Electrical Engineer – Spaceborne Radar Systems

Overview

Kapta Space, a VC‑funded early‑stage startup in Seattle, WA, is breaking new ground in Geospatial Intelligence. Our technology centers around a proven, scalable electronically‑steered radar for sophisticated spaceborne applications such as earth observation using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) techniques, and for advanced defense missions target tracking on the ground and in the air.

As an Electrical Engineer
, you will design, develop, qualify, and deploy the electronic subsystems that power our spaceborne electronically‑steered radar systems. You will contribute to mission‑critical hardware across power electronics, high‑speed digital and mixed‑signal electronics, RF front‑ends, and embedded processing hardware. You will help take products from concept through flight, collaborating across disciplines to deliver high‑performance and highly reliable hardware for harsh LEO environments.

• Support the definition, design, and implementation of electrical subsystem architectures for electronically‑steered radar, including power systems, mixed‑signal electronics, digital control boards, RF front‑end interfaces, and embedded processing circuitry
• Execute full product lifecycle activities: requirements development, detailed design, schematic capture, PCB layout collaboration, prototype build, bring‑up, debug, and qualification
• Perform hands‑on bench testing, characterization, and root‑cause analysis across power, digital, and mixed‑signal circuits, using standard lab instrumentation
• Develop and execute environmental and functional test plans to ensure hardware reliability in thermal‑vacuum, vibration/shock, EMI/EMC, and radiation environments
• Create and maintain engineering documentation including schematics, BOMs, test procedures, configuration records, and integration guides
• Collaborate closely with systems engineering, RF/antenna, mechanical/thermal, software/firmware, and manufacturing partners to ensure seamless integration and robust hardware‑software performance
• Support manufacturability and cost‑efficient production through DFX principles and NPI handoff to production partners
• Engage with suppliers, fabrication partners, and subcontractors throughout the product development lifecycle

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline
• 5+ years of hands‑on experience designing, building, and testing electronic systems (power electronics, mixed‑signal, digital, or RF‑adjacent)
• Proficiency with schematic design tools and familiarity with PCB layout workflows
• Strong understanding of EMI/EMC fundamentals, grounding, signal integrity, power integrity, and high‑reliability design practices
• Experience performing bench‑level bring‑up and debug using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies, signal generators, and related equipment
• Demonstrated ability to support hardware through environmental qualification (thermal, vibration, shock, EMI/EMC, TVAC, etc.) or willingness to learn quickly
• Ability to work cross‑functionally on multi‑disciplinary hardware teams in a fast‑moving startup environment
• Excellent communication skills, with ability to clearly present technical findings and collaborate effectively across engineering functions
• Must be eligible to obtain and hold a US DoD security clearance

• Experience with electronically‑steered or phased‑array radar systems, mixed‑signal analog front ends, or RF/antenna electronics
• Familiarity with radiation‑tolerant design, COTS‑to‑space conversion strategies, and component‑level derating approaches for LEO environments
• Experience with high‑speed digital design, DDR interfaces, FPGA/SoC power architectures, or precision timing/synchronization circuitry
• Familiarity with modeling and simulation tools for signal integrity, power integrity, RF, or thermal/structural analysis
• Experience qualifying hardware for space, defense, or other high‑reliability environments
• Exposure to manufacturing scaling, DFM for electronics, or lean hardware development practices
• Experience coordinating with global suppliers, electronics manufacturers, and specialized test facilities