Avionics Engineer - Power Electronics

Position Details Location: Carson, CAEmployment Type: Full-timeDepartment: StarlightTravel: 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 readinessTranslate system-level requirements into converter architecture and detailed electrical requirementsSelect converter topologies and components based on efficiency, power density, reliability, mass, cost, and manufacturabilityDesign switching power stages, gate-drive circuits, magnetics, control loops, sensing, filtering, and protection circuitryPerform circuit modeling, simulation, stability analysis, component derating, and worst-case analysisOwn schematic capture and power-electronics PCB layout, including high-current paths, switching nodes, grounding, isolation, thermal management, and EMI controlBuild, bring up, characterize, and debug converter prototypesDevelop and execute tests for efficiency, regulation, transient response, stability, thermal performance, emissions, and fault behaviorDesign for launch and space environments, including vibration, thermal vacuum, radiation, and electromagnetic compatibilityDefine electrical interfaces between the solar array, converter, spacecraft power system, and avionicsInvestigate failures, determine root causes, and implement design improvementsPartner with manufacturing and supply-chain teams to transition the design into reliable productionMaintain 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 hardwareExperience taking a power converter from architecture through prototype, bring-up, and testingStrong understanding of switch-mode power-converter topologies, control-loop design, magnetics, power semiconductors, and gate-drive designExperience with current and voltage sensing, feedback networks, filtering, isolation, and hardware protection circuitsStrong understanding of grounding, parasitics, switching behavior, power integrity, and EMI/EMC fundamentalsExperience designing or directing the layout of multilayer power-electronics PCBsHands-on experience using oscilloscopes, electronic loads, power supplies, network analyzers, current probes, and differential probesExperience with circuit simulation, tolerance analysis, hardware bring-up, and root-cause investigationDegree in Electrical Engineering or a related field, or equivalent professional experienceA desire to make humans a multi-planet species Preferred Qualifications Experience designing power electronics for spacecraft, satellites, launch vehicles, aircraft, or other high-reliability systemsExperience with solar-array power electronics, maximum power point tracking, battery charging, or spacecraft electrical power systemsExperience designing high-efficiency, high-power-density DC-DC converters and custom magneticsExperience with digital power control, embedded control firmware, or FPGA-based controlKnowledge of radiation effects, electrical component derating, and worst-case circuit analysis for space hardwareExperience designing for thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, and spaceflight EMC environmentsProficiency with Altium Designer, Cadence, LTspice, PSpice, PLECS, or similar toolsExperience 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.