Senior Motor and Power Controls Engineer

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.

As a Senior Power Electronics Engineer, you will own the design, development, integration, and testing of power electronics and electrical power systems for Space Kinetic's payload and spacecraft. You will lead the development of high-performance power conversion, distribution, and control electronics that enable demanding electromechanical systems and other flight-critical hardware.

You will work across electrical, mechanical, controls, software, and systems engineering to translate system-level requirements into robust electrical architectures and flight-ready hardware. This is a highly hands-on engineering role requiring technical leadership, sound engineering judgment, and the ability to take complex power electronics from initial concept through qualification and flight.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead the architecture and design of power electronics for spacecraft and electromechanical systems. 
• Design high-power switching electronics, DC/DC converters, motor drives, and power distribution systems. 
• Develop power architectures incorporating energy storage, battery management, protection, and distribution. 
• Perform electrical, thermal, efficiency, transient response, and component derating analyses. 
• Select and qualify power semiconductors, gate drivers, magnetics, and other critical components. 
• Develop schematics, PCB layouts, electrical interfaces, and hardware specifications. 
• Lead hardware bring-up, debugging, characterization, and qualification testing. 
• Collaborate with controls and embedded systems engineers on power electronics interfaces and control strategies. 
• Support vehicle integration, environmental testing, and flight hardware development. 
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship while remaining hands-on with design and development. 

What It Takes:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Controls Engineering, or a related field. 
• 7+ years of experience in embedded systems, motor controls, or power controls. 
• Strong embedded firmware development skills in C/C++
• Experience with BLDC/PMSM motor control, commutation, and closed-loop control
• Experience with microcontrollers, PWM, ADCs, and real-time embedded systems.
• Experience integrating firmware with motor drives and power electronics.
• Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field. 
• Experience with Field-Oriented Control (FOC) and motor-control optimization. 
• Experience with isolated DC/DC converters, battery charging, and high-voltage power systems. 
• Familiarity with CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, and embedded communication protocols.
• Experience with RTOS, FPGA-based controls, or hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Experience developing controls for aerospace, spacecraft, robotics, or other high-performance electromechanical systems.  Our vision is unique, and so is the team we’re building. So, if your background doesn’t fully meet these qualifications, we still want your application.

• The position is onsite at our headquarters in El Segundo, CA. Domestic travel may be required, approximately 25% to 40% of the year.

• 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

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.

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.