Job Description

Sophia Space is developing the Tile avionics platform that powers our orbital computing architecture. We are seeking a Staff / Principal Avionics Hardware Engineer to provide senior technical leadership across the design, implementation, integration, and qualification of advanced spacecraft avionics hardware.

Working alongside the Blade Cognizant Engineer, firmware engineers, PCB designers, systems engineers, and mechanical and thermal engineers, this role leads major hardware development efforts spanning spacecraft interface electronics, networking hardware, embedded compute support electronics, power electronics, and subsystem integration. In parallel, the engineer supports the Principal Avionics R&D Lead by helping mature advanced avionics technologies into flight-qualified implementations.

This role focuses on executing the long-term avionics architecture vision by developing robust flight hardware supporting both current spacecraft and future product evolution. It combines deep technical expertise with hands-on hardware development, helping establish one of Sophia’s long-term technical pillars while remaining actively engaged in spacecraft development from concept through qualification and flight.

Location & Eligibility

This position is primarily in-person in Pasadena, California, with occasional hybrid flexibility based on business needs.

This position requires access to technology that is subject to U.S. export control laws. To comply with applicable ITAR and EAR regulations, applicants must qualify as a U.S. Person, as defined under those regulations. U.S. Persons generally include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and certain protected individuals as defined by applicable law.

Primary Responsibilities

Flight Avionics Hardware Development

• Lead development of major avionics hardware supporting current spacecraft programs.
• Design and implement analog, digital, mixed-signal, and embedded electronics supporting spacecraft interfaces, networking, electrical power distribution, and command-and-data-handling infrastructure.
• Lead hardware development for spacecraft avionics assemblies such as the Bus Interface Box, networking electronics, payload interface hardware, and future avionics assemblies.
• Guide schematic development, PCB layout reviews, component selection, manufacturing support, and hardware verification.

Avionics Hardware Integration

• Lead board bring-up, laboratory debugging, subsystem integration, and hardware qualification activities.
• Develop and support avionics testbeds used for functional verification and characterization.
• Lead anomaly investigations spanning hardware, firmware, electrical interfaces, and subsystem integration.
• Support environmental qualification including TVAC, vibration, EMC/EMI, and system-level integration campaigns.

Advanced Technology Transition

• Support the Principal Avionics R&D Lead in maturing emerging avionics technologies into flight-qualified hardware.
• Evaluate new processors, networking technologies, electrical interfaces, and avionics hardware concepts supporting future spacecraft generations.
• Prototype, characterize, and mature advanced avionics hardware supporting Sophia’s long-term product roadmap.
• Transition validated technologies into current and future flight programs.

Blade Platform Integration

• Work alongside the Blade Cognizant Engineer to integrate Blade into the complete spacecraft avionics architecture.
• Develop and integrate electrical interfaces supporting Blade, payload systems, Bus Interface Box hardware, and spacecraft networking.
• Support payload hardware integration, qualification, and subsystem verification.
• Coordinate hardware implementation activities across avionics, firmware, software, systems engineering, and Integration & Test.

Cross-Disciplinary Engineering

• Coordinate technical execution across avionics, systems engineering, software, mechanical, thermal, manufacturing, and Integration & Test.
• Support subsystem trade studies, hardware qualification, verification planning, and engineering reviews.
• Contribute technical recommendations supporting spacecraft development and future product evolution.
• Balance technical performance, manufacturability, reliability, cost, and schedule throughout hardware development.

Technical Leadership

• Lead major avionics hardware workstreams from concept through qualification.
• Mentor engineers within assigned technical domains through design reviews, technical guidance, and engineering best practices.
• Provide technical leadership during subsystem integration, anomaly resolution, and hardware verification.
• Collaborate closely with the Avionics Lead Architect while maintaining technical ownership of assigned hardware developments.

Required Skills

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• Level IV: Typically 8–12 years of experience developing avionics or embedded electronic systems.
• Level V: Typically 12+ years leading advanced avionics hardware development across multiple spacecraft programs.
• Demonstrated expertise designing analog, digital, mixed-signal, and embedded electronics.
• Experience developing flight or high-reliability hardware from requirements through qualification.
• Strong experience with schematic design, PCB development, board bring-up, laboratory debugging, and hardware integration.
• Experience supporting hardware verification, environmental qualification, and subsystem integration.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, technical communication, and multidisciplinary engineering skills.

Desired Skills

Embedded Computing & Interfaces

• Experience developing spacecraft command and data handling electronics using processors, FPGAs, or System-on-Module (SoM) architectures.
• Familiarity with high-speed digital interfaces including Ethernet, CAN, SpaceWire, PCIe, USB, SPI, I²C, and UART.
• Experience integrating embedded firmware, flight software, and hardware throughout development and qualification.

Spacecraft Networking & Interfaces

• Experience designing spacecraft networking hardware and electrical interface electronics.
• Familiarity with deterministic networking, time synchronization, switch architectures, and distributed embedded computing.
• Experience implementing avionics interface hardware supporting payloads, spacecraft buses, and onboard computing systems.

Electrical Power Systems

• Experience designing switching power supplies, electrical power distribution, battery interfaces, and fault-protection circuitry.
• Familiarity with control-loop analysis, power integrity, EMI mitigation, grounding strategies, and electrical characterization.
• Experience supporting electrical power hardware verification and subsystem integration.

Spacecraft Hardware Development

• Experience supporting spacecraft avionics from requirements through integration, qualification, launch, and flight support.
• Familiarity with radiation effects, derating methodologies, and space-qualified electronic components.
• Experience participating in SRR, SDR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR, and anomaly review boards.

Industry Experience

• Flight hardware experience with NASA, DoD, commercial space, or other high-reliability embedded systems organizations.
• Experience supporting CubeSat, SmallSat, hosted payload, or demonstration-class spacecraft development.
• Experience transitioning advanced technologies from research into production flight hardware.