Avionics Architect
Kepler Communications
We are looking for an Avionics Architect to lead the system architecture of Kepler’s next-generation satellite avionics platform. This role will define and drive the end-to-end avionics architecture for a complex spacecraft that combines a high-speed networking payload, an On-Board Computer (OBC), and interfaces to a sophisticated Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) sensor and actuator suite.
The ideal candidate brings deep experience in high-speed digital or networking equipment architecture and can translate mission and product requirements into a robust, scalable, and recoverable avionics system that balances performance, reliability, operability, and development risk.
Key Responsibilities
Own the top-level avionics architecture for a satellite platform, including system decomposition, interface strategy, and architectural trade studies across the OBC, payload with a focus on security, reliability, serviceability, and scalability
Define architectures that support high-speed networking payloads (up to 100G), backplanes, management networks, timing/clock distribution, system boot and recovery concepts
Lead the design of robust Failure Detection, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR), including safe-mode behavior, degraded operation, watchdog strategies, firmware recovery, and contingency operations across the spacecraft
Document and maintain the avionics technical baseline, including architecture diagrams, interface definitions, trade studies, operating modes, and design justifications.
Provide technical leadership through architecture reviews, subsystem design reviews, integration planning, anomaly resolution, and roadmap development for future designs
Perform and guide engineering analyses, including derating, reliability, radiation tolerance, single-point failure analysis, EMI/EMC, signal integrity, power distribution concepts, and FMECA-informed design improvements
Work cross-functionally with networking, GNC, RF, software, FPGA, systems, AIT, and mechanical/thermal teams
Support supplier and component selection for critical avionics functions, especially in high-speed interconnect, timing, compute, FPGA/SoC, memory, and networking subsystems
Represent Electrical Engineering at internal and external design reviews.
Stay current with emerging technologies, standards, and best practices in space and high-performance electrical systems
Required Skills & Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent; Master's Degree is an asset
10+ years of experience in spacecraft avionics, high-speed digital electronics, network equipment, or other complex embedded hardware systems, with significant experience at the architecture or technical lead level
Demonstrated experience architecting complex multi-board or distributed systems that combine processors, FPGAs/SoCs, management controllers, storage, power distribution, and high-speed interfaces
Strong background in high-speed networking architecture or networking equipment design, including experience with Ethernet switching or routing systems up to 100G-class links
Experience with system architecture for compute platforms using modern SoCs, FPGAs, and memories such as QSPI NOR, eMMC, DDR4, SATA, NVMe, or similar technologies
Strong understanding of reliability and operability considerations, including FDIR, watchdog and reset strategies, boot architecture, firmware update and recovery concepts, redundancy, and fault containment
Experience conducting engineering analyses such as FMECA/FMEA, worst-case analysis, radiation effects mitigation, EMI/EMC, signal integrity, and power architecture trade-offs
Ability to evaluate architectural trade-offs across performance, thermal constraints, electrical power, manufacturability, testability, schedule, and mission risk
Experience working in fast-paced development environments where requirements evolve, including driving early design decisions and validating key architectural assumptions
Strong communication skills and ability to produce clear, thorough technical documentation and present architectural decisions to cross-functional engineering leadership
Comfortable operating across system-level architecture and detailed interface design, from early concept development through integration and validation
Bonus Points
Experience working in an aerospace or high-reliability (high-rel) environment
Experience designing hardware/systems to operate in a radiation environment
Low-level electrical design, high-speed layout
Experience working with Altium
Experience with space standards (NASA or ECSS)
