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Xona Space Systems is building Pulsar, a next-generation satellite-based positioning and navigation system designed to provide centimeter-level accuracy globally. The company is developing an independent alternative to GPS that meets the performance, security, and resilience demands of autonomous systems and critical infrastructure.
As a Senior Mixed-Signal Engineer, you will lead the design and implementation of advanced electronics for satellite and space-based systems. Your primary responsibility will be the placement, layout, and high-speed routing of RFSoC-based boards, integrating RF, analog, digital, clocking, power, and high-speed data interfaces into a robust, space-qualified hardware platform.
You will work closely with RF, electrical, FPGA, and mechanical teams to take RFSoC hardware from concept through design, prototyping, test, and production. You will ensure the RFSoC layout meets performance, manufacturability, thermal, mechanical, reliability, and space-environment requirements. This is a hands-on role requiring deep expertise in mixed-signal PCB design, RF communications, and space-qualified electronics.
Key responsibilities include: designing and laying out complex RFSoC, FPGA, ADC/DAC, and RF boards; ensuring signal and power integrity across high-speed interfaces; collaborating with multidisciplinary teams on design reviews and problem-solving; supporting off-site testing events; and driving projects from design through production implementation.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or related discipline
- 8+ years of experience in mixed-signal, RF, high-speed digital, or advanced PCB design
- Understanding of electromagnetic principles in RF communications
- Proficiency with PCB ECAD tools (Altium) for schematic and layout
- Demonstrated experience laying out complex RFSoC, FPGA, ADC/DAC, RF, or high-speed mixed-signal boards
- Strong expertise in mixed-signal PCB design: controlled impedance, differential signaling, high-speed serial interfaces, clock/synchronization design, power distribution, grounding/shielding, RF transmission lines, signal/power integrity
- Hands-on experience with electrical/RF test equipment (multimeters, oscilloscopes, signal generators, spectrum analyzers)
- Knowledge of RF communications performance metrics
- Experience with signal-integrity, power-integrity, electromagnetic, or thermal analysis tools
- Experience with RFSoC or comparable AMD/Xilinx devices (pin planning, power, clocking, transceiver interfaces, high-speed data converters)
- Familiarity with interfaces: JESD204, DDR, PCIe, Ethernet, Aurora, high-speed ADC/DAC, RF clocking
- Willingness to travel for off-site testing
- Self-starter with proactive approach to project completion
- Excellent problem-solving, attention to detail, and ability to thrive in fast-paced collaborative environments
- Strong understanding of manufacturing constraints, PCB fabrication, assembly, inspection, and design-for-manufacturing
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience designing electronics for satellites, spacecraft, launch vehicles, avionics, or mission-critical systems
- Experience with space-qualified or radiation-tolerant components and PCB materials
- Familiarity with ECSS, NASA, MIL-STD, IPC, or aerospace/electronics standards
- Experience with thermal-vacuum, vibration, shock, radiation, EMC/EMI, and environmental qualification testing
- Experience designing RF payload, software-defined radio, communications, radar, remote-sensing, or satellite-navigation hardware
- Knowledge of RFSoC development workflows (Vivado, PetaLinux, Vitis, RF Data Converter tools, RFDC configuration, FPGA/embedded integration)
- Experience with RF front-end design, antenna interfaces, frequency conversion, filtering, amplification, low-noise signal chains
- Familiarity with radiation analysis, derating, reliability prediction, failure-mode analysis, fault-tolerant design
- Experience with Python, MATLAB, or similar tools for design automation, analysis, test
- Experience leading technical reviews
U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status required to comply with space technology export regulations.
