Staff Electrical Engineer - Avionics

Who are we?

Longshot Space Technologies is at the cutting edge of low-cost space access and hypersonics. We are developing a novel space launch system that accelerates mass over a long distance. Using our technology, we plan to provide affordable launch services for satellites, cargo, and future space infrastructure. Our mission is to enable a future where humans can reach for the stars.

Position Overview

We are hiring a Staff Electrical Engineer to own electrical engineering across Longshot, including the people, the architecture and the hardware. You will provide leadership and expertise in defining system architecture and electronics platforms for high-voltage pulsed ignition, firing and sequencing control, instrumentation and data acquisition, safety interlocks, vehicle avionics and power, and test site power. Deliverables include circuit card assemblies (CCAs), FPGA and microprocessor designs, harnesses, and the test procedures and scripts that verify them.

The electrical team is small and works across every program. You will set its technical direction, grow it, and be the accountable owner for electrical design at design reviews and test readiness. This is a hands-on lead role: you will design and review schematics, be in the bunker on test day, and sign your name to what goes on the launcher.

Job Details

• Role Type: Full-time
• Compensation: $180,000 to $220,000 per year
• Location: Alameda, CA Onsite with 25%-30% travel for campaigns

Key Responsibilities
Architecture and design

• Own the electrical architecture for gun systems and test vehicles: HV pulsed-power ignition, control and sequencing, instrumentation, interlocks and abort chains, power distribution and grounding.
• Derive and document engineering requirements, specifications and interface definition drawings for electrical assemblies.
• Define and control interfaces with mechanical, software, test and facilities teams.
• Define requirements for, and guide the design and implementation of, FPGAs, microcontrollers and embedded electronics for control and test systems.
• Plan CCA, chassis, rack and harness implementations, and oversee build and delivery to users and stakeholders.
• Review design analyses for accuracy and completeness and coordinate engineers into an integrated design.
• Make build/buy calls and own the electrical portion of the BOM, schedule and budget.

Team leadership

• Lead, mentor and hire electrical engineers and technicians.
• Set design standards, review practices and documentation expectations, and delegate effectively.
• Lead team communication on technical issues and drive problem resolution and root cause on electrical anomalies.

Test, verification and documentation

• Develop test and verification plans from requirements.
• Plan and execute qualification and acceptance testing of electrical hardware.
• Produce comprehensive documentation: test procedures, results, training guides and issue reports.

Safety and reviews

• Drive design for safety in high-energy systems: energy storage, safe/arm, fault tolerance, isolation, discharge and lockout/tagout.
• Act as electrical authority on hazard analyses.
• Act as electrical authority at design reviews (PDR/CDR/TRR), and write and defend the electrical sections of design, interface and safety documentation.
• Participate in development of contract technical documentation for government-funded programs.
• Provide technical insight and oversight of subcontracts and key suppliers.
  
  
  

Required Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering OR MS in a similar discipline, includes 4+ years of related work experience
• Strong background in design and/or analysis of analog, digital and power circuits, in one or more of pulsed power / high-voltage systems, ignition or initiation systems, test-stand control and instrumentation, or flight avionics and power
• Experience across the full design cycle from requirements through schematic, layout review, harness, build, test and field support
• Command of high-energy safety practice: energy storage hazards, interlocks, grounding and shielding, EMI in noisy high-current environments
• Proven ability as a team leader to deliver project results and manage performance standards, budgets and schedules
• Flexible and accountable: meets commitments and produces quality products within budget through effective prioritization
• Experience with configuration management tools (e.g., Git, Jira)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, working effectively with internal and external program leadership and with every level of the team, from technicians to customers
• Comfort writing for review boards and customers, making a design decision legible to someone who was not in the room
• Desire to be hands-on, on-site and at the test stand
  
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Capacitor-bank, high-current switch or exploding-bridgewire experience
• FPGA-based embedded electronics or firmware-hardware co-design
• Power electronics and power-bus interfaces (battery, capacitor bank, high-current DC)
• High-speed DAQ: piezoelectric pressure, strain, accelerometers, high-speed video triggering; NI, Dewesoft or similar
• Familiarity with flight or defense hardware design flow, EEE parts control, and packaging/cabling requirements
• Experience supporting hardware integration and test, engineering and qualification units, and delivery into system-level test campaigns
• Aerospace or defense program experience; familiarity with MIL-STD-461/464/1576 or range safety requirements
• Hazardous-test or energetic-materials environment experience
• Prior experience as a technical lead or subject-matter expert
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, mission-focused environment and managing multiple priorities across diverse engineering teams
• Active U.S. security clearance or eligibility to obtain one
  
  

If you do not fully meet all of the desired qualifications, we encourage you to apply anyway. Please do not be discouraged, as we welcome candidates with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and transferable skills.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and paid sick leave
• Equity opportunities
• Professional development opportunities
• 90-day integration period

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Longshot Space Technologies Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, physical or mental disability, reproductive health decision making, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need accommodation during the application or interview process, please let us know. 

ITAR Compliance

To comply with U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here. 

At-Will Employment 

Employment with Longshot is at-will. This means that either the employee or the company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice.