Job Description
Job Title:
Principal Power Electronics Engineer Job Description As a Principal Power Electronics Engineer, you will lead the end-to-end design, development, and testing of flight-critical power avionics hardware for planetary rover vehicles. You will own the rover's entire power system—from solar input and battery management through regulated power distribution and fault protection—ensuring highly reliable performance in demanding space environments. This is a senior, hands-on role where you collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary avionics team to turn clean-sheet concepts into robust, mission-ready hardware. Responsibilities Own the architecture and development of vehicle power electronics from a clean sheet through flight, including solar power conversion, battery management systems, power distribution, load management, and voltage regulation. Define and implement detailed PCBA requirements, use cases, and system integration plans for the rover power system. Create and maintain schematics for power and analog circuits using Altium Designer, ensuring robust design practices and clear documentation. Perform PCB layout for complex power and analog boards, including power converters, regulators, distribution boards, and battery interface boards. Conduct detailed design analyses, including power budgeting, size and mass assessments, Monte Carlo tolerance analysis, and reliability-related evaluations. Plan and execute PCBA design verification testing, including bench-level functional tests, performance characterization under load, and environmental or qualification testing. Lead system integration testing of power electronics with the broader rover avionics and subsystems, resolving interface issues and optimizing system performance. Prepare and lead design reviews for interdisciplinary audiences, clearly presenting design decisions, trade-offs, risks, and mitigation strategies. Use SPICE and Excel to model, simulate, and analyze circuits, validating designs prior to fabrication and refining them based on test results. Work hands-on in the lab to bring up new boards, troubleshoot hardware issues, interpret test results, and validate performance against requirements. Support manufacturing activities, including design-for-manufacturability considerations, build support, and resolution of production issues related to power hardware. Provide technical support for flight operations as needed, ensuring reliable power system performance throughout the mission. Collaborate closely with other engineering disciplines to ensure the power system meets mission, mechanical, thermal, and software constraints. Contribute to a dynamic, fast-paced engineering culture by proactively identifying improvements, sharing expertise, and mentoring other team members. Essential Skills Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or an equivalent technical discipline. 15+ years of experience in power electronics design, including schematic capture, PCB layout, and hardware testing. Deep expertise in solar power conversion, voltage regulation, load management, fault protection, and power transmission. Strong experience with analog instrumentation and digital circuits in power electronics applications. Proven ability to perform schematic capture and layout of complex PCBAs for power and analog circuitry. Proficiency using Altium Designer for schematic capture and PCB layout. Skilled in performing circuit analyses using SPICE for simulation and Excel for calculations and data analysis. Hands-on proficiency with electronic lab equipment, including power supplies, oscilloscopes, digital multimeters (DMMs), signal generators, and soldering tools. Demonstrated success working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with evolving requirements. Ability to take ownership of complex systems, work with minimal supervision, and drive designs from concept through flight readiness. Additional Skills & Qualifications Experience designing power electronics for mission-critical or harsh-environment applications such as aerospace, space, or automotive systems. Background in power system architecture, including end-to-end power flow from energy generation and storage through regulated distribution and fault management. Experience supporting qualification testing, system integration, manufacturing, and flight or field operations for hardware products. Strong communication skills with the ability to clearly present technical content to interdisciplinary teams and stakeholders. Comfort working in a startup-like environment that values autonomy, initiative, and creative problem solving. Passion for space exploration and interest in contributing to planetary rover missions. Work Environment You will work in a fast-paced, startup-style environment where autonomy, ownership, and initiative are highly valued. The avionics team collaborates closely with other engineering disciplines to design, build, and operate advanced planetary rover vehicles and their ground support equipment. The role is based in an office and lab setting, where you will regularly use tools such as Altium Designer, SPICE, and Excel, as well as electronic lab equipment including oscilloscopes, power supplies, DMMs, signal generators, and soldering tools. The culture emphasizes hands-on engineering, rapid iteration, and close collaboration, with limited hand-holding and a strong expectation that you will independently drive your projects from concept through testing and flight readiness. Job Type & Location This is a Permanent position based out of Hawthorne, CA. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $150000.00 - $243000.00/yr. 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 Home office set up reimbursement Fully flexible and remote friendly work environment Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Hawthorne,CA. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Jun 10, 2026. About Actalent Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options. San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.
