Staff Electrical Hardware Design Engineer
About The Position
Capella, an IonQ company, spans national security, advanced sensing, and next-generation compute to deliver secure, mission-ready intelligence. Capella’s culture is built on collaboration, rigorous engineering, and a shared commitment to delivering solutions that strengthen global stability and security. Team members work side-by-side with some of the most innovative minds in space systems, quantum-enabled technologies, and mission-critical operations. Capella values curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to tackle hard problems with precision and creativity. Capella welcomes and encourages applicants whose perspectives are historically underrepresented in technology, national security, and aerospace. No prior space experience is required. Diverse viewpoints strengthen Capella’s ability to innovate and deliver meaningful impact for partners worldwide. As a Staff Electrical Hardware Design Engineer, you will take ownership of full-cycle PCBA designs, from early concept to flight readiness. You will work cross-functionally with RF, mechanical, software, FPGA/SoC, and operations teams to bring high-reliability, space-ready electronics to orbit. You will guide the Electrical Engineering team on special topics and present across disciplines to help facilitate ideas, product readiness, and conduct reviews.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related field
- 8+ years of experience designing and debugging PCBAs
- Proficiency in Altium Designer (or similar ECAD tools)
- Hands-on experience with lab instruments (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power analyzers, etc.)
- Solid understanding of digital buses (I2C, SPI, UART, RS422, CAN, USB, PCIe, Ethernet etc.)
- Familiarity with board bring-up, test planning, and design verification workflows
- Experience interacting with contract manufacturers, supporting DFM reviews, and resolving production issues
- Strong documentation habits and organizational skills
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in electrical engineering or related field
- Experience designing for harsh environments (thermal, vacuum, vibration, etc.)
- Familiarity with high-speed design or impedance-controlled layouts
- Basic scripting or automation in Python or C for hardware test workflows
- Exposure to radiation effects and mitigation in electronic design
- Familiarity with EMI/EMC design practices and validation
- Familiarity with satellite electrical systems engineering (propulsion, (EPS) Electrical Power System, (GNSS) Global Navigation Satellite System, (ADCS) Attitude Determination and Control System, space robotics, etc)
Responsibilities
- Own the full electrical design lifecycle for complex spaceflight hardware: Concept of operations, requirements engineering, schematic capture, layout, bring-up, test, and manufacturing handoff
- Develop robust analog/digital designs for mission-critical systems under environmental and performance constraints
- Organize collaborative cross disciplinary design reviews sharing feedback and shaping solutions with a team of experienced engineers
- Provide critical input to schedule planning, hardware requirements, and process improvements
- Lead board-level bring-up and debugging, integrating firmware/software/FPGA with embedded systems
- Define test plans and verification strategies that meet flight readiness requirements
- Play a key role in scaling up our manufacturing facility bringing hardware from prototype to low-volume production
- Collaborate across teams- mechanical, RF, software, FPGA/SoC, and systems to ensure seamless integration
- Mentor early-career engineers contributing to internal process improvements and elevating the overall quality of the team
- Engage with external vendors and CMs, ensuring delivery quality, resolving DFM/DFT issues, and ensuring on-time delivery
- Drive failure analysis and root-cause investigations across flight or test anomalies
Benefits
- Extensive medical coverage, including strong vision and dental plans, flexible spending accounts, and additional supplemental health options.
- Stock option grants for new hires
- 401K Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals
- Generous Parental Leave
- Paid Flexible Time Off Policy
- Lifestyle Spending Account
- Commuter & Parking Benefits
- Mental Health Resources
- Monthly Phone Stipend
- Daily provided lunches and stocked kitchens.
- Dog-friendly work environment & pet insurance options
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
