- Salary
- $180k – $220k/yr
- Location
- Hawthorne, California
- Type
- Full-time
- Department
- Engineering
- Seniority
- Lead
- Source
- Pinpoint
Description
Lead Electro-Mechanical Systems Engineer
Department: Vehicle Engineering
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Hawthorne, California
Compensation: $180,000 - $220,000 / year
Description
Astrolab is The Lunar Operations Company. We design and build the systems and hardware the lunar economy will come to depend on — rovers, power, and data networks for sustained operations on the Moon. We are focused on the problems that must be solved before the next chapter of human exploration can scale. The Moon does not forgive untested assumptions. The people who work here know that, and they wouldn't have it any other way.
Lead Electro-Mechanical Systems Engineer with a deep specialization in Interconnected Avionics Systems and Wiring Harness Design. In this role, you will lead the architecture, design, integration, and qualification of the electrical power and data distribution networks for our next-generation lunar rovers.
Lead Electro-Mechanical Systems Engineer with a deep specialization in Interconnected Avionics Systems and Wiring Harness Design. In this role, you will lead the architecture, design, integration, and qualification of the electrical power and data distribution networks for our next-generation lunar rovers.
You will own the end-to-end harness lifecycle—from high-level avionics system architecture down to manufacturing specifications, pinouts, and physical routing—ensuring high reliability under extreme lunar environment conditions (radiation, thermal gradients, vacuum, and dust).
What you'll do:
System Architecture & Design
- Lead the electrical interconnect and harness architecture for lunar flight systems, including power distribution, command/data handling (C&DH), sensors, and RF payloads.
- Define and maintain block diagrams, system schematics, ICDs (Interface Control Documents), and pinout allocations across all spacecraft subsystems.
- Perform trade studies on wire gauge, conductor materials, shielding techniques, and connector types to optimize weight, mass, and signal integrity under strict mass budgets.
Lunar Environment Qualification & Harness Specialization
- Design harnesses resistant to severe lunar conditions: vacuum outgassing, extreme thermal cycling, dynamic motion, and regolith/dust intrusion.
- Apply single-event effect (SEE) and total ionizing dose (TID) radiation mitigation strategies to harness layout, shielding, and ground topology.
- Select, qualify, and specify space-grade connectors (e.g., Micro-D, Nano-D, MIL-DTL-38999), backshells, braiding, and potting materials compliant with NASA and internal space flight standards.
Technical Leadership & Program Execution
- Serve as the primary technical Authority/SME for harness design across internal engineering teams, manufacturing, and external suppliers.
- Oversee flat-sat/bench testing, harness assembly, harness routing mock-ups, and spacecraft integration (assembly, integration, and test).
- Support critical program milestones.
- Mentor early career and mid-level avionics and electrical engineers.
What you'll bring:
Basic Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) field
- Experience: 5+ years of relevant hands-on experience in spaceflight avionics systems engineering, including significant experience with space-qualified wiring harness design and electrical interconnects.
-
Experience in Standards Expertise: Demonstrated knowledge and application of applicable industry and space agency standards for harness fabrication, routing, and electrical interconnects, including:
- NASA-STD-8739.4
- IPC/WHMA-A-620 Class 3 / Space Addendum
- ESA ECSS-Q-ST-70-08 and ECSS-E-ST-50
- Experience in CAD/EDA Tools: Proficiency with 3D harness routing, electrical design, and/or schematic tools such as Siemens Capital, Zuken E3.series, Altium, Creo Harness, CATIA V5, or 3DEXPERIENCE.
- Materials & Environmental Requirements: Experience selecting materials and components for low-outgassing applications and environments requiring thermal and radiation endurance, including familiarity with applicable NASA outgassing requirements.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) field
- Experience supporting flight hardware or missions such as planetary missions, lunar landers, deep-space probes, or satellite programs.
- Knowledge of EMI/EMC mitigation, including MIL-STD-461, as well as grounding and bonding strategies for spacecraft.
- Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testbeds and spacecraft-level functional testing.
- Experience coordinating with suppliers, manufacturers, or vendors supporting space-qualified cable and harness assemblies.
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
- Ability to occasionally travel to manufacturing partners, cleanroom facilities, and launch sites as required.
- Ability to work in cleanroom environments during vehicle integration, testing, and related activities.
Benefits and Perks
- Join a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
- Equity ownership in the company
- Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Flexible PTO and parental leave
- Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site
- Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks
Skills
CATIA