Avionics & Embedded Systems Engineer

Avionics & Embedded Systems Engineer

Design the spacecraft's nervous system — hardware and software in one role.

Avionics engineers design and integrate the electronic brain of a spacecraft, including flight computers, sensor suites (IMUs, star trackers, sun sensors), power distribution units, data buses (Space Wire, MIL‑STD‑1553, CAN, UART), and the wiring harness that ties everything together. The role is deliberately split between hardware (schematic capture in Altium or Cadence, PCB layout, radiation testing, component derating) and software (bare‑metal C/C++ firmware, FPGA logic in VHDL/Verilog, BSP development).

Radiation‑hardened processors such as BAE RAD
750, GR712RC
LEON4, and NXP QorIQ dominate flight hardware.

• 5–8 years of experience
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Computer, or Aerospace Engineering (or equivalent)
• Salary range (USD): 90 K–210 K

• Design and implement board‑level hardware, including schematics, PCB layout, and component selection.
• Develop bare‑metal firmware, board support packages, and low‑level drivers.
• Perform bench characterization, vibration, and thermal‑vacuum acceptance tests.
• Lead subsystem design for Cube Sat or instrument missions from Phase A through launch.
• Coordinate radiation lot acceptance testing (RLAT), FMEA sign‑off, and documentation (ICDs, qualification reports).
• Define architecture for new vehicle platforms and chair design reviews with customers and certifying agencies.
• Mentor a team of 5–15 engineers across hardware and firmware.

• Strong knowledge of schematic capture and PCB layout in Altium or Cadence.
• Experience with VHDL/Verilog FPGA development on radiation‑tolerant devices.
• Proficiency in bare‑metal C/C++ firmware for LEON4/GR712RC
  or ARM Cortex‑M processors.
• Implementation and analysis of Space Wire and MIL‑STD‑1553 data bus protocols.
• Familiarity with radiation testing methodologies (TID, SEE) per ESCC/MIL‑STD‑750.
• Ability to read schematics, write device drivers, solder and rework hardware, and use oscilloscopes and thermal chambers.
• Strong documentation skills for ICDs, qualification reports, and test procedures.

• Junior Avionics Engineer – board‐level development (~2 years).
• Senior Avionics Engineer – subsystem lead (~3 years).
• Principal Avionics Engineer or Avionics Systems Lead – architecture definition, review leadership, staff mentorship (~2 years).