and manufacturing, including HDI stackup design and IPC standards
- Expertise in board-level SI and/or PI simulation tools (Ansys SIwave, ADS SIPro, Mentor Hyperlynx)
- Expert-level proficiency in electronics design tools such as Altium Designer
- Extensive lab experience for bring-up and verification using specialized lab equipment
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Strong understanding of adjacent fields (software, mechanical) to inform hardware architecture
- Experience leading teams of hardware engineers for multi-module assemblies
- Design for space radiation environments
CesiumAstro Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about CesiumAstro and has not been reviewed or approved by CesiumAstro.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage includes medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, plus FSAs and mental health benefits. Feedback suggests the health package is comprehensive for a growth-stage aerospace firm.
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Retirement Support — Offerings include a 401(k) with company matching and other retirement-plan elements. Feedback suggests core retirement mechanisms are in place alongside standard financial benefits.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Generous PTO, paid holidays, paid sick days, and bereavement leave are included. Feedback suggests time-off options are broad on paper across multiple leave types.
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The Company
What We Do
We build high-throughput, plug-and-play phased array communication payloads for space and airborne platforms. CesiumAstro’s full-stack, multi-mission hardware and software products enable a diverse range of commercial and defense objectives. Full-system engineering design is at the heart of every CesiumAstro product. We deliver high-performance solutions under rapid development timelines.
Why Work With Us
At CesiumAstro, we’re a team. We’re passionate, respectful, and determined colleagues ready to help at a moment’s notice. We’re mentors excited to enable our peers with the knowledge they need to succeed. Together, we’re visionaries committing to building memories that will last a lifetime.
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