Senior Electrical Engineer – Spacecraft Power Systems & Bus Architecture
About Portal
Portal Space Systems is on a mission to expand humanity’s freedom of movement in space. We’re building the spacecraft that makes that mission possible. From our Bothell, WA headquarters, we design vehicles with the maneuverability, resilience, and adaptability needed for the next era of orbital operations. Every system we build is in service of a simple idea: space should be more accessible, responsive, and capable. Joining Portal means stepping into a team that believes in bold engineering, fast iteration, and the power of small groups to change what’s possible. If you want your work to directly shape the future of in-space mobility, join us.
About the Role
We are seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer with deep expertise in hardware electrical design for spacecraft, particularly in power systems engineering and bus-level power management.
Responsibilities
- Architect and design spacecraft power systems including solar array interfaces, battery charge/discharge regulation, power distribution units (PDUs), and system-level grounding schemes.
- Lead development of the main spacecraft power bus: voltage regulation, load management, protection, and redundancy strategies.
- Perform trade studies and system sizing for battery capacity, solar array performance, and bus architecture optimization.
- Develop schematics, PCB layouts, and cable harnessing for power boards and interface hardware.
- Drive hardware bring-up, functional testing, and fault isolation on power boards and integrated systems.
- Collaborate with systems, mechanical, and thermal engineers to align EPS design with mission requirements and spacecraft constraints.
- Contribute to environmental testing for acceptance and qualification and EMI/EMC compliance for power hardware.
- Coordinate with Launch Providers on interfaces and concept of operations during payload integration, launch pad and waking up in space.
Basic Qualifications
- B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, related field or equivalent.
- 5+ years of experience designing power systems for aerospace, spacecraft, or other high-reliability platforms.
- Experience with power electronics design, including DC-DC converters, battery management systems, and overcurrent/undervoltage protection circuits.
- Experience using ECAD tools (e.g., Altium Designer) for board design and system schematics.
- Experience testing and debugging flight or flight-like power hardware in lab and system testbeds.
Preferred Skills & Experience
- Experience with spacecraft power architectures including unregulated and regulated bus designs.
- Knowledge of space-grade components, derating guidelines, and radiation effects on power electronics.
- Familiarity with power system modeling and analysis tools (e.g., PLECS, SPICE).
- Experience with EPS integration and operations on actual flight programs.
- Familiarity with standards such as NASA-STD-4005, ECSS-E-ST-20-20, or NASA power interface specs.
ITAR Statement
This position may involve access to technical data and defense-related materials controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Eligibility to access ITAR-controlled items requires that candidates be U.S. persons, which includes U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other protected individuals as defined by U.S. law. Employment is contingent upon verification of ITAR eligibility and, where applicable, obtaining any required export authorization or license.
Equal Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
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