Senior Power Electronics Engineer (SpaceHi-Rel Systems)

Power the future of Space at Star Catcher

Star Catcher is powering the future of space by building the worlds first orbital energy grid: the Star Catcher Network. Spacecraft connect into the Star Catcher Network and receive conditioned energy via their existing solar arrays requiring no retrofit to utilize the first true space-based infrastructure. The Star Catcher Network provides power as needed from tens of Watts to tens of thousands of Watts at concentrations from fractions of a Sun of flux to ten Suns of flux.

The Star Catcher Network enables More Uptime More Bandwidth and More Mission.

Join our team of experienced and passionate space innovators driven to transform and expand humanitys utilization of space. The creation of space-based power infrastructure is as impactful for space missions in the 2020s and 2030s as the advent of low-cost launch services was in the 2010s. We seek individuals who share our passion for enabling people to do more in space and are not afraid to get their hands dirty to make our vision of the future reality.

Star Catcher Industries Inc. located in Jacksonville FL is seeking an experienced Senior Power Electronics Engineer to design the critical hardware that enables our technology development. You will be responsible for interfacing directly into our spacecrafts onboard battery system and developing the high-power regulators and conditioners needed to deliver clean continuous power to the lasers. This is a high-stakes high-reliability challenge and we need an expert with a proven ability to design robust high-current power electronics capable of operating in a space-based environment.

Key Responsibilities

• High-Power Design:Architect design and analyze high-power DC-DC converters regulators and power conditioning units capable of sustaining multi-kilowatt continuous loads.
• Battery Integration:Design safe efficient interfaces to tap directly into the spacecrafts primary battery system managing extreme current draws high discharge rates and transient behaviors during high-power beaming operations.
• Thermal & Stress Management:Work closely with mechanical and thermal engineers to ensure power electronics can survive the extreme thermal dissipation requirements of a continuous multi-kilowatt load in a vacuum.
• Testing & Validation:Develop and execute rigorous test plans (including EMI/EMC TVAC and vibration) to validate power electronics from the breadboard phase through flight qualification.
• Hi-Rel Component Selection:Select and qualify components for high-reliability space-flight applications ensuring survivability against radiation (TID SEE) and extreme thermal cycling.
• Team Leadership:Mentor junior engineers lead a dedicated power electronics team and efficiently manage technical relationships with external contractors and vendors.

Basic Qualifications

• Education: Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Experience: 7 years of professional experience in power electronics design specifically with high-power high-current regulators and power conditioning systems.

Technical Expertise

• Deep understanding of switching power supply topologies (e.g. buck boost forward flyback full-bridge LLC).
• Proven experience in schematic capture and PCB layout for high-power circuits utilizing advanced EDA tools (e.g. Altium Designer or equivalent) alongside circuit simulation SI/PI and thermal analysis suites (e.g. Ansys or equivalent).
• Strong background in managing thermals EMI/EMC and grounding in high-power systems.
• Mindset: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and tackle unprecedented engineering problems with a rigorous analytical approach.

Preferred Qualifications

• Satellite EPS Architecture (Highly Desired):Direct experience designing overall Electrical Power System (EPS) architectures for satellites including battery management systems (BMS) solar array regulators and power distribution.
• Laser/Optics Power (Highly Desired):Prior experience designing power supplies specifically for high-power lasers directed energy or large-scale optical payloads.
• Space Flight Experience:Proven track record of designing hardware that has flown in space. Familiarity with radiation-hardened or radiation-tolerant design practices.
• Aerospace Standards:Strong familiarity with key industry standards for testing qualification and manufacturing including MIL-STD-461 (EMI/EMC) MIL-STD-810 NASA GEVS or IPC J-STD-001 Space Addendum.
• Advanced Degrees:Masters degree or Ph.D. in Power Electronics or a related field.

Help us deploy and scale space infrastructure that will drive our utilization of space forward! We offer a highly competitive benefits package including access to comprehensive medical dental and vision coverage 401(k) retirement plan life insurance and paid parental leave in addition to other benefits.

Star Catcher is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Star Catcher is governed on the basis of merit competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race color religion gender national origin/ethnicity veteran status disability status age sexual orientation gender identity marital status mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

All offers of employment at Star Catcher are contingent upon results of a thorough background check and your ability to provide proof of eligibility to work in the US.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen lawful permanent resident of the U.S. protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.