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Astranis

Builds small satellites for dedicated internet service

Radiation Effects Engineer - Modeling

Spacecraft & Launch Vehicle SystemsUpdated on Nov 13
Full-timeSan Francisco, CA, USA$110k - $180kIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

  • A Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent is required.
  • At least 2 years of industry experience using radiation environment tools such as OMERE or SPENVIS and transport tools such as FASTRAD, Geant4, or MCNP is required.
  • A solid theoretical foundation in radiation interaction with matter, including ionization, non-ionizing energy loss, charge deposition, and secondary bremsstrahlung generation, is required.
  • Experience modeling spacecraft charging physics and electric field buildup in dielectrics is required.
  • Proficiency in Python for mathematical post-processing, data scraping, and modeling automation is required.
  • The candidate must demonstrate ownership and technical depth and be able to evaluate complex system trade-offs with sparse initial data.
  • U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or refugee/asylee status is required.

Responsibilities

  • Own the analytical model of the geostationary radiation environment, modeling trapped particle populations (AP8/AP9, AE8/AE9), solar proton fluences (Sapphire), and galactic cosmic rays (CREME96).
  • Perform high-fidelity 3D Monte Carlo and sector-analysis radiation transport simulations using FASTRAD against complex spacecraft CAD assemblies to generate local, component-level dose-depth curves.
  • Lead analytical studies on spacecraft charging, including surface charging using NASCAP-2k or SPIS-SC and internal charging using FASTRAD internal charging calculations or SPIS-IC, to prevent electrostatic discharge risks.
  • Develop, scale, and maintain Python-based pipelines to process, analyze, and visualize transport simulation datasets, automating the generation of spacecraft-wide dose budgets.
  • Translate complex simulation data into actionable engineering guidance for shielding allocation, material selection, and electrical grounding architectures.

Desired Qualifications

  • A Master of Science or PhD in Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Physics, or equivalent, with a research focus on space radiation environments or spacecraft charging phenomena.
  • Deep knowledge of deep dielectric charging failure mechanisms (ECEMP) and industry-standard mitigations, including grounding straps, conductive coatings, and slot-venting geometries.
  • Familiarity with the ISO 11221 spacecraft charging standard or MIL-STD-883 Test Method 1019.

About the Company

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Astranis

Builds small satellites for dedicated internet service

Astranis builds and operates small satellites that supply internet capacity to telecommunications companies, large enterprises, and government customers. Its MicroGEO spacecraft work in geostationary orbit, staying above the same region so customers receive continuous coverage without a large moving constellation. The company designs and manufactures satellites in-house, runs their ground networks, and earns revenue by leasing capacity or managing complete connectivity services. Its infrastructure supports cellular backhaul, aircraft connectivity, and broadband links in remote areas where ground networks are difficult to build. Astranis was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Company size
501-1,000
Company stage
Debt Financing
Total funding
$1.6B
Headquarters
San Francisco, CA
Founded
2015

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