Director of Hardware Engineering – Spaceborne Radar Systems

Seattle, OR - USA

Monthly Salary: USD 461 - 461

Posted on: 30+ days ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Kapta Space a VC-funded early-stage startup in Seattle WA is breaking new ground in Geospatial Intelligence. Our technology centers around a proven scalable electronically-steered radar for sophisticated spaceborne applications such as earth observation using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) techniques as well as enabling advanced defense missions such as target tracking.

As the Director of Hardware Engineering you will lead the design development qualification and deployment of our scalable electronically-steered radar for advanced spaceborne ISR (Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance) missions. You will lead development of mission-critical hardware across RF/antenna systems high-speed digital mixed-signal electronics power electronics and mechanical/thermal packaging taking products from concept through flight. You will guide multi-disciplinary teams to deliver high-performance compliant hardware in harsh LEO (Low-earth orbit) environments ensuring technical excellence schedule and budget accountability and seamless integration with spacecraft bus partners.

You shall exhibit deep technical depth and apply advanced technical principles theories and concepts. The ideal candidate must have the drive and experience to complete projects independently and on aggressive timelines.

Role:

Lead the definition of hardware system architecture for electronically-steered radar subsystems including electronically steered antennas RF front-ends power electronics high-speed digital and mixed-signal electronics and embedded processing hardware.
Direct full product lifecycle execution: requirements architecture detailed design prototype build environmental/radiation/EMI-EMC qualification manufacturing introduction and spacecraft integration.
Recruit hire manage and mentor cross-disciplinary engineering teams guiding execution staffing team growth and culture of ownership and innovation.
Partner closely with system engineering software/firmware GNC payload/instrument and operations to ensure coherent hardware-software interaction robust performance and smooth delivery.
Own hardware V&V and TRL-advancement strategy: signal/power integrity analysis reliability modeling and environmental testing (thermal vibration shock vacuum EMI/EMC radiation).
Proactively collaborate with Program Management Office to manage schedules budgets risk mitigation and resource plans to meet mission performance and reliability targets.
In conjunction with Program Management Office drive manufacturability cost efficiency and quality through DFX (Design for Excellence) principles and NPI hand-off to production partners.
Support engagement with customers suppliers and subcontractors throughout the product development life cycle.

Required Qualifications:

BS/MS or PhD in Physics Electrical Engineering Aerospace Engineering or equivalent discipline.
Significant experience developing mission-critical hardware for space and/or defense environments.
Significant experience as a principal-level individual contributor working with multi-disciplinary engineering teams delivering complex spaceborne hardware.
Significant experience (5 years) in leadership/management of engineering teams across hardware disciplines.
Technical depth in RF/Microwave Antenna systems Radar high-speed digital and mixed-signal electronics and power electronics.
Experience with PCB design EMI/EMC practices and mechanical/thermal packaging for high-reliability hardware.
Proven success qualifying hardware for environmental and radiation conditions and supporting spacecraft/field deployments.
Demonstrated understanding of program planning budget control schedule execution risk management and cross-functional resource management.
Excellent communication skills with ability to present to senior leadership and collaborate with customers and suppliers.
Must be eligible to obtain and hold a US DoD security clearance (TS with SCI).

Bonus if candidates have experience and skills in the following areas:

Experience with electronically-steered or phased-array radar systems including beam-steering calibration approaches and general space reliability.
Familiarity with space-qualified component engineering radiation-tolerant design trade-offs and COTS-to-space conversion strategies.
Familiarity with modeling and simulation tools for RF/antenna signal/power integrity thermal/structural analyses.
Experience with acceptance and qualification test of space rated hardware and related standards such as SMC-S-016 GSFC-STD-7000 MIL-STD-461.
Experience in defense contracting environments or ISR/target-tracking radar missions.
Exposure to hardware manufacturing scaling DFM for high-volume production or lean development practices.
Experience collaborating across global supply chains and managing subcontractors.

$198000 - $242000 a year

The estimated salary range for this role reflects base pay only and is influenced by a variety of factors. Actual offers may vary based onthough not limited toa candidates experience education or training specialized expertise and the needs of the addition to base pay full-time roles include competitive equity grants that reward innovation impact and long-term growth. Our total compensation philosophy is designed to recognize excellence while fostering a culture of collaboration curiosity and shared success.

Kapta Space is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe that diversity drives innovation strengthens our team and broadens our capabilities. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race national origin gender gender identity sexual orientation protected veteran status disability age or other legally protected status. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply.

Kapta Space does not engage with external recruiters or agencies without prior written agreement. If you are a recruiter (individual or agency) and wish to engage with Kapta Space for talent acquisition please email

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. All final hiring decisions are made by humans.

Required Experience:

Director