Electrical Architect

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

Role:

Northwood is looking for an Electrical Architect to help drive the definition and architecture of our digital compute and power electronics systems. These complex digital systems ensure that our antennas can meet high-rate processing needs no matter where they are deployed around the world.

As the Electrical Architect, you will act as the Responsible Engineer for the electrical system, owning architecture decisions, driving system-level trades, and ensuring coherence across boards, subsystems, and disciplines. Our hardware team prioritizes excellent engineering, building end products that are known for their reliability, scalability, and cost.

Responsibilities:

• Own the electrical architecture and system-level design for high-speed digital communication systems, defining how RF and mixed-signal designs, complex multi-layer PCBs, and subsystems fit together

• Define system-level architecture for multi-gigabit networking and complex digital power trees, and drive system trades that shape architecture decisions across the product

• Set technical direction and review schematic capture, layout, and bring-up across a variety of digital systems including FPGAs, microcontrollers, and their associated peripherals

• Collaborate across hardware and software teams with RF engineers, antenna engineers, FPGA engineers, and firmware engineers to optimize system performance and overall design

• Guide prototype testing and performance assessment in the lab and in the field, with an eye towards system-level root cause and risk

• Partner with production teams to ensure the overall system architecture supports testable and manufacturable products that we can integrate in-house

Basic Qualifications:

• 5-7+ years of professional experience in electrical design, including experience operating at the system or architecture level

• Proficient in high-density/high-speed design (including FPGAs, high speed data converters, SerDes, 10/100 GigE, networking, JESD204C)

• Proficient in schematic capture and good PCB layout design

• Experience with troubleshooting EMI/EMC, either conducted or radiated

• Knowledge of PCB materials and developing board stack-up definition

• Experience with full product lifecycle (concept through production), including owning architecture-level decisions across that lifecycle

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience designing high-speed mixed-signal electronics and complex multilayer PCBs for FPGA- or processor-based systems

• Strong expertise in high-speed interfaces and networking technologies such as multi-gigabit SerDes, DDR, JESD204B/C, and 10/100G Ethernet

• Deep understanding of signal integrity, power integrity, EMI/EMC mitigation, PCB stack-up definition, and high-performance board layout practices

• Proven experience leading hardware development from architecture and prototype bring-up through validation, manufacturing, and production ramp

• Hands-on experience debugging complex hardware systems using advanced lab instrumentation and driving root-cause analysis across board and system levels

• Ability to lead cross-functional technical efforts, mentor junior engineers, and make sound engineering tradeoffs in fast-paced development environments

Additional Requirements:

• This position requires successfully obtaining and maintaining a Top Secret Security Clearance as a condition of employment. While the clearance may not be immediately necessary upon hire, we encourage you to initiate the application process promptly upon accepting this offer. Your ability to secure the necessary clearance is essential for fulfilling key responsibilities of the role. Should you be unable to obtain it, Northwood Space reserves the right to modify or terminate your employment to align with operational needs.

• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed

Compensation:

Electrical Engineer/Level 3: $122,400 – $153,000 per year

Electrical Engineer/Level 4: $144,000 – $180,000 per year

Electrical Engineer/Level 5: $180,000 – $225,000 per year

Electrical Engineer/Level 6: $204,000 – $255,000 per year

Compensation at Northwood Space is based on role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary depending on job-related skills, education, experience, and technical expertise. Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at Northwood. In addition to base salary, Northwood Space offers long-term incentives such as company stock options and discretionary performance bonuses. Benefits include equity, comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, flexible spending accounts, flexible time off, 10 or more paid holidays per year, retirement savings plans, and opportunities for professional development.

Additional Information:

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

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.

Northwood Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood Space 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.