Lead Electrical Engineer

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Current energy systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure, making them vulnerable to natural disasters, extreme weather, and physical and cyber attacks.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 Lead Electrical Engineer at Aetherflux will lead the design and development of electrical systems powering our space-based energy transmission platform. You will play a pivotal role in designing high-power systems, overseeing PCB development, and ensuring the successful integration of electrical hardware into our satellite payloads. This role requires expertise in power electronics, mixed-signal circuit design, and spacecraft integration, with a strong emphasis on reliability and performance in space environments.

Responsibilities

• Power System Design: Lead the development of high-power electrical systems supporting infrared laser power beaming.
• PCB Development: Own the end-to-end design, layout, and validation of printed circuit boards (PCBs) for space applications.
• System Integration: Collaborate with mechanical, optical, thermal, and software engineers to develop a highly integrated electrical architecture.
• High-Voltage Electronics: Design and validate power converters, battery management systems, and energy distribution networks for spacecraft.
• Radiation-Hardened Electronics: Develop and test radiation-tolerant electronics to ensure robust operation in space environments.
• Testing & Validation: Lead hardware validation efforts, including functional testing, thermal vacuum testing, and environmental qualification.
• Reliability & Safety: Ensure electrical systems meet stringent reliability and safety standards for space missions.
• Flight Readiness: Drive hardware development from initial concept to flight-ready qualification, supporting launch integration and operations.
• Documentation & Compliance: Maintain design documentation and ensure compliance with aerospace industry standards.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• 8 years of experience in electrical hardware design, including high-power and mixed-signal circuit design.
• Experience designing power electronics for spacecraft, aerospace, or high-reliability systems.
• Proficiency in PCB design tools such as Altium, KiCad, or similar.
• Strong understanding of digital communication protocols (SPI, I2C, CAN, Ethernet).
• Experience with FPGA-based designs and embedded systems for real-time control.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory testing, troubleshooting, and validation of electrical hardware.
• Knowledge of space qualification processes, including environmental and radiation testing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with laser systems, high-power electronics, and photonics integration.
• Familiarity with spacecraft integration and launch vehicle interface requirements.
• Expertise in designing fault-tolerant and redundant electrical architectures.
• Knowledge of high-frequency power electronics and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or similar tools for data analysis and test automation.
• Prior experience in a leadership or senior engineering role.

Benefits

• Employees and their eligible dependents may enroll in medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Unlimited paid time off
• 10 paid holidays per calendar year
• Paid leave for new parents
• Relocation assistance

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.