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Specter Aerospace

Develops plasma-assisted propulsion for aerospace defense

Electrical Design Engineer 3/4

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026
No salary listed
Senior
Bachelor's
Boston, MA, USA
In PersonBased in the Boston (Seaport) office.
Hardware EngineeringBoard & Electronics Design, Hardware Systems Integration
No H1B Sponsorship
US Citizenship Required

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field is required.
  • Seven or more years of professional experience developing electrical or avionics hardware are required.
  • Demonstrated ownership of complex electronic hardware from requirements through integration and verification is required.
  • Proficiency with ECAD tools such as Altium Designer, KiCad, OrCAD, or similar is required.
  • Experience with microcontrollers, sensors, data converters, communication interfaces, or other avionics components is required.
  • Experience with PCB bring-up, hardware troubleshooting, characterization, and qualification is required.
  • Understanding of grounding, shielding, signal integrity, power integrity, and electromagnetic compatibility is required.
  • Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance is required; U.S. citizenship is required.
  • The candidate must be able to pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check.
Responsibilities
  • Lead the architecture, development, integration, and qualification of avionics systems for hypersonic flight vehicles.
  • Translate vehicle requirements into hardware requirements, electrical interfaces, and verification plans.
  • Design and review analog and digital circuits for sensing, data acquisition, communications, power distribution, and vehicle control.
  • Lead component selection, schematic capture, PCB design, bring-up, troubleshooting, and verification.
  • Coordinate with embedded software, guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), mechanical, and test engineers to resolve design and integration challenges.
  • Lead technical reviews, design trades, and avionics risk reduction activities.
  • Support vehicle integration, environmental testing, and flight test activities.
  • Mentor less experienced engineers and improve avionics design, testing, and documentation practices.
Desired Qualifications
  • Previous experience developing hardware for aerospace, defense, spacecraft, or other high-reliability applications.
  • Experience with telemetry, data acquisition, flight computers, power distribution, or vehicle control electronics.
  • Experience designing electronics for vibration, thermal, and electromagnetic environments.
  • Familiarity with hardware-in-the-loop testing and avionics ground support equipment.
  • Familiarity with relevant IPC, military, or environmental testing standards.
  • Experience transitioning electrical hardware from prototype development into production.
  • Familiarity with Python, MATLAB, C, C++, or similar languages.

About the company

Specter Aerospace develops propulsion technologies for aerospace and defense, focusing on plasma-assisted combustion and hypersonic propulsion. The company designs advanced propulsion systems to improve jet engine efficiency and performance for high-speed flight. Its approach uses plasma to assist combustion, enabling more stable and efficient engine operation at high speeds, which is especially valuable for hypersonic vehicles. Unlike many competitors, Specter Aerospace emphasizes partnerships and contracting with government agencies (notably the DoD) and collaborates with other aerospace players, supported by both government funding and venture capital. The company aims to advance practical, propulsion-powered capabilities for defense and aerospace needs, driving more efficient engines and enabling reliable hypersonic performance.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

Early VC

Total Funding

$14.4M

Headquarters

Peabody, Kansas

Founded

2013

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • September 15, 2026 partnership targets scalable hypersonic munitions for the Department of War.
  • June 13, 2023 funding added $9.5 million from DoD, CS Ventures, and Mandala Ventures.
  • March 25, 2026 nTop collaboration and August 25, 2026 Massachusetts hosting signal strong ecosystem momentum.

What critics are saying

  • The hypersonic factory is not built; site, funding, and timeline remain unresolved.
  • No disclosed contract value or production-rate targets leave the VulcanForms deal commercially unproven.
  • GE Aerospace’s DIU hypersonic test-bed win intensifies competition for future Pentagon programs.

What makes Specter Aerospace unique

  • Specter’s plasma-assisted combustion targets hypersonic engines with nearly decade-long test and build experience.
  • September 15, 2026 VulcanForms partnership adds additive manufacturing and all-up-round integration depth.
  • Boston-area defense pedigree and DoW relationships strengthen credibility in mission-driven propulsion work.

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Benefits

  • Hybrid Work Options

Company News

PR Newswire
Sep 15th, 2026
VulcanForms and Specter Aerospace partner to scale US hypersonic munitions manufacturing

VulcanForms and Specter Aerospace have announced a strategic partnership to manufacture airbreathing hypersonic weapons at scale for the US Department of War. The collaboration will establish a dedicated hypersonic manufacturing facility integrating VulcanForms' 3D printing and high-volume manufacturing capabilities with Specter's nearly decade-long experience building hypersonic missiles. The partnership aims to produce low-cost hypersonic munitions, interceptors and cruise missiles to meet national security requirements. Both companies are conducting a nationwide site evaluation for the future production facility whilst leveraging their existing production-ready facilities. Specter Aerospace CEO Felipe Gomez del Campo said the partnership responds to the urgency of delivering hypersonic munitions to the US Joint Force. VulcanForms Executive Vice President Matthew Rose emphasised the importance of partnerships that embrace physical AI and leverage lessons from commercial industries.

PR Newswire
Jun 13th, 2023
Specter Aerospace Receives $9.5 Million in Funding from the Department of Defense (DoD) and Investment Firms, CS Ventures and Mandala Ventures

/PRNewswire/ -- Specter Aerospace, a Boston area defense contractor, specializing in the field of plasma-assisted combustion and hypersonic propulsion,...