Speed Digital Design Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators.

Join us and take your place in space.

The Aerospace Corporation’s Experiment Lab, xLab, develops prototypes, instruments, pathfinders, and demonstration systems to address our customers’ hardest problems at the speed of need. We engage with our customers to conceptualize innovative solutions and deliver impactful products for ground and space and everything in between.

• Design and develop high-speed digital interfaces for xLab prototype systems supporting Department of Defense and civil space customers.
• Perform board-level design, schematic capture, and layout coordination for Ethernet, SGMII, 1000
  
  BASE‑X, and similar high-speed serial interfaces.
• Conduct signal integrity analysis, testing, and troubleshooting to ensure robust performance in challenging operational environments.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including RF engineers, software developers, and system architects to integrate communication subsystems.
• Support hardware bring‑up, validation testing, and system integration activities for flight and ground demonstration systems.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers on high-speed design best practices.
• Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned as needed.

This position emphasizes the Innovation, Velocity, and Accountability Leadership Competency Model (LCM) attributes through rapid prototyping, technical excellence, and delivery of mission‑critical systems.

Minimum Requirements for Sr. Member of Technical Staff:

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree from an accredited program in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related STEM discipline.
• 4 or more years of professional experience in high-speed digital interface design.
• Hands‑on design and implementation experience with Ethernet protocols (10/100/1000
  
  Mbps), SGMII, 1000
  
  BASE‑X, or similar high-speed serial interfaces.
• Working knowledge of Ethernet PHY layer specifications and IEEE
  802.3 standards.
• Demonstrated experience with PCB design and layout requirements for high-speed signals including impedance control, differential pairs, and layer stack‑up considerations.
• Proficiency with signal integrity testing equipment and techniques (oscilloscopes, TDR, VNA, eye diagrams, jitter analysis, BERT, spectrum analyzers).
• Strong troubleshooting and lab debugging skills for high-speed digital systems.
• Experience with schematic capture and PCB layout tools (e.g., Altium, Cadence OrCAD, Mentor Graphics).
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

Minimum Requirements for Engineering Specialist:

• 6 or more years of professional experience in high-speed digital interface design and implementation.
• Proven track record of leading complex hardware development projects from concept through production or prototype delivery.

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• Experience with advanced protocols such as 10
  
  GBASE‑KR, PCIe, USB
  3.x, or other multi‑gigabit serial standards.
• Proficiency with signal integrity simulation tools (e.g., Hyper Lynx, HFSS, CST, ADS).
• Experience with FPGA‑based interface implementations and embedded system integration.
• Knowledge of space‑grade component selection, radiation effects, and design for harsh environments.
• Experience designing high-speed circuits for optical communications, including modulator drivers, TIAs, or Ser Des front‑ends.

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your…