Avionics Engineer - Flight Electronics

Avionics EngineerEl Segundo, California | On-siteThis hands-on role owns the electronics across the interceptor, from board-level design and power systems to sensor integration, harnessing, and the electrical interface to the launcher. You will design boards, build and debug them yourself, and carry them through qualification and into flight.You will work directly with the founders and with seeker, GNC, embedded software, propulsion, and mechanical engineers. The hardware you design will fly and intercept targets.We are a seed-stage, venture-backed defense technology company building affordable, modular interceptors for air and missile defense, with surface-launched and space-based platforms in development.

The team has already demonstrated autonomous intercepts and is moving quickly from prototype hardware into flight testing from our South Bay facility. We are a small group of engineers and operators who design, build, and test in-house, with a clear path toward scaled production for government customers.Job DutiesDefine the avionics architecture across the flight computer, power distribution, and data busesDesign, simulate, and lay out PCBs for computing, sensing, actuation, and powerOwn schematic capture, layout, component selection, DFM, and board vendor coordinationDevelop power systems including DC-DC conversion, batteries, protection circuitry, and transient managementIntegrate the seeker, IMUs, GNSS receivers, and electromechanical actuatorsDesign signal conditioning and low-latency sensor and actuator interfaces for flight software and the autopilotDesign wiring harnesses and the launcher electrical interface with the mechanical teamDesign electronics to survive high-G launch, vibration, shock, and thermal extremesLead electrical qualification testing including EMI/EMC, vibration, thermal, and high-GPartner with embedded engineers on processor selection, drivers, and the hardware-firmware interfaceBring up and debug hardware using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and DAQ systemsSupport vehicle integration, ground test, and flight test, and write requirements, test plans, and documentationQualificationsBachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field2+ years designing and fielding electronics hardware, including at least one system taken through test (student rocketry and similar teams count)Strong PCB design experience in Altium, KiCad, or similar, including mixed-signal and power electronicsStrong fundamentals in circuit analysis, signal integrity, noise, grounding, and EMI/EMCExperience integrating sensors, actuators, and power systemsHands-on soldering, rework, bring-up, and debugging skillsComfortable with oscilloscopes, logic and protocol analyzers, and other lab equipmentU.S. Person status required (ITAR) and ability to obtain a U.S.

security clearancePreferred ExperienceAvionics for missiles, rockets, UAVs, or other high-speed flight vehiclesHigh-G electronics design and qualificationWiring harness design or vehicle and launcher electrical interfacesHigh-speed digital buses or RF systemsEmbedded firmware in C or C++ with an RTOSMotor drives or actuator controlMIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-810, or comparable flight hardware standardsPrior early-stage startup experienceWhy Join UsOwn flight electronics end to end, from schematic to flightHands-on design and lab work every dayWork directly with the founders and every engineering teamRapid iteration with in-house build and testEarly equity in a seed-stage company with a rapidly growing teamMission with direct national security impactCompensation Details$100,000 - $135,000 + equity