What are the responsibilities and job description for the FPGA Engineer position at Aetherflux?
Mission
Aetherflux's mission is to deliver energy to planet Earth. Our work will make energy more accessible, establish American energy independence, power underdeveloped and disaster-stricken areas, and protect American warfighters.
Background
Aetherflux is taking a new approach to an old idea called space solar power. Our constellation of satellites will collect sunlight in Low Earth Orbit, convert it to electricity, and transmit power through infrared lasers to ground stations, providing reliable energy access where traditional delivery is expensive, challenging, or dangerous.
Current energy systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure, making them vulnerable to natural disasters, extreme weather, and physical and cyber attacks. Aetherflux overcomes these challenges by enabling direct, on-demand, secure, and scalable 24-hour energy distribution from space. This can revolutionize energy generation and delivery, and enable new capabilities as we deliver power to remote regions, military bases, bespoke operations, and unmanned autonomous systems.
Baiju Bhatt, who also co-founded Robinhood, founded Aetherflux in 2024. Inspired by his father’s career at NASA, Baiju earned his B.S. in Physics and M.S. in Mathematics at Stanford before starting Robinhood, now a public company that has helped over 20 million Americans access the financial system. Aetherflux is currently self-funded through a $10 million investment from Baiju.
This is an ambitious mission that demands extraordinary talent. Aetherflux’s team has worked at places like Robinhood, SpaceX, NASA, Anduril, JPL, and the U.S. Navy, and is based in San Carlos, CA. If you're ready to solve complex technical challenges and help build the most important energy company in the world, we want to hear from you.
Overview
The FPGA Engineer at Aetherflux will develop and optimize FPGA-based systems for high-performance space applications. The role will involve developing high-speed digital logic, signal processing algorithms, and real-time communication protocols for our space-based power beaming platform. You will work closely with electrical, software, and systems engineers to integrate FPGA solutions into Aetherflux's advanced satellite and ground station systems.
Responsibilities
- FPGA Development : Design and implement high-performance FPGA architectures for signal processing, power control, and communications.
- RTL Design & Simulation : Develop and verify RTL code using VHDL / Verilog for high-reliability applications.
- High-Speed Interfaces : Implement and optimize high-speed digital interfaces, including PCIe, JESD, Ethernet, and DDR memory controllers.
- Signal Processing & Control : Develop FPGA-based DSP modules for power transmission control and precision beam steering.
- Hardware Integration : Collaborate with electrical and embedded software engineers to integrate FPGA-based designs with microcontrollers, RF components, and high-power electronics.
- Verification & Validation : Develop FPGA test benches, perform hardware-in-the-loop testing, and validate designs using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and other lab equipment.
- Optimization for Space Environments : Ensure FPGA designs are radiation-tolerant and optimized for low-power, high-reliability operation in space environments.
- Firmware & Driver Development : Support development of low-level firmware and device drivers to interface FPGA designs with software-controlled systems.
Basic Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
Benefits
Disclaimer
This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities. Contents are subject to change at Aetherflux’s discretion.
Aetherflux is an equal employment opportunity employer. We consider individuals for employment or promotion according to their skills, abilities and experience. Aetherflux is committed to complying with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, physical, mental or developmental disability, sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions relating to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), veteran status, military status, marital or registered domestic partnership status, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics), genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, as well as any other category protected by federal, state or local laws.
