Electronics Engineer
About the job
- A bachelor's degree in Electronics or Mechatronics Engineering, or demonstrated equivalent ability.
- At least 3 years of experience designing, building, and testing electronics hardware.
- Strong understanding of electric circuit design fundamentals and electrical engineering principles.
- Passion for PCB design and developing high-reliability electronics.
- Ability to solve problems and communicate technical topics clearly.
- Strong PCB schematic and layout design ability using KiCAD, Altium, or similar tools.
- Practical experience using laboratory test equipment, including oscilloscopes, power supplies, and electronic loads.
- Familiarity with Python for basic testing or analysis.
- Experience with version control such as Git or a similar tool.
- Design and develop mixed-signal, power, and embedded electronics for space applications.
- Design in-space electronics in detail, including component selection, schematic capture, and layout using KiCAD, and maintain designs in Git.
- Apply ECSS and NASA design practices to ensure reliability and robustness in the space environment.
- Plan and execute verification, qualification, and acceptance test campaigns.
- Perform hands-on bring-up, debugging, and root-cause analysis using standard laboratory equipment.
- Support new product development from concept through design, test, and production.
- Contribute to manufacturing support and continuous improvement of released hardware.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver hardware on schedule.
- Experience with EMC design and testing.
- Experience designing for high-reliability, fault-tolerant systems.
- Experience with electronics radiation tolerance and testing.
- Experience selecting components for extreme environments.
- Familiarity with high-reliability standards such as ECSS, NASA, automotive, or medical standards.
- Understanding of DFM/DFT principles.
- Experience with robust testing or qualification regimes.
Dawn Aerospace has become the biggest green propulsion provider in the world, and our ambitions are even greater. We’re growing our portfolio of products to be even more performant, reliable and mass-manufacturable.
As an Electronics Engineer, you will directly contribute to the design, qualification, and production of high-reliability electronics for our space propulsion systems. You will play a key role in developing flight-ready propulsion electronics, working across design, testing, and manufacturing in close collaboration with systems, mechanical, and production teams.
This role is open for both Intermediate and Senior Engineers. The scope of responsibility and technical ownership will be aligned to experience and capability.
This role combines hands-on electronics engineering with end-to-end ownership and offers exposure to the full lifecycle of flight hardware, from early concepts and prototypes through qualification and release to production.
If you want a role where you can just do the same thing every day, then this is not for you. We’re looking for a highly motivated, talented Electronics/Aviation Engineer who is unafraid to own complex problems and their solution.
What You’ll Do
- Design and develop mixed-signal, power, and embedded electronics for space applications
- Detailed design of in-space electronics including component selection, schematics capture and layout using KiCAD and maintain designs in Git
- Apply ECSS/NASA design practices to ensure reliability and robustness in the space environment
- Plan and execute verification, qualification, and acceptance test campaigns
- Perform hands-on bring-up, debugging, and root-cause analysis using standard lab equipment
- Support new product development from concept through design, test, and production
- Contribute to manufacturing support and continuous improvement of released hardware
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver hardware on schedule
What we’re looking for
- Bachelor’s degree in Electronics or Mechatronics Engineering, or demonstration of equivalent ability
- Minimum 3+ years' experience designing, building, and testing electronics hardware
- Strong understanding of electric circuit design fundamentals and electrical engineering principles
- Passion for PCB design and developing high reliability electronics
- Exceptional problem-solving skills and ability to communicate technical topics clearly
- Strong PCB schematic and layout design ability using KiCAD, Altium or similar.
- Practical experience using laboratory test equipment (oscilloscopes, power supplies, electronic loads)
- Familiarity with Python for basic testing or analysis
- Experience with version control (Git or similar)
What will set you apart
- Experience with design and testing for EMC
- Design for high reliability, fault-tolerant systems
- Experience with electronics radiation tolerance and testing
- Experience with component selection for extreme environments
- Familiarity with high-reliability standards (ECSS, NASA, automotive, or medical)
- Understanding of DFM/DFT principles
- Experience with robust testing or qualification regimes
We welcome engineers from all industries, especially those from high-performance environments.
Why Dawn?
Our teams are small, highly capable, and move quickly. You’ll work hands-on as part of Dawn’s propulsion team, alongside the engineers developing our spaceplane and in-space hardware, with real ownership from early concepts through to flight-ready systems that actually fly. We expect engineers to solve difficult problems, make decisions, and see their work have a direct impact on the future of space access.
Based in Christchurch, you’ll be part of a globally ambitious aerospace and deep-tech community, with mountains, coastline, and adventure on your doorstep.
Diversity & Inclusion
At Dawn Aerospace, we believe that diverse teams build better solutions. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences are valued and supported to do their best work.
About Dawn Aerospace
Dawn Aerospace is a space transportation company with a purpose.
Our mission is to enable the next generation of space users by providing more sustainable and scalable ways to access and move around in space. We believe this access, in the form of a transportation network, will fundamentally change what’s possible from space. We currently focus on three areas of space transportation:
- In-space propulsion
We're a leading supplier of turnkey green propulsion systems for various classes of satellites. Our systems utilise safe, accessible propellants and we have over 170 of these propulsion units on more than 40 operational satellites already. A further 200 units are in production. - In-space servicing
Coupled with our propulsion expertise, we are ensuring that our customers' satellites are refuellable. In the coming years, Dawn will offer a refueling service to enable life extension of customer satellites. This new market is aligned with our sustainability goal to ensue a clean and safe space for everyone! - Spaceplane
We are developing the fastest and highest-flying aircraft ever to take off from a runway, combining the extreme performance of rocket propulsion with the reusability of conventional airplanes to enable high-frequency, low-cost access to sub-orbital space.
Our international teams are distributed across four locations: the Netherlands, France, New Zealand, and the USA.
Apply for this Job
Important!
If you think you have what it takes but are unsure that you check every box, we still want to hear from you.
To all recruitment agencies: Dawn Aerospace does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our job’s alias, our employees, or any other company location. Dawn Aerospace will not be responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.
About the company
Dawn Aerospace develops space launch vehicles and non-toxic, storable satellite propulsion systems that let customers operate in space without relying on traditional launch infrastructure. Its propulsion uses green, non-toxic propellants stored for long periods and integrated into satellites or orbital vehicles to provide precise thrust for maneuvers and deorbiting. The company differentiates itself by prioritizing safe-to-handle propellants and combining aircraft and orbital vehicle designs, along with reusable-spaceflight concepts, to shorten turnaround times and reduce costs. Its goal is to lower the barriers to space access by offering safer, easier-to-operate propulsion and vehicle solutions that bypass the need for specialized launch facilities.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Series B
Total Funding
$46.5M
Headquarters
Christchurch, New Zealand
Founded
2017
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Revenue exceeded $15 million by FY26, and the company says operations are cash-flow positive.
- ANA's June 2026 investment expands Japan access and validates Dawn's commercial aviation positioning.
- Twenty-one satellites on Transporter-18 in October 2026 extend Dawn's propulsion footprint across four customers.
What critics are saying
- Aurora still lacks routine 100-kilometer flights, risking slips beyond 2027 Oklahoma commitments.
- Loop needs widespread DFT adoption before 2029; one-off refueling demos do not build a market.
- Spaceplane failure or delayed cadence would undermine Dawn's reusable-transport thesis and stall customer trust.
What makes Dawn Aerospace unique
- Dawn sold $25 million Series B at $195 million valuation in June 2026.
- Aurora targets runway-based, twice-daily Kármán-line flights from Oklahoma in 2027.
- DFT ports standardize refueling across SatDrive systems, creating a servicing-first satellite platform.
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-3%Newquay could host twice-daily space flights under new plan. Spaceport Cornwall and Dawn Aerospace are exploring plans to bring reusable spaceplane operations to Newquay, with ambitions for twice-daily flights to the edge of space. Newquay could become home to routine spaceplane flights under a new partnership between Spaceport Cornwall and Dawn Aerospace. The companies have signed an agreement to investigate operating the reusable Aurora spaceplane from Cornwall Airport Newquay for research, defence and commercial missions. The memorandum of understanding (MoU), announced on 19 October, covers plans to establish the Dawn Aerospace Suborbital Horizontal UK Launch Programme (DASH UK), using the company's Aurora spaceplane. The proposed service would allow research organisations, commercial operators and defence customers to conduct flights to the upper atmosphere and suborbital space from an existing UK airport. Aurora is designed to take off and land on conventional runways, reaching altitudes of up to 100km and speeds exceeding Mach 3.7. Dawn Aerospace is developing the vehicle for rapid reuse, with a target turnaround time of just four hours between flights. The agreement does not establish a timetable for UK operations. Both organisations will first examine the commercial, regulatory and operational requirements for introducing the service at Newquay. Dawn Aerospace targets two space flights in one day. Dawn Aerospace is developing Aurora as a reusable alternative to conventional sounding rockets, which carry scientific instruments and experimental payloads into the upper atmosphere and suborbital space. The vehicle can carry payloads of up to 15kg and provide more than two minutes of microgravity. This would allow researchers to conduct experiments in conditions that cannot be replicated during conventional aircraft operations. Possible applications include atmospheric research, technology demonstrations, high-speed flight testing and defence research. Dawn Aerospace also plans a capability it describes as "space twice in a day", with the same vehicle conducting multiple missions within 24 hours. The company has completed 64 test flights of Aurora so far. Its full-performance spaceplane is expected to begin flying in 2027. The company targets 100km altitude and Mach 3.7, though it has yet to demonstrate these capabilities through routine commercial operations. Dawn Aerospace was founded in 2017 and employs more than 150 people across operations in the Netherlands, France, Germany, New Zealand and the United States. Stefan Powell, CEO of Dawn Aerospace, said: "Our vision is to make space access as routine as aviation." "Partnering with Spaceport Cornwall through this MoU is an important step towards bringing that capability to the UK, enabling customers to fly more frequently, iterate faster and accelerate innovation." Cornwall Airport Newquay could become a base for suborbital testing. The proposed DASH UK programme is part of Spaceport Cornwall's plans to expand aerospace activities at Cornwall Airport Newquay. The airport has one of the UK's longest runways and supports commercial aviation alongside military and specialist aerospace operations. Spaceport Cornwall received its spaceport licence from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in November 2022, becoming the country's first licensed spaceport. The Spaceport's first orbital launch attempt took place in January 2023. Virgin Orbit's modified Boeing 747, Cosmic Girl, departed Newquay carrying a LauncherOne rocket. Unfortunately, the rocket did not reach orbit due to a second-stage burner malfunction. Virgin Orbit later ceased operations. The Aurora programme would use a different launch method. The reusable spaceplane would fly on its own rocket and return to the runway. It would support repeated high-altitude research and technology testing without preparing and launching a conventional expendable rocket for each mission. Ross Hulbert, Head of Engagement at Spaceport Cornwall, said: "This MoU represents an exciting opportunity to bring a genuinely transformational aerospace capability to the UK." "The Aurora spaceplane offers a more responsive and reusable approach to accessing the upper atmosphere and near-space environment, opening new possibilities for research organisations, technology developers, defence users and commercial customers." He added: "Together with Dawn Aerospace, we aim to establish Cornwall as the UK's gateway for routine suborbital flight." UK space strategy and regulatory approvals. The partnership supports the UK's plans to develop domestic launch infrastructure, commercial space services and advanced aerospace technologies. The UK National Space Strategy identifies access to space as an important part of developing the country's space economy and strengthening national capabilities. The Cornwall proposal would also bring together commercial aviation, military operations, aerospace research and suborbital flight at a single location. Potential customers could include universities, scientific research institutions, defence organisations and companies developing technologies that require testing at high altitude or in microgravity. However, the existing spaceport licence does not automatically authorise Aurora flights. Any future DASH UK operations would need to meet the relevant CAA requirements, including launch operator licensing, vehicle safety assessments and arrangements for managing airspace during rocket-powered flights. The MoU establishes a framework for Dawn Aerospace and Spaceport Cornwall to investigate those requirements, engage prospective customers and develop plans for future operations. Spaceport Cornwall is also seeking to expand Newquay's role in aerospace research, payload return and testing of emerging flight technologies. The next stage will be a feasibility assessment of the proposed DASH UK service. Dawn Aerospace's full-performance Aurora flight programme, scheduled to begin in 2027, will help determine when the technology could become available for operations from Cornwall. Get all the latest aerospace news here from Advance.
Dawn Aerospace has closed a $25 million Series B funding round at a $195 million post-money valuation, led by Balerion Space Ventures. The New Zealand-Dutch company will use the capital to scale its commercial and operational teams in the US and Europe. Dawn has become a leading provider of non-toxic chemical propulsion, with 200 thrusters operating in space across more than 50 satellites. The company has also achieved supersonic flight with its Aurora suborbital spaceplane. Revenue grew from under $3 million in FY22 to over $15 million. The funding round included participation from Mana Ventures, ANA Future Frontier Fund, Green Eight Capital, and individual investors including Tim Ferriss.
Dawn Aerospace closes US$25 million Series B to accelerate global expansion of reusable space transportation. * Capital raise led by Balerion Space Ventures * Aurora spaceplane set to be the first vehicle to fly twice-daily to Kármán line in 2027 * Loop refueling network targeting in-orbit demonstration in 2028 Dawn Aerospace today announced the close of its Series B funding round, raising $25 million at a $195 million post-money valuation. The round was led by US-based VC, Balerion Space Ventures. Since its Series A in 2022, Dawn Aerospace has become the leading provider of non-toxic chemical propulsion worldwide with 200 thrusters in space on more than 50 satellites. Dawn has also flown supersonic with the Aurora suborbital spaceplane, making it the first privately developed aircraft to fly supersonic since the Concorde, and one of only two supersonic UAVs operating globally today. These feats are all part of the New Zealand-Dutch company's mission to build scalable, sustainable space transportation to unlock the economic potential of space and solve critical national security challenges. Commercially, revenue has grown from less than $3 million in FY22 to well over $15 million with growth of over 90% in the last 12 months and cash-flow positive operations. "As a cash-flow positive company, raising capital is about accelerating the growth of programs we have extremely high conviction in, and that our customers are desperate for," said Stefan Powell, CEO of Dawn Aerospace. This financial momentum coincides with a global surge in aerospace and defense investment. The United States' and Europe's defense and space budgets have hit historic highs - European NATO members have pushed average defense spending past the 2% GDP threshold, and the European Space Agency (ESA) secured a record €22.3 billion budget with a renewed mandate for space security. As space architectures, hypersonics, and advanced drone technologies rapidly evolve under these expanded budgets, Dawn Aerospace is positioned to bring aircraft-like reusability to these critical sectors. "Dawn is doing what few in this category have: building real commercial revenue and a spiral path from in-space propulsion and refueling, to a hypersonic spaceplane, to aircraft-like payload delivery to orbit, all with extraordinary capital efficiency," said Dan Wallman, Partner at Balerion Space Ventures and incoming Series B board member. "As the US and its closest allies build joint capability in space and hypersonics, the West needs partners who can deliver reusable, responsive access across the air and space domain. Dawn is one of them." Dawn's technologies now support over two dozen missions, predominantly for US, European, and Japanese customers, such as satellite constellations and lunar programs. These missions span a range of operator types, from commercial Earth observation providers to government customers such as the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the US Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), and the Royal New Zealand Navy. In the next 12 months, Aurora is expected to become the first vehicle to fly above the Kármán line twice in a day. Dawn will deliver this Mach 3.7 capability to the State of Oklahoma, with operations beginning in 2027 under a $17 million partnership signed last year. In 2028, Dawn will demonstrate in-orbit refueling of its satellite propulsion systems. The service, dubbed "Loop," is central to the company's broader vision for reusable in-space logistics, and already has backing from multiple companies with Dawn refueling ports aboard Royal Netherlands Air Force satellites. This Series B funding will directly finance Dawn's global rollout, scaling commercial and operational teams in the US and Europe to support its expanding international customer base. With satellite propulsion, reusable spaceplanes, and in-space refueling all accelerating in parallel, Dawn Aerospace is executing on its mission to make space transportation scalable and sustainable. "We've built a highly capital-efficient company by focusing on delivering real hardware and generating revenue, rather than burning capital on hype," said Powell. "That discipline comes entirely from the relentless hard work of our team and a ruthless focus on execution. This investment is our mandate to double down on our mission for scalable and sustainable space transportation, ultimately to unlock the economic potential of space and solve critical national security challenges at home and with our closest allies." Signaling a major phase of international expansion for the company, the Series B was backed by a global syndicate of investors. Participants include Mana Ventures (US), ANA Future Frontier Fund (general partner: Global Brain Corporation) (JP), Green Eight Capital (US), Seven Peak Ventures (US), NZVC (NZ), Alpha Funds (US), Gaingels (US), Crosscourt (US), and individual investors including Tim Ferriss, Michael Hohenester, Markus Hildinger, and Yishan Wong, as well as existing investors Icehouse Ventures, Aera Climate and Frontier Fund, GD1, and Shasta Ventures.
Dawn Aerospace closes US$25m Series B to accelerate global expansion of reusable space transportation. Dawn Aerospace has closed its Series B funding round, raising $25 million at a $195 million post-money valuation, led by... Dawn Aerospace has closed its Series B funding round, raising $25 million at a $195 million post-money valuation, led by US-based VC, Balerion Space Ventures. The funds will help Dawn build scalable, sustainable space transportation to unlock more of space's economic potential while solving critical national security challenges. Membership required. You must be a member to access this content. Joshua Faleti. Kofoworola Joshua Faleti is the News Editor. He enjoys talking and learning about space and wants to talk about space to anyone who cares to listen. Joshua is interested in Space Law and Policy and how Space can positively impact human lives. Joshua is also a big music lover.
ANA HOLDINGS invests in Dawn Aerospace to support reusable space transportation and in-orbit refuelling technologies. (IN SHORT) ANA HOLDINGS has invested in Dawn Aerospace through its ANA Future Frontier Fund, supporting the New Zealand startup's development of reusable space transportation, green satellite propulsion systems and in-orbit refuelling services. Dawn Aerospace has already commercialised green satellite propulsion technologies used on more than 50 satellites and is developing "Loop," an in-orbit refuelling service planned for a demonstration in 2028. The company is also developing "Aurora," a reusable spaceplane that has achieved supersonic flight and is planned to fly to space twice in one day in 2027. The investment builds on ANA Group's broader "Next stop, space" initiative and follows a 2025 memorandum of understanding between All Nippon Airways Trading and Dawn Aerospace to bring space demonstration services to Japan. ANA aims to support Dawn Aerospace's expansion in Japan and Asia by combining the group's aviation operations expertise, aerospace trading network and corporate venture capital backing. (PRESS RELEASE) TOKYO, Japan, 2026-Jun-17 - /Travel PR News/ - ANA HOLDINGS has invested in Dawn Aerospace through its corporate venture capital fund, ANA Future Frontier Fund, supporting the New Zealand-based startup's work to develop reusable space transportation technologies and in-orbit refuelling services. Dawn Aerospace is building a sustainable and scalable space transportation network designed to connect economic activity on Earth with future activity in space. The company has already commercialised green satellite propulsion systems that offer advantages in safety, performance and cost, and its technology has been used in operations on more than 50 satellites. Building on its satellite propulsion experience, Dawn Aerospace is developing "Loop," an in-orbit refuelling service that is expected to make its first refuelling demonstration in 2028. The service is intended to support the development of refuellable satellite propulsion systems and help extend the operational flexibility of satellites in orbit. The company is also developing "Aurora," a reusable spaceplane that combines rocket-like performance with aircraft-style operations. Dawn Aerospace has already achieved supersonic flight with the vehicle and is planning to fly to space twice in a single day in 2027. The ANA Group has been expanding its activities in the space sector under the theme "Next stop, space." As part of these efforts, All Nippon Airways Trading, which serves as the ANA Group's aerospace trading-company function, signed a memorandum of understanding with Dawn Aerospace in 2025. The two companies are working to introduce space demonstration services to the Japanese market using Dawn Aerospace's supersonic spaceplane. Through the new investment, ANA HOLDINGS aims to combine the strengths of the ANA Group with Dawn Aerospace's technologies to help build a sustainable foundation for space mobility and support the creation of new value in the space business sector. Stefan Powell, CEO of Dawn Aerospace, said the company is pleased to welcome ANA Future Frontier Fund as an investor. He said the investment reflects confidence in Dawn Aerospace's technical capabilities and its vision for scalable, reusable space transportation. Powell added that ANA's expertise and experience will support the company's growth and help build a strong relationship between the two organisations. Yoshiaki Tsuda, Executive Vice President and Director of Future Creation at ANA HOLDINGS, said ANA decided to invest because it highly values Dawn Aerospace's technology and execution capabilities, as well as its vision of building a sustainable space transportation network. He said ANA will use its long-standing aviation operations expertise, together with ANA Trading's aerospace trading-company functions and network, to support Dawn Aerospace's business expansion in Japan and across Asia. Tsuda added that ANA sees potential for new services enabled by Dawn Aerospace's reusable suborbital spaceplanes and refuellable satellite propulsion technologies, which could help make access to space more seamless in the future. Dawn Aerospace, founded in October 2017 and headquartered in Christchurch, New Zealand, develops and provides green satellite propulsion systems, reusable spaceplanes and in-orbit refuelling services. ANA Future Frontier Fund was established in April 2024 with a fund size of JPY 8 billion and a 10-year term. Its main investment areas include next-generation mobility, space, drones, air mobility, MaaS platforms, customer-base-utilisation businesses, carbon neutrality-related technologies, aviation services and operations, robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous driving technologies. The fund's general partner is Global Brain Corporation, while ANA HOLDINGS is its limited partner. About ANA HOLDINGS Inc. Established in 2013, ANA HOLDINGS Inc. (ANA HD) is the largest airline group holding company in Japan, comprising 72 companies. The group includes full-service carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Peach Aviation Limited, the leading low-cost carrier in Japan. ANA HD oversees a diverse portfolio of businesses centered on air transportation, including passenger and cargo operations and companies that support the broader aviation industry. Through its group companies, ANA HD is focused on delivering safe, high-quality air travel, advancing sustainable growth and maintaining operational excellence. The group's commitment to superior service is reflected in ANA's SKYTRAX 5-Star rating, awarded annually since 2013, making it the only Japanese airline to earn this prestigious designation for 13 consecutive years. ANA HD has been recognized by Fortune as one of the World's Most Admired Companies. The group has also been included in the Dow Jones Best-in-Class World Index for nine consecutive years and the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Asia Pacific Index for ten consecutive years, reflecting its commitment to responsible business practices.