Electrical Design Engineer, Senior

Axiom Space•Houston, CA

About The Position

Axiom Space is seeking a Senior Electrical Design Engineer to own the design and development of electrical and electronic components for the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) Portable Life Support System (PLSS). The PLSS contains flight computers, radios, sensors, and network switches that support communication and control during spacewalks. The engineer will create components that manage commands, telemetry, and internal data flows so the suit operates reliably and meets mission objectives. The work may also include interface data checks, PCB card design, test readiness, supplier data intake, and preparation of review packages. The role covers the conceptualization, design, development, testing, and integration of electrical systems. The engineer will select and evaluate avionics architectures, define requirements and interfaces, coordinate with vehicle and test functions, document design decisions and verification plans, and provide technical oversight through integration and acceptance testing. The position also involves vendor and COTS component evaluations, resolving technical issues, and communicating progress and risks. Work is generally in an office environment, with inside or outside work depending on the task. Evening and weekend work may be needed to meet critical project milestones.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent.
At Level 3, 5 or more years of experience in circuit and PCB design; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Experience designing, analyzing, and integrating spacecraft avionics, embedded systems, and data-handling protocols.
Experience working in a laboratory and proficiency with oscilloscopes, multimeters, spectrum analyzers, VNAs, and related lab equipment.
Experience using EDA software such as Altium Designer.
Working knowledge of I2C, SPI, SpaceWire, Ethernet, RS422/485, UART, USB, and similar spacecraft communications protocols.
Experience implementing ADCs and analog sensing circuits, such as radiometric and 4–20 mA circuits.
Experience with high-speed and mixed-signal digital designs.
Familiarity with IPC standards for board design.
Experience with product lifecycle and designs from concept through production.
Experience supporting EMI/EMC and other validation tests.
Experience designing and routing controlled-impedance and controlled-length signals.
Clear technical writing skills and the ability to produce verification documentation, status material, and review packages others can act on.
Curiosity, initiative, and willingness to ask questions early rather than deliver an incorrect answer late.
Comfort working in an ambiguous, fast-moving environment where answers may not yet be documented.
Must be willing to work evenings and weekends as needed to meet critical project milestones.
Final candidates may be required to undergo export-control screening; eligibility for access to controlled technical data or technology is a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

Vehicle integration experience.
Preference for experience designing IPC Class 2 and Class 3 PCBs.
Experience in integration and test in spacecraft, aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability programs.
Familiarity with interface control documents, requirements management tools such as Jama or DOORS, or configuration management practices.
Exposure to laboratory or test operations, including equipment procurement, facility readiness, or test scheduling.
Familiarity with standards such as NASA SSRI, IEEE-ISTO-MOSA-IF-S-001, MIL-STD-1553, NASA-STD-7002, or NASA-STD-3001.
Engineer in Training certification or progress toward professional certification.

Responsibilities

Conceptualize, design, develop, test, and integrate electrical systems.
Select and trade avionics architectures to balance performance, power, mass, cost, and reliability.
Ensure designs meet radiation-hardness, reliability, and resilience standards for space environments.
Lead requirements definition and develop Interface Control Documents (ICDs) for integration with other spacecraft systems.
Integrate with vehicle and test functions, including thermal control, flight software, power distribution, test facilities, and test support equipment.
Specify functional, performance, and environmental requirements for electrical systems.
Document design decisions, trade studies, and verification plans.
Provide technical oversight during integration, system-level testing, and acceptance testing.
Resolve technical issues and ensure electrical systems meet mission-critical performance goals.
Lead vendor selection and make-or-buy decisions, balancing technical risk, schedule, cost, and lifecycle support.
Evaluate commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components for suitability and reuse potential.
Communicate progress, status, and issues honestly and early, including when something is not working.
Perform additional job duties as assigned.