Careers

Orbit Fab likes to move fast, break barriers, and change the way space missions work. We're looking for the best minds, backed by a practical can-do attitude. We describe here the skills, qualifications, and responsibilities that we need to have as a team. Aptitude for complex technical challenges and practical experience is key. Your days will consist of electrical avionics hardware design, development, test, and production support to enable an on-orbit propellant supply for the 21st century of space innovation. As an engineer at Orbit Fab, you’ll exercise your practical problem solving for complex space systems. A strong candidate will call upon a breadth of experience developing systems under-budget and on time.

This is not a management position, we want you to spend your time doing the engineering you are passionate about. Over time as the team grows you could grow into the technical leader for the EE group.

You bring years of knowledge and passion for the following disciplines to the team:

• Space Systems Engineering (specifically, experience across both Big and Small space missions at a variety of institutions).
• Space avionics and electronics

In addition, the ideal candidate will be an authority in both mission systems engineering and satellite hardware and have an established record of leading space systems engineering teams in fast-paced environments. Exceptional candidates will have worked on systems for Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking Algorithm or Hardware Development.

The day to day work will take place in Lafayette, CO, approximately 30 minutes from downtown Denver and 20 minutes from downtown Boulder. You will support a diverse team of talented engineers across multiple projects. You will lead the technical development of projects that suit your areas of focus.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Define, review, and critique engineering processes.
• Technical decision-making processes and technical development across various space systems disciplines.
• Lead technical reviews.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior EE team members
• Guide electrical engineering processes and facilitate technical trades across the system.
• Identify technical issues and proactively implement resolutions to mitigate schedule and cost impacts.
• Design, test and fly electrical and avionics systems across Orbit Fab's Tankers, Docking Hardware, and Spacecraft Fill/Drain components.
• Specific tasks may Include:
• Circuit/Board Design
• Board Bring Up
• Rapid Prototyping for test
• EEE Parts and/or Radiation Parts Analysis
• Design for electronics mission lifetime and architecture
• Hardware in the Loop (HWIL) Testing
• Participate in the development of systems engineering products, spacecraft architecture, trade studies, requirements development, verification, and validation plans.
• Identify and interface vendors to carry out spacecraft electrical components selection and planning.
• Provide technical mentorship to team members and monitor the technical integrity of all team member contributions.
• Contribute technical knowledge around electrical engineering/avionics to proposal development and writing.
• Monitor and adhere to efficient program budgets, schedules, and resource plans.

EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, AND CHARACTERISTICS:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering, physics, mathematics, or other related discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in spacecraft electronics design, development, and/or testing across multiple flight projects/programs.
• Ability and desire to mentor and advise junior team members in a collaborative environment
• Design experience and mission heritage in GEO or deep space missions and a technical authority in design methodology, ramifications, and design selection process for GEO and/or deep space avionics hardware design
• Experience taking multiple products or multiple iterations of a single product from concept phase through prototyping, launch, and operation.
• Demonstrated leadership of space systems electrical engineering teams. By this we mean championing projects or group tasks; managing or organizing a project, team or task; or communicating (internally or externally) the vision/direction/goals of a project or team.
• A familiarity and appreciation for the multiple spacecraft engineering disciplines, how they interact and what effects them, gained through participating or collaborating with them on engineering projects.
• Familiarity with the spacecraft component supply chain and contacts or relationships with vendors cross the supply chain.
• Experience with key mission design, detailed analysis, and engineering management tools: circuit design/modeling software (we use Altium), SPENVIS, Matlab, JIRA or JIRA-like tools (Asana) and requirements tools like JAMA or Valispace.
• You share our appreciation for a diversity of thoughts, backgrounds and experiences, helping us all learn from each other and make smarter decisions.
• Experience defining customer needs and crafting engineering requirements, including a proven ability to successfully push back on unnecessary or mission affecting customer requirements.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to travel (5% to 10% time expected), including international travel as needed (Pending COVID resolution).

WE'LL BE EXCITED IF YOU HAVE:

• 10+ years of experience in satellite design, development, test, and operations.
• Masters, Ph.D., or other advanced degree in engineering, physics, math, or related discipline.
• Breadth of experience as an electrical engineer as well as significant experience as a technical authority in one or multiple technical areas within or across EE disciplines including:
• Power Electronics
• FPGAs and Digital Systems
• Control Systems
• Electrical Systems Engineering
• Parts Radiation/EEE Parts Analysis
• EMI/EMC or Signal Integrity
• Electrical Manufacturing
• Experience with both low and high budget space system development.
• Experience with spacecraft and subsystem environment definition (radiation, thermal, EMI/EMC, etc.) and design approaches (at LEO, GEO, and Deep Space).
• Experience with Spacecraft propulsion systems and pressure systems.
• Experience with Level 2 Spacecraft Design/EEE-INST-002 or similar standards for spacecraft design
• Experience with spacecraft and spacecraft subsystem fabrication, assembly, and test; understanding of qualification, acceptance, and proto-flight verification approaches.
• Previous experience working in a multi-disciplinary team.

The estimated salary range for this position is $120,000-140,000

If you feel you would succeed in the role above, we encourage you to apply regardless of whether or not you meet all of the requirements listed.

Location and Benefits

Orbit Fab is based out of Lafayette, Colorado and all roles are based in Colorado. We offer fully covered benefits and flexible work hours.

Eligibility

To conform to US Government space technology export regulations, applicants must be a US citizen, lawful permanent resident of the US, protected individual as defined by 8 USC 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorization from the US Department of State.

Orbit Fab Inc does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.