Payload Motor Controls and Power Electronics Engineer

Space Kinetic•El Segundo, CA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

A New Paradigm For Space Operations. Who We Are: Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a ‘one-to-many’ system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster. This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field OR a Master’s degree or PhD may substitute for two years of experience per advanced degree.
7+ years of motor controls and power electronics experience.
Experience with dynamic modeling and controls in MATLAB.
Strong knowledge of BLDC motors and control algorithms, including field-oriented control.
Experience with power-converter topologies and their controls.
Experience implementing algorithms in hardware and software for target deployment.
Strong systems-thinking and complex problem-solving skills.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with payload-interface hardware used in spaceflight missions.
Hands-on circuit-design and software-development experience.
Understanding of spaceflight payloads and space-environment effects.

Responsibilities

Design spacecraft actuators, motor controls, power electronics, and power systems.
Model and simulate electromechanical and power systems for feasibility, optimization, and system sizing.
Implement motor-control designs on DSP and FPGA targets.
Develop hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop simulations.
Perform iterative testing and develop operational knowledge of the complete payload.
Coordinate electrical and software requirements across engineering teams.
Evaluate buy-versus-build decisions and communicate cost, schedule, and technical risks.