Electrical Engineer II - SDR Development

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES As an Electrical Engineer in our California team, you will report to the Senior Electrical Engineer. You will support hardware design for the UST‑Lite software‑defined radio (SDR) and contribute across the full lifecycle of space‑flight electronics. You will design circuits, run simulations, conduct reliability analysis, and support testing and integration efforts in collaboration with systems, hardware, FPGA, and software engineering teams. Specific duties include (but are not limited to):

• Participate in system-level trade studies and help define interfaces for spacecraft avionics and telecom subsystems;
• Analyze existing hardware and design electrical circuits (power, analog, high‑speed digital, RF/microwave) to meet requirements;
• Perform time‑ and frequency‑domain simulations as necessary;
• Perform reliability analyses (WCA, EPSA, radiation, etc.) and update designs as necessary;
• Generate PCB fabrication outputs (e.g., Gerbers) and assembly drawings;
• Coordinate with manufacturing teams to ensure design-for-manufacturability (DFM) considerations are met;
• Assess parts classifications per NASA/ESA standards and track procurement of parts and PCB assemblies;
• Develop test plans and procedures and execute tests to verify performance against requirements;
• Produce detailed design documentation for new and legacy designs;
• Perform hands-on board debugging and support troubleshooting during integration;
• Participate in engineering design reviews (PDR, CDR, etc.).

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, RF/Microwave Engineering, Power Engineering, or related fields;
• Minimum 3 years of experience in designing spaceflight electronic hardware;
• U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Permanent Residency is required;
• Excellent written and oral communication in English;

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Team player and a “Do what it takes” attitude;
• Proficiency with Altium Designer and configuration management tools;
• Familiarity with analog, power, high‑speed digital, and RF/microwave circuits;
• Experience with reliability analyses (WCA, PSA, radiation);
• Experience with time‑domain and frequency‑domain simulations (LTspice, SIwave, HFSS, s‑parameters);
• Knowledge of PCB materials, stack‑ups, and technology limits for SMT components;
• Familiarity with NASA EEE‑INST‑002 or equivalent standards;
• Experience with qualification and environmental testing;
• Proficiency with lab instruments (oscilloscopes, VNAs, spectrum analyzers, power analyzers, etc.);
• Understanding of flight hardware build processes (work instructions, travelers, as‑built lists, etc.);
• Ability to work autonomously in a fast‑paced environment and manage priorities effectively;
• Strong analytical capabilities combined with a collaborative mindset and excellent communication skills, with the ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, iterative development environments;

PREFERRED SKILLS

• Background in Space or Defense industries will be considered as a plus;
• Knowledge of AIT methodologies used by NASA/ESA;
• Familiarity with high-frequency RF circuit designs beyond Ka-band;
• Experience with space avionics interfaces (SpaceWire, Ethernet, CAN);
• Familiarity with NASA GEVS, ECSS‑Q‑ST‑20, and related standards;
• Experience with anomaly investigations involving flight hardware;
• Understanding of spacecraft telecommunications and SDR architectures;
• Strength in solving complex problems across HW/SW/FW boundaries.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

To conform to U.S. Government international trade regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.

ARGOTEC OFFERS

• Annual incentive pay is based upon performance and commensurate with the level of the position.
• Generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 100% match up to 8%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, this announcement is aimed at both sexes, under laws 903/77 and 125/91, and to people of all ages and all nationalities, under legislative decrees 215/03 and 216/03. Argotec is committed to fostering an inclusive, accepting, and diverse environment free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.