Staff Wire Harness Design Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Please Note:  To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At  CesiumAstro , we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

The Skylark product line is focused on the rapid design, build, and test of cutting-edge active phased array antennas (AESA) for terrestrial and airborne applications. Current programs span high-power, large-scale ground terminals for missile defense to commercial airline and helicopter connectivity solutions.  

We are looking to add a Staff Wire Harness Design Engineer to our team. If you enjoy working in a startup environment and are passionate about developing leading-edge hardware for satellites, spacecraft, and aerospace systems, we would like to hear from you. 

This role focuses on designing the critical power, digital, analog, and RF interconnects that turn boxes into systems. You will have the opportunity to take full ownership of wire harness designs, including schematic development, cable routing, connector selection, and harness assembly drawings. The environment is highly collaborative, working shoulder-to-shoulder with electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, and harness assembly technicians to develop cutting-edge space and airborne systems.

The role encompasses the full design process, from defining initial specifications through integration and test. You will also participate in design reviews, providing technical expertise and recommendations to enhance the performance and reliability of wire harness systems.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Impact the design and development of high-complexity wire harnesses across space and airborne systems and associated GSE.
• Influence requirements and workmanship standards for harness design
• Cultivate preferred parts listing based on component reliability, availability, and manufacturability
• Converge on definition of design for EMI / EMC compliance, radiation tolerance and space charging environments
• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure harness designs align with system-level requirements for performance, manufacturability, and reliability.
• Support integration, testing, and troubleshooting of harness systems at the box, subsystem, and platform levels.
• Influence design standards and contribute to process improvements to advance the maturity of the wire harness discipline.
• Work directly with suppliers and contract manufacturers to manage supply chain, build quality and schedule outcomes
• Present technical solutions in internal and external design reviews; serve as the subject matter expert for interconnect systems.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering from an accredited university. 
• 8 years of relevant industry or university research experience.
• Proficiency in harness design tools such as Capital Essentials or Zuken E3.
• Solid understanding of electrical/mechanical engineering principles, wire routing, controlled impedance, cable shielding, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) considerations.
• Ability to conduct thorough analysis and testing of wire harness designs to ensure compliance with applicable industry standards, safety regulations, and performance requirements.
• Knowledge of industry standards and regulations related to wire harness design, such as IPC-WHMA-A-620 and/or NASA-STD 8739.4A.
• Skilled with high-reliability components such as D38999, Micro-D, Nano-D connectors and M227569/M27500 series of wire.
• Detail-oriented approach with a high level of accuracy in design documentation and technical specifications.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills. 
• Aerospace industry experience.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Experience designing for space environments.
• Hands-on experience assembling wire harnesses.
• IPC-WHMA-A-620 harness build certification.

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.  Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.  

CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.