Spacecraft Avionics Lead Seen this week
About the Role
Apex is looking for an Avionics Lead to own the architecture, development, and delivery of flight critical avionics systems. You'll drive technical direction across power, communications, and control systems while leading a small, high performing team. You'll stay hands on and take hardware from clean sheet through flight and into scalable production, working closely with software, GNC, mechanical, and production teams to ensure reliable and repeatable spacecraft builds.
Responsibilities
- Own the architecture and development of spacecraft avionics systems, including power distribution, communications, and control systems
- Lead the design, layout, bring up, and validation of custom PCBs for flight hardware
- Drive system level trade studies balancing performance with spacecraft constraints including power, thermal, EMI, and mechanical
- Deliver flight ready hardware and support integration, test, and production efforts
- Partner closely with software, GNC, mechanical, and production teams to ensure successful system integration
- Assist with hiring, mentor, and lead a team of electrical engineers while setting a high technical bar
- Lead rapid prototyping and development efforts to evaluate designs, derisk interfaces, and validate performance
- Establish and improve processes to ensure avionics systems are reliable, manufacturable, and scalable
- Troubleshoot and resolve issues at the board and system level across design, integration, and production
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field
- 5+ years of experience designing and delivering electrical systems for aerospace or other high reliability applications
- Strong experience with PCB design, schematic capture, layout, and bring up
- Experience with Altium or similar PCB design tools
- Experience with component selection, circuit analysis and simulation, and board manufacturing processes
- Hands on experience debugging electronics at the board and system level
- Proven technical leadership experience owning subsystems or mentoring engineers
- Ability to communicate technical trade offs clearly and drive cross functional alignment
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field
- Experience designing for space or other harsh environments including thermal, EMI, and radiation considerations
- Background in avionics subsystems such as power systems, communications, sensors, or control electronics
- Experience in a fast paced or startup environment
What We Offer
- Equity in Apex to benefit from the work you create
- 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision for you and dependents, plus $100k life insurance at no cost
- Comprehensive PTO starting at 15 days vacation, growing to 20+ days annually, plus 10 paid holidays
- Competitive 401(k) plan with 100% match on first 3%, 50% on next 2%
- 8 weeks paid parental leave plus childcare reimbursement up to $350/day for work-related travel
- Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks
- Monthly office socials, pickleball tournaments, run club, and family gatherings
- Workspace and tools to support your productivity
- Playa Vista office with in-person collaboration and work-life flexibility