EraDrive builds autonomy software and hardware that let spacecraft see, decide, and act with minimal human control. Our spacecraft self-driving software has been demonstrated in orbit on NASA's Starling mission, and we are growing it into a hardware product family covering alternative positioning, navigation and timing (PNT), rendezvous, in-orbit inspection, and space domain awareness.
The Role
You will own the electrical design of Era-Node, EraDrive's spacecraft autonomy payload, from architecture and detailed design through implementation, qualification, integration, and delivery. Your scope includes payload power, custom boards, communication and timing interfaces, cabling and connectors, and ground electrical test infrastructure. This is a hands-on role: you will design circuits, bring up boards, troubleshoot hardware, and work with internal engineering teams, suppliers, and the host spacecraft team to deliver reliable flight units.
What You Will Do
Define Era-Node's electrical architecture, requirements, power budgets, and interface control documentation, coordinating connections among cameras, processors, clocks, the host spacecraft, and the ground support equipment.
Design and integrate payload power conditioning and monitoring, including electrical protection and fault recovery.
Bring up custom PCBAs and COTS electronics, diagnosing and reworking as needed.
Implement and verify command, data, and timing interfaces, including clock distribution, sensor triggering, synchronization, and signal integrity, working closely with embedded software engineers.
Design flight and ground harnesses including specifying connectors, pinouts, shielding, and grounding while coordinating with mechanical and manufacturing teams.
Select components and materials for the space environment, with assessment of expected lifetime and performance.
Build and maintain electrical ground support equipment for system prototyping, assembly, integration, and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
Develop and execute PCBA and payload electrical tests.
Support acceptance testing and space environment qualification campaigns.
Work with suppliers on fabrication, while maintaining schematics, traceability, and test procedures across engineering and flight units.
What You Bring
A degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or a closely related field.
Demonstrated experience developing spacecraft or space payload electronics, including hands-on hardware integration, testing, and participation in environmental qualification or flight acceptance.
Strong practical skills in power electronics, analog and digital circuit design, electrical interfaces, and harness design.
Proficiency with EDA tools, board bring-up, and laboratory debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies, and electronic loads.
Working knowledge of space hardware design practices, including derating, radiation effects, grounding and shielding, electromagnetic compatibility, and materials selection.
Experience developing electrical test equipment and procedures, and diagnosing problems across hardware, firmware, and software boundaries.
Clear technical documentation and communication, disciplined configuration control, and the ability to own engineering problems through resolution in a small team.
Bonus
Experience with SpaceWire, RS-422, Ethernet, CAN, or other embedded interfaces.
Experience with precision timing, PPS signals, camera interfaces, FPGA-based logic, or embedded C/C++ development.
Experience developing circuits and custom interface PCBAs, from schematic to layout to fabrication and assembly.
Experience with test automation, radiation assurance, or flight electronics manufacturing and inspection standards.
Experience with hosted payloads, GEO missions, government space programs, or on-orbit commissioning and anomaly resolution.
Skills Required
- Degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or a closely related field
- Demonstrated experience developing spacecraft or space payload electronics
- Hands-on hardware integration, testing, environmental qualification, or flight acceptance experience
- Practical skills in power electronics, analog and digital circuit design, electrical interfaces, and harness design
- Proficiency with EDA tools, board bring-up, and laboratory debugging equipment
- Working knowledge of space hardware design practices, derating, radiation effects, grounding, shielding, EMC, and materials selection
- Experience developing electrical test equipment and procedures
- Ability to diagnose issues across hardware, firmware, and software boundaries
- Clear technical documentation, communication, and configuration control skills
- Experience with SpaceWire, RS-422, Ethernet, CAN, or other embedded interfaces
- Experience with precision timing, PPS signals, camera interfaces, FPGA logic, or embedded C/C++
- Experience developing custom interface PCBAs from schematic through fabrication and assembly
- Experience with test automation, radiation assurance, or flight electronics manufacturing and inspection standards
- Experience with hosted payloads, GEO missions, government space programs, or on-orbit commissioning
What We Do
EraDrive builds AI-native software and hardware that give spacecraft onboard autonomy to perceive their surroundings, make decisions, and maneuver with minimal human control. Its platform supports space safety and performance through space-traffic management, on-orbit logistics, situational awareness, trajectory optimization, alternative positioning, and collision avoidance. Modular products serve commercial and government missions, including rendezvous, on-orbit inspection, and space-based sensing, while contributing to a real-time space-traffic intelligence network.
