Founding Electrical Engineer (Lead)- New Space/Energy- Southern California We’re seeking a Founding Electrical Engineer to lead the development of advanced electrical and power electronics hardware, taking systems from initial architecture through design, testing, integration, and flight. As an early member of the engineering team, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the electrical function from the ground up, establish key technical approaches, and take meaningful ownership of hardware critical to the company’s fusion power systems. You’ll work closely across mechanical, thermal, plasma, and systems engineering to solve complex multidisciplinary challenges and turn first-principles engineering into high-performance hardware built for space.
Key Qualifications:
5+ years of hands-on electrical engineering experience designing and developing complex hardware systems.
Strong expertise in power electronics, including high-power and/or high-voltage power conversion and distribution.
Proven experience owning electrical hardware from initial architecture and design through prototyping, testing, integration, and deployment.
Strong background in circuit design, PCB development, component selection, hardware bring-up, debugging, and validation.
Experience designing electrical systems around demanding thermal, mechanical, reliability, size, weight, and power constraints.
Ability to work closely with mechanical, thermal, controls, firmware, and systems engineering teams on multidisciplinary hardware.
Experience developing high-performance or mission-critical hardware, ideally within aerospace, space, defense, fusion, energy, or a similar environment.
Comfortable operating in a fast-paced R&D or startup environment with significant technical ownership and evolving requirements.
Preferred Experience:
Experience with aerospace, spacecraft, fusion, defense, or high-performance power systems.
Background in high-voltage or high-current power electronics.
Familiarity with EMI/EMC, grounding, isolation, and power integrity.
Experience designing hardware for harsh environments such as vacuum, vibration, or extreme temperatures.
Exposure to flight hardware, qualification testing, or spacecraft electrical systems.
Experience in fast-paced startup or R&D environments.
