Digital Space Instrument Electrical Engineer; R&D Engineer

Position: Digital Space Instrument Electrical Engineer (R&D Engineer 3)
** What You Will Do*
* Come join our passionate team of R&D engineers and scientists supporting national security!  The Space Electronics and Signal Processing (ISR-4) Group is seeking R&D Electrical Engineers to assist and lead the design and development of high-quality, innovative measurement systems followed by their deployment to space for national security applications and NASA missions.  This job is the essence of "Cradle to Grave" engineering;

once designed, built, and tested, you will often provide subject matter expertise for payload delivery, launch, and operations over the life of the mission whether in earth orbit for 10+ years, Mars, or deep space. ISR Division designs, builds, delivers, and exploits innovative ground- and space-based measurement systems and provides unique analysis and interpretation of data from these systems. We succeed through our cohesive, interdisciplinary teams of engineers, technicians, and scientists working within a highly creative and dynamic R&D environment.

Our projects range from cutting edge scientific explorations expanding our knowledge of the universe, to ensuring national and global security. ISR's 400+ instruments fly on over 200 satellites, including numerous NASA missions like Voyager, which has left our solar system, and the last two Mars Rovers. For more information go to lanl.gov/space.

If you possess self-initiative and enjoy working in a small team environment of rapid prototype, high quality, low volume, electrical assemblies this is the job for you.  ISR-4 is looking for a few highly motivated mid-career electrical engineers to assist in the development of custom instrumentation for various space-based detection systems.  These systems can include:

+ Satellite-based detectors for space monitoring programs in support of nonproliferation and nuclear event detection missions;

+ Payloads for planetary science missions;

+ and Smallsat and Cubesat Systems.

As a Digital Space Instrument Design Engineer (R&D Engineer
3), you will collaborate across science and engineering disciplines to define instrument requirements and lead the design, modeling, fabrication, and testing of spaceflight hardware, with a primary focus on architecting high-speed data acquisition with FPGA-based systems. You are a recognized technical contributor with advanced expertise, capable of independently driving complex designs and ensuring performance in demanding space environments.

In this role, you serve as a technical leader within ISR, providing in-depth evaluation of design tradeoffs and guiding key engineering decisions. You apply advanced electrical engineering methodologies with a strong commitment to safety, security, and quality. You also contribute to team growth through mentorship, collaboration, and clear technical communication, while continuing to expand your own expertise and impact.

** What You Need*
* ** Minimum

Job Requirements:

*
* ** Engineering Expertise*
* Demonstrated advanced experience in digital electronic design for instrumentation or similar high-performance systems, including:

+ FPGA-based design and implementation using VHDL

+ High-speed data acquisition and digital signal processing architectures

+ Design, integration, and verification of high-throughput communication interfaces such as Space Wire, Ethernet, serial transceivers, or related protocols in the Gb/s regime

+ Synchronous digital design, simulation, timing analysis, synthesis, routing, and hardware validation

+ Development of test benches, verification methodologies, and debugging strategies for FPGA-based systems

+ Integration of digital subsystems with analog, sensor, and embedded processing hardware

+ Experience debugging & troubleshooting circuits/prototypes in a lab environment

** Communication and Teaming*
* + Demonstrated ability to lead and execute technical work both independently and in a multidisciplinary team environment with engineers, scientists, and technicians. Applies advanced expertise in one or more areas of engineering to guide the research, design, verification, and validation of electrical engineering solutions.

+ Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the…