Senior Electrical Engineer- Space

Vector Atomic is building quantum hardware to transform navigation, timing, geophysical exploration, and telecommunications. In 2025, we joined IonQ [NYSE: IONQ], the world’s leading quantum platform and merchant supplier – delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security. Our scientists, engineers, software developers, and operations professionals collaborate to deliver real-world solutions. We value ingenuity, diverse skillsets, and teamwork. Every team member can make an immediate impact while growing professionally. Join us to build breakthrough technology in a fast-paced, hands-on environment. We're looking for a Senior Electrical Engineer to join a multidisciplinary team of physicists and electrical, mechanical, software, and optical engineers designing next-generation quantum sensors for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) missions. This is a newly created, high-impact role central to our space sensor programs. You'll lead the design of advanced electronics, specifying, designing, characterizing, and testing PCB assemblies with FPGA, MCU, mixed-signal, and RF architectures, built to meet the demanding reliability and environmental requirements of spaceflight. You'll join a growing electronics team of engineers, reporting to our Engineering Director, with close daily collaboration across firmware, RTL, mechanical, and optical disciplines. This is an individual-contributor role with significant technical ownership and visibility into every stage of hardware development, from concept through on-orbit deployment.

Location: This role is based onsite at our office in Pleasanton, CA (Bay Area) Travel: Up to 20%, domestic or international.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead high-level electrical architecture for next-generation quantum sensors, balancing size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C).
• Own end-to-end PCB development: requirements definition, schematic design, layout, fabrication coordination, and performance verification.
• Translate system-level requirements into detailed electronic designs in collaboration with physicists, and mechanical, software, and optical engineers.
• Design and adapt circuits for reliable operation in the LEO radiation and thermal environment.
• Partner with firmware and RTL engineers on radiation-tolerant techniques (error detection/correction, bit scrubbing, recovery methods).
• Support system integration, test, and troubleshooting to ensure instrument-level requirements are met.
• Build environmental test plans simulating LEO conditions; estimate FIT rates and electronics lifetime against mission parameters.
• Characterize and validate designs using standard lab test and measurement equipment.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (or related field) with 6+ years of experience, or a Master's degree with 3+ years.
• 3+ years designing electronics for space applications (LEO preferred).
• Experience with power, analog, and mixed-signal circuit design for satellite or other flight systems.
• Working knowledge of radiation effects (TID, SEE) and common mitigation strategies.
• Experience selecting or qualifying components for radiation performance, including COTS parts.
• Solid grounding in high-speed PCB design practices: controlled impedance, length matching, grounding, decoupling, shielding.
• Comfortable in a lab environment, using oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, VNAs, power supplies, and related test equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with coworkers and collaborators, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work independently on assigned activities while collaborating within multidisciplinary teams.
• To comply with US export control laws, Vector Atomic employees must be U.S. citizens (born or naturalized), lawful U.S. permanent residents (i.e. green card holders), and certain categories of refugees and asylees.
• Ability to work onsite full-time at our office in Pleasanton, CA (SF Bay Area)

Preferred Experience (several of the following)

• Experience with space-qualified microprocessors or FPGA families.
• Exposure to FPGA RTL or radiation-mitigation algorithms (TMR, SEU handling).
• Familiarity with digital signal processing and FPGA implementation constraints.
• Circuit simulation experience (e.g., LTSpice).
• Experience in AS9100-compliant environments.

Vector Atomic offers competitive compensation and benefits including:

• Platinum-level family health coverage (medical, dental, vision)
• Health and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Employer 401(k) contributions
• 20 days of paid time off / 11 paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Fully stocked kitchen

Pay Range The base salary range for this position is $142,000 - $186,000 per year. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, equity and benefits. Please note that it is less common for candidates to be hired at the top of this range, as final compensation is determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Vector Atomic is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or any other classification protected by law. Vector Atomic does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third-party recruiting agencies in response to job postings. No fee will be paid to third parties who submit unsolicited candidates directly to our hiring managers or HR team.