Avionics Hardware​/Principal

Sophia Space is a venture-backed deep technology company building high-performance, energy-efficient computing systems designed to operate in orbit. Our work sits at the intersection of aerospace systems, advanced computing, artificial intelligence, and applied physics, enabling a new generation of distributed edge computing capabilities in space.

Having successfully completed our Seed financing, Sophia is focused on scaling its team, products, and capabilities as we prepare for the next stage of growth. We are building a world-class engineering organization that combines expertise from aerospace, cloud computing, robotics, and AI to solve some of the most challenging problems in space infrastructure. As both a product company and an engineering-driven organization, we actively leverage modern AI tools throughout our development process to accelerate learning, improve productivity, and help deliver innovative, environmentally responsible computing platforms for the future.

Sophia Space is developing the Tile avionics platform that powers our orbital computing architecture. We are seeking a Staff / Principal Avionics Hardware Engineer to provide senior technical leadership across the design, implementation, integration, and qualification of advanced spacecraft avionics hardware.

Working alongside the Blade Cognizant Engineer, firmware engineers, PCB designers, systems engineers, and mechanical and thermal engineers, this role leads major hardware development efforts spanning spacecraft interface electronics, networking hardware, embedded compute support electronics, power electronics, and subsystem integration. In parallel, the engineer supports the Principal Avionics R&D Lead by helping mature advanced avionics technologies into flight-qualified implementations.

This role focuses on executing the long-term avionics architecture vision by developing robust flight hardware supporting both current spacecraft and future product evolution. It combines deep technical expertise with hands‑on hardware development, helping establish one of Sophia’s long-term technical pillars while remaining actively engaged in spacecraft development from concept through qualification and flight.

This position is primarily in-person in Pasadena, California, with occasional hybrid flexibility based on business needs.

This position requires access to technology that is subject to U.S. export control laws. To comply with applicable ITAR and EAR regulations, applicants must qualify as a U.S. Person, as defined under those regulations. U.S. Persons generally include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and certain protected individuals as defined by applicable law.

• Lead development of major avionics hardware supporting current spacecraft programs.
• Design and implement analog, digital, mixed-signal, and embedded electronics supporting spacecraft interfaces, networking, electrical power distribution, and command-and-data-handling infrastructure.
• Lead hardware development for spacecraft avionics assemblies such as the Bus Interface Box, networking electronics, payload interface hardware, and future avionics assemblies.
• Guide schematic development, PCB layout reviews, component selection, manufacturing support, and hardware verification.

• Lead board bring-up, laboratory debugging, subsystem integration, and hardware qualification activities.
• Develop and support avionics testbeds used for functional verification and characterization.
• Lead anomaly investigations spanning hardware, firmware, electrical interfaces, and subsystem integration.
• Support environmental qualification including TVAC, vibration,…