Electrical Engineer - Spaceborne Radar Systems
Kapta Space
Other Engineering
Seattle, WA, USA
Posted on Dec 16, 2025
Kapta Space, a VC-funded early-stage startup in Seattle, WA, is breaking new ground in Geospatial Intelligence. Our technology centers around a proven, scalable electronically-steered radar for sophisticated spaceborne applications such as earth observation using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) techniques, as well as enabling advanced defense missions such as target tracking on the ground and in the air.
As an Electrical Engineer, you will design, develop, qualify, and deploy the electronic subsystems that power our spaceborne electronically-steered radar systems. You will contribute to mission-critical hardware across power electronics, high-speed digital and mixed-signal electronics, RF front-ends, and embedded processing hardware. You will help take products from concept through flight, collaborating across disciplines to deliver high-performance and highly reliable hardware for harsh LEO environments.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to apply advanced technical principles, theories, and concepts, and will have the drive and discipline to complete projects independently and on time. Kapta Space recognizes that strong candidates come from diverse backgrounds; if you bring relevant experience and the capacity to grow into this role, we encourage you to apply. The position may be structured at a junior or senior level based on the selected candidate’s strengths, with salary and benefits adjusted accordingly.
Role:
- Support the definition, design, and implementation of electrical subsystem architectures for electronically-steered radar, including power systems, mixed-signal electronics, digital control boards, RF front-end interfaces, and embedded processing circuitry.
- Execute full product lifecycle activities: requirements development, detailed design, schematic capture, PCB layout collaboration, prototype build, bring-up, debug, and qualification.
- Perform hands-on bench testing, characterization, and root-cause analysis across power, digital, and mixed-signal circuits, using standard lab instrumentation.
- Develop and execute environmental and functional test plans to ensure hardware reliability in thermal-vacuum, vibration/shock, EMI/EMC, and radiation environments.
- Create and maintain engineering documentation including schematics, BOMs, test procedures, configuration records, and integration guides.
- Collaborate closely with systems engineering, RF/antenna, mechanical/thermal, software/firmware, and manufacturing partners to ensure seamless integration and robust hardware-software performance.
- Support manufacturability and cost-efficient production through DFX principles and NPI handoff to production partners.
- Engage with suppliers, fabrication partners, and subcontractors throughout the product development lifecycle.
Required Qualifications :
- BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline.
- 5+ years of hands-on experience designing, building, and testing electronic systems (power electronics, mixed-signal, digital, or RF-adjacent).
- Proficiency with schematic design tools and familiarity with PCB layout workflows.
- Strong understanding of EMI/EMC fundamentals, grounding, signal integrity, power integrity, and high-reliability design practices.
- Experience performing bench-level bring-up and debug using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies, signal generators, and related equipment.
- Demonstrated ability to support hardware through environmental qualification (thermal, vibration, shock, EMI/EMC, TVAC, etc.) or willingness to learn quickly.
- Ability to work cross-functionally on multi-disciplinary hardware teams in a fast-moving startup environment.
- Excellent communication skills, with ability to clearly present technical findings and collaborate effectively across engineering functions.
- Must be eligible to obtain and hold a US DoD security clearance.
Bonus:
- Experience with electronically-steered or phased-array radar systems, mixed-signal analog front ends, or RF/antenna electronics.
- Familiarity with radiation-tolerant design, COTS-to-space conversion strategies, and component-level derating approaches for LEO environments.
- Experience with high-speed digital design, DDR interfaces, FPGA/SoC power architectures, or precision timing/synchronization circuitry.
- Familiarity with modeling and simulation tools for signal integrity, power integrity, RF, or thermal/structural analysis.
- Experience qualifying hardware for space, defense, or other high-reliability environments.
- Exposure to manufacturing scaling, DFM for electronics, or lean hardware development practices.
- Experience coordinating with global suppliers, electronics manufacturers, and specialized test facilities.
Concerned you do not meet all the requirements? Not a problem - please apply even if you do not meet all these criteria.
U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Kapta Employees must be U.S. citizens, lawful U.S. permanent residents (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or Commerce as applicable.
Kapta Space is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe that diversity drives innovation, strengthens our team, and broadens our capabilities. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply.
Kapta Space does not engage with external recruiters or agencies without prior written agreement. If you are a recruiter (individual or agency) and wish to engage with Kapta Space for talent acquisition, please email hr@kaptaspace.com.
