Sr. Electrical Engineer - Power Electronics

Job Description

Description:

Xona is building the next generation of satellite navigation — a high-performance, resilient alternative to GPS powered by a commercial constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. We are on a mission to unlock a new era of autonomy, advanced mobility, and infrastructure resilience by delivering precise, secure, and robust positioning services to the world.

We’re not here to incrementally improve GNSS. We’re here to redefine it from the ground up.

We are looking for a Sr. Electrical Engineer 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.

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).

Full-time