Sr. Electrical Engineer - Power Electronics
Xona Space Systems
Location
Burlingame, CA
Employment Type
Full time
Location Type
On-site
Department
Engineering
Compensation
- $140K – $190K • Offers Equity
The final job level and salary will be determined based on a range of factors including the candidate’s education, qualifications, knowledge, skills, abilities, and relevant experience. The listed salary range is provided to offer insight into potential compensation, but it’s not a guarantee of the final offer. While we include the full range to be transparent, offers most often fall within the middle portion rather than the top.
Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.
With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.
We are looking for a Sr. Electrical Engineer - Power Electronics to take ownership of the spacecraft’s power systems, including solar panels, batteries, battery control modules, and the power distribution system. In this role, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and testing the electrical systems that generate, store, and distribute power throughout the satellite. You will also own the development and maintenance of the power budget, and ensure compliance with EMI/EMC design standards.
This is a hands-on, cross-disciplinary role where you will work closely with experienced engineers across electrical, systems, mechanical, and software teams. It is a unique opportunity to build a critical subsystem of a cutting-edge space technology platform.
What You’ll Do:
Design and develop the end-to-end solution of the satellite’s power subsystem, including solar arrays, batteries, battery control modules, and power distribution hardware
Develop and manage the spacecraft power budget across all mission phases
Design and validate battery management systems, including protection, charging, and state-of-health monitoring
Support integration of power systems with other spacecraft subsystems
Ensure designs are compliant with EMI/EMC standards and spaceflight reliability requirements
Conduct schematic capture, PCB layout reviews, and component selection for power electronics
Participate in electrical testing and validation at the unit, subsystem, and system levels
Support hardware bring-up, debugging, and performance tuning in lab and flight environments
Requirements
B.S. in Electrical Engineering or a related field
Understanding of solar panel and battery technologies, especially for aerospace or high-reliability applications
Experience with PCB design, including power electronics layout and high-current routing
Familiarity with battery management systems, power conversion, and safety circuitry
Basic knowledge of EMI/EMC considerations and applicable aerospace standards (e.g., MIL-STD-461)
Hands-on experience with electrical testing tools (e.g., oscilloscopes, power analyzers, logic analyzers)
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail in design and documentation
A collaborative, team-oriented mindset and the ability to communicate effectively
Bonus: Experience with electronics design for space and spacecraft power systems
Work onsite in Burlingame, CA. You’ll work closely with the satellite team in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).
For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).
For Canada Roles: Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.
We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
Compensation Range: $140K - $190K