Speed Digital Design Engineer

Position: High-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. We are looking for a High-Speed Digital Design Engineer (Senior Member of Technical Staff/Engineering Specialist - General Integrated Circuit Design Engineering) with a passion for design, a commitment to teamwork and a desire to help xLab make a difference to today's challenges.

We need a skilled high-speed digital interface engineer to design, develop, and validate cutting-edge communication systems for space and ground applications.

This is a full-time position based in El Segundo, CA., requiring at least 4 days onsite.

What You'll Be Doing

* 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

This position is available as a Sr. Member of Technical Staff or Engineering Specialist.

What You Need to be Successful

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 stackup 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, which is issued by the US government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

In addition to the requirements above, the minimum requirements for an Engineering Specialist are:

* 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

How You Can Stand Out

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 performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined…