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Astrolab
Hawthorne, United States
Title: Avionics Engineer (All Levels) Location: Hawthorne, California / hybrid
Astrolab is The Lunar Operations Company. We design and build the systems and hardware the lunar economy will come to depend on — rovers, power, and data networks for sustained operations on the Moon. We are focused on the problems that must be solved before the next chapter of human exploration can scale. The Moon does not forgive untested assumptions. The people who work here know that, and they wouldn't have it any other way.
As an Avionics Engineer at Astrolab, you will serve as the Responsible Engineer for avionics units on our planetary rovers, owning hardware from requirements definition through qualification, integration, and operation on the lunar surface. Ownership at Astrolab spans make and buy alike: for some units, the right answer is selecting a COTS component or partnering with an external vendor on a custom product, and for others it is designing the board in-house. You will make that call, and you will own the result either way. This posting covers entry-level through staff-level positions, and leveling will be commensurate with experience.
Unit Ownership: Serve as Responsible Engineer for avionics units across applications including Command & Data Handling, Guidance Navigation & Control, power, motor control, and communication systems, from concept through build, qualification, flight integration, and operations
Make/Buy & Component Selection: Lead make/buy trades for avionics units. Identify, evaluate, and qualify COTS components against mission requirements, including radiation, thermal, and reliability considerations for the lunar environment
Vendor Management: Work with external vendors to specify, develop, and deliver custom avionics products. Define requirements and interface control documents, review vendor designs, and drive delivery schedules and technical issues to closure
Design & Development: Design in-house avionics hardware where it is the right answer, including component selection, design analysis, schematic capture, circuit board design, board bring-up, debugging, and design documentation
Analysis & Trades: Conduct system-level trades, power efficiency and signal integrity analysis, worst-case analysis, and FMECA to ensure avionics units are robust, fault-tolerant, and meet mission requirements
Qualification & Test: Develop and execute test campaigns to qualify units for spaceflight, bringing components through vibration, shock, TVAC, EMI/EMC, and radiation testing. Partner with test engineers on test plans and coverage
Integration: Interface with mechanical, software, manufacturing, and test engineers to ensure seamless subsystem integration, and support vehicle-level integration, troubleshooting, and failure investigations
Basic Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
Experience evaluating, selecting, and qualifying COTS electronics for space or other harsh environments, including screening, up-rating, and lot acceptance approaches
Experience managing external vendors or suppliers through custom hardware development, including requirements definition, ICDs, design reviews, and acceptance
Experience with digital communication protocols including RS-422, RS-485, SPI, I2C, CAN, or Ethernet
Experience with power systems design for spacecraft, including LDO regulators, buck/boost converters, battery systems, and grounding schemes for high-voltage systems
Experience with FPGA and MCU embedded systems design. Motor controller experience is a plus.
Experience with analysis and design tools such as LTspice, MATLAB, Python, Altium, E3, or Siemens NX
Experience with radiation effects and mitigation strategies, EEE-INST-002 parts classification and derating, and failure modes of spaceflight electrical components
Experience with SMC-S-016, MIL-STD-810, or other environmental testing standards, including shock, thermal, burn-in, TVAC, vibration, and EMI/EMC testing
For senior and staff levels: experience owning avionics units end-to-end as a Responsible Engineer, leading make/buy decisions, and mentoring engineers through design and qualification campaigns
Join a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
Equity ownership in the company
Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support
401(k) plan with company match
Flexible PTO and parental leave
Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site
Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks
RocketHunt estimate from real salaries
Experience
from 1 years
Work Format
Hybrid
English Level
B2 - Upper-Intermediate
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