Avionics Engineer (Power Electronics)

Job summary

Own the power converter design for the Starlight solar array, from system requirements and architecture through prototype development, qualification, and flight readiness. Design, simulate, build, test, and troubleshoot converter hardware while coordinating electrical interfaces and production transition with systems, mechanical, manufacturing, and test teams.

Job details

Position Details Location: Carson, CA Employment Type: Full-time Department: Starlight Travel: Occasional The Mission Starpath is building the technology to enable human expansion into the Solar System. We are developing systems that will produce the water, power, and oxygen needed for humans to live and work on the Moon and Mars. Our ultimate goal is to build and operate a self-sustaining city on Mars. Starlight is our space solar product. Our goal is to build the lowest-cost, highest-performance space solar power system—one capable of powering most new satellites around Earth and all Starpath equipment on the Moon and Mars. Power Electronics Avionics Engineer We are looking for a Power Electronics Avionics Engineer to own the design of Starlight’s power electronics. Your immediate responsibility will be to develop a power converter from system architecture through qualification and production. You will own the converter’s topology, component selection, magnetics, control loops, sensing, protection circuitry, PCB design, thermal performance, and electrical interfaces. This is a hands-on role that includes circuit design, simulation, hardware bring-up, testing, and failure investigation in close collaboration with systems, mechanical, manufacturing, and test engineers. Responsibilities Own the design of a power converter for the Starlight solar array product from requirements through flight readiness Translate system-level requirements into converter architecture and detailed electrical requirements Select converter topologies and components based on efficiency, power density, reliability, mass, cost, and manufacturability Design switching power stages, gate-drive circuits, magnetics, control loops, sensing, filtering, and protection circuitry Perform circuit modeling, simulation, stability analysis, component derating, and worst-case analysis Own schematic capture and power-electronics PCB layout, including high-current paths, switching nodes, grounding, isolation, thermal management, and EMI control Build, bring up, characterize, and debug converter prototypes Develop and execute tests for efficiency, regulation, transient response, stability, thermal performance, emissions, and fault behavior Design for launch and space environments, including vibration, thermal vacuum, radiation, and electromagnetic compatibility Define electrical interfaces between the solar array, converter, spacecraft power system, and avionics Investigate failures, determine root causes, and implement design improvements Partner with manufacturing and supply-chain teams to transition the design into reliable production Maintain schematics, bills of materials, analyses, interface documentation, and test and qualification records Required Qualifications 3+ years of professional experience designing power electronics or power-conversion hardware Experience taking a power converter from architecture through prototype, bring-up, and testing Strong understanding of switch-mode power-converter topologies, control-loop design, magnetics, power semiconductors, and gate-drive design Experience with current and voltage sensing, feedback networks, filtering, isolation, and hardware protection circuits Strong understanding of grounding, parasitics, switching behavior, power integrity, and EMI/EMC fundamentals Experience designing or directing the layout of multilayer power-electronics PCBs Hands-on experience using oscilloscopes, electronic loads, power supplies, network analyzers, current probes, and differential probes Experience with circuit simulation, tolerance analysis, hardware bring-up, and root-cause investigation Degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field, or equivalent professional experience A desire to make humans a multi-planet species Preferred Qualifications Experience designing power electronics for spacecraft, satellites, launch vehicles, aircraft, or other high-reliability systems Experience with solar-array power electronics, maximum power point tracking, battery charging, or spacecraft electrical power systems Experience designing high-efficiency, high-power-density DC-DC converters and custom magnetics Experience with digital power control, embedded control firmware, or FPGA-based control Knowledge of radiation effects, electrical component derating, and worst-case circuit analysis for space hardware Experience designing for thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, and spaceflight EMC environments Proficiency with Altium Designer, Cadence, LTspice, PSpice, PLECS, or similar tools Experience supporting design-for-manufacturing, production testing, supplier qualification, or failure analysis EAR Requirements To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, you must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka 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. Equal Opportunity Starpath is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Benefits At Starpath Robotics, base pay is just one part of your total rewards package. We also offer: Generous benefits including health, dental, vision, and retirement plans. Paid time off, holidays, and flexible policies to support balance. Professional growth opportunities through training and development. The chance to own high-impact work that directly shapes the future of robotics & space! A collaborative, mission-driven culture where craftsmanship and innovation are celebrated.

What you’ll do

Own the power converter design for the Starlight solar array, from system requirements and architecture through prototype development, qualification, and flight readiness. Design, simulate, build, test, and troubleshoot converter hardware while coordinating electrical interfaces and production transition with systems, mechanical, manufacturing, and test teams.

Requirements

Requires at least three years of professional power-electronics or power-conversion design experience, including taking converters from architecture through prototype bring-up and testing. Candidates need strong knowledge of converter topologies, control loops, magnetics, PCB layout, EMI/EMC, simulation, and hands-on test equipment, plus an electrical engineering degree or equivalent experience.

Benefits

• Health Insurance • Dental Insurance • Vision Insurance • Retirement Plans • Paid Time Off • Paid Holidays • Flexible Policies • Professional Development

Listed skills

• EMI/EMC · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Power Electronics Design
• Power Converter Architecture
• Switch-Mode Converter Topologies
• Control-Loop Design
• Magnetics Design
• Power Semiconductor and Gate-Drive Design
• Circuit Simulation and Stability Analysis
• PCB Design and Layout
• Hardware Bring-Up and Debugging
• Electrical Testing and Characterization
• Thermal Management
• EMI/EMC
• Spacecraft Electrical Power Systems
• Failure Analysis and Root-Cause Investigation
• Design for Manufacturing
• Component Derating and Worst-Case Analysis

Job areas

• Engineering
• Manufacturing
• Science & Research
• Energy