Spacecraft PCB Design Engineer
On-site in Los Angeles, CA
Our client is an innovative aerospace organization developing advanced spacecraft hardware for demanding missions where reliability, speed, and technical rigor matter. They are seeking a Spacecraft PCB Design Engineer who thrives at the intersection of circuit design, hands-on hardware development, and spacecraft integration. This is an opportunity to take meaningful ownership of flight electronics, work directly with hardware at the bench, and help move spacecraft electrical systems from design through assembly, verification, and vehicle-level integration.
This Role Offers:
- Direct involvement with spacecraft electronics from initial design through hardware integration and test.
- Exposure to complex avionics, onboard computing, power, and spacecraft-level electrical systems.
- Close collaboration with multidisciplinary engineering teams working on technically challenging aerospace programs.
- Competitive benefits designed to support employee health, financial well-being, and work-life balance.
Focus:
- Own PCB design activities from schematic development through layout support, integration, bring-up, and functional verification for flight hardware.
- Build and refine avionics test solutions, including representative electrical setups that make spacecraft electronics easier to validate and troubleshoot.
- Create practical procedures for electrical integration, initial power-on, board checkout, and repeatable hardware testing.
- Design, assemble, and operate electrical ground support equipment used during spacecraft development and verification.
- Work across engineering disciplines to connect onboard computing, power electronics, and other vehicle-level electrical interfaces.
- Investigate hardware faults at the bench using scopes, logic analyzers, soldering equipment, and component-level rework techniques.
- Maintain disciplined engineering records covering design decisions, test evidence, anomalies, and hardware performance.
- Apply strong practices for ESD control, cleanroom work, grounding, shielding, and configuration management when handling flight and test hardware.
- Contribute to electromagnetic compatibility work, cable and harness development, and the integration of custom electronics into complete spacecraft.
- Help teammates strengthen electrical integration and test execution by sharing hands-on knowledge of grounding, flight configurations, and laboratory practices.
Skill Set:
- 5 or more years of core electrical engineering experience within aerospace, including substantial hands-on experience assembling, integrating, and testing spacecraft hardware.
- Bachelor's or advanced degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
- Strong PCB design capabilities using Altium, KiCad, Eagle, or comparable electronic design automation tools.
- Demonstrated board-level debugging expertise using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, soldering equipment, and manual rework tools.
- Experience developing electronics or electrical assemblies intended for spacecraft or similarly demanding high-reliability environments.
- Working knowledge of ESD controls and cleanroom hardware practices.
- Familiarity with aerospace environmental verification, high-reliability board assembly practices, EMI and EMC considerations, grounding, or shielding is valuable.
- Experience with electrical harnesses, ground support equipment, or spacecraft-level electronics integration is a plus.
- Strong troubleshooting skills with the ability to move between design work and hands-on laboratory problem solving.
- Ability to collaborate effectively in a fast-moving, multidisciplinary engineering environment.
- Must be willing and eligible to obtain a U.S. Department of Defense Top Secret security clearance.
About Blue Signal:
Blue Signal is an award-winning, executive search firm specializing in various specialties. Our recruiters have a proven track record of placing top-tier talent across industry verticals, with deep expertise in numerous professional services. Learn more at bit.ly/46Gs4yS