The role
Join our electrical engineering team to design and develop the electronics that make our vision of space networking a reality - from the high-speed digital systems inside our Ephemeris Network Box to the opto-electronics that run optical inter-satellite links terminals.
You'll contribute to three critical hardware domains: (1) the high-speed digital networking electronics capable of routing data at up to 9.6 Tbps between multiple optical terminals and managing a ~200 TB space-based data cache, (2) the optical terminal electronics including motor control systems, fine steering control electronics, photodiode transimpedance amplifiers, and laser drivers that enable free-space optical communication, and (3) semi-custom optical transceivers that bridge our networking and optical systems.
As part of our electrical engineering team, you'll help establish how we approach electronics design for space networking systems and contribute to building Ephemeris Net's hardware engineering capabilities. Your designs will define the hardware foundation for all Ephemeris Net products.
This role will report to the CTO and co-founder, Nicolas Brown.
Key responsibilities
The following are responsibilities across our electrical engineering team. You will own a subset of these based on your experience and interests, and contribute to others as needed.
High-Speed Digital Design (Network Box)
- Design high-speed digital systems with interfaces up to 9.6 Tbps for space-based routing
- Implement optical interface protocols in space-qualified hardware
- Ensure signal integrity and EMI/EMC compliance for high-speed differential signaling
- Design power delivery systems for high-performance networking processors and FPGAs
- Design storage subsystem electronics for a ~200 TB space-based data cache, including high-speed memory interfaces and storage controller integration
Optical Transceivers
- Design and develop semi-custom optical transceiver modules for space networking applications
- Work with optics and photonics vendors to integrate custom requirements into transceiver form factors
- Characterize and qualify transceiver performance for space environments
Optical Terminal Electronics
- Design motor control systems for precision pointing and tracking of optical terminals
- Develop photodiode transimpedance amplifiers for closed loop terminal pointing control
- Design laser driver circuits for closed loop terminal pointing control
- Implement closed-loop control systems for beam steering and acquisition
- Optimize analog front-end performance for low noise and high bandwidth
Space Hardware Development
- Select commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components appropriate for space environments
- Collaborate with mechanical team on thermal management solutions for high-power digital electronics in vacuum
- Support qualification test team in developing test procedures and qualification campaigns
- Work with fabrication partners to manufacture and assemble flight hardware
- Support hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing and integration activities
System Integration
- Define electrical interfaces between network box, optical terminals, and spacecraft bus
- Design electrical harnessing and cable routing for dynamic motion environments
- Collaborate with firmware team to ensure hardware-software integration
- Support mission engineer in spacecraft-level integration and testing
- Debug and troubleshoot hardware issues during build, integration, and test phases
What we're looking for
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience
- 3+ years of electronics design experience either with mixed focus on high-speed digital or analog circuits or deep focus in one area
- Experience with PCB design tools (Altium, Cadence, or similar)
- Track record delivering hardware
- Understanding of signal integrity principles for high-speed digital design
- Experience with laboratory test equipment (oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers)
- Ability to obtain and maintain a US security clearance
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience designing space-qualified or radiation-tolerant electronics
- Familiarity with Xilinx Versal FPGA line
- Verilog or VHDL experience for FPGA development
- Background in optical communication systems or laser electronics
- Experience with fiber optics and optical interconnects
- Experience with electrical harnessing and cable design for dynamic motion environments
- Experience with high-speed serial interfaces (100G+ Ethernet, PCIe Gen4/5)
- Knowledge of motor control systems and closed-loop feedback
- Understanding of photodiode circuits and transimpedance amplifier design
- Thermal analysis and simulation experience (ANSYS, Thermal Desktop)
- Familiarity with radiation effects on electronics (SEU, TID)
- Experience with space qualification standards (MIL-STD-883)
What we offer
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary dependent on experience (please note that all posting for this role route through the same review process; applying to multiple levels will result in duplicate applications)
- Engineer II: $150,000 - $190,000
- Senior Engineer: $170,000 - $210,000
- Staff Engineer: $180,000 - $230,000
- Generous equity package (early hire equity)
- Comprehensive health care coverage
- Unlimited PTO (we expect you to take at least 4 weeks per year, and leadership does the same)
Work Environment
- Hybrid work model: 3 days per week in our office/lab based on project needs
- During critical phases: When we are in integration, test, or launch prep mode, expect to be in the office more frequently for coordination with the mission team
- Expected travel: about 10% (customer meetings, supplier visits, launch campaign, partner sites, integration sites, other Ephemeris offices)
- Small team environment with autonomy and space to define how we work and execute
The Opportunity
- Join early-stage hardware team: Contribute to shaping the hardware design philosophy, component selection strategy, and engineering culture at Ephemeris Net.
- Multiple challenging domains: Work on both cutting-edge high-speed digital systems and precision analog/opto-electronics---not many roles offer this breadth.
- Real impact: Your electronics will fly in space and route real traffic. You'll see your designs become infrastructure.
- Build the space internet: Create hardware that will be the foundation of how space networks at all layers of the OSI model.
- Influence the hardware roadmap: Work with the electrical engineering team to define what space networking hardware should be.
Our Vision and Values
Ephemeris Net's vision is to enable an open, space internet that anyone can utilize and access.
We believe that access to better digital connectivity is essential for human progress and that space is the frontier of digital connectivity. We believe that collaboration within market competition is the most effective way to expand the internet into space. Using Ephemeris Net to build space network solutions is how we can proliferate digital connectivity, collaboration, and "the raising of all boats" while achieving a commercial impact.
We care deeply about:
- Access to connectivity for all
- Collaboration that raises all boats; we focus on win/win deals
- Commercial impact: building solutions people value and buy
- Personal growth and creating a place where people build their careers
- Putting good out into the world through the work we do and our interactions with each other
We are building a company people feel great about working at. We are seeking people who are open and actively seeking growth - both technical and personal. We value honesty, creativity, and a culture of ownership.
About our locations
El Segundo, CA: Located in the heart of the aerospace industry, surrounded by SpaceX, Aerospace Corporation, Northrop Grumman, and hundreds of space startups. A unique ecosystem where strangers on the street are excited about space.
Oakland, CA: Right off BART. Close collaboration opportunities with UC Berkeley and the broader Bay Area networking and space research communities.
Ephemeris Net is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.