Payload Motor Controls and Power Electronics Engineer

A New Paradigm For Space Operations.  Who We Are:  Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo,  we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on.  Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a ‘one-to-many’ system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster. This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space.   What You’ll Do:  The Payload Motor Controls and Power Electronics Engineer will design, model, simulate, and implement custom motor controllers and power-conversion systems for a spacecraft payload. This hands-on role will work across hardware, software, and systems engineering to rapidly develop and prepare prototype technology for flight. Job Responsibilities: Design spacecraft actuators, motor controls, power electronics, and power systems. Model and simulate electromechanical and power systems for feasibility, optimization, and system sizing. Implement motor-control designs on DSP and FPGA targets. Develop hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop simulations. Perform iterative testing and develop operational knowledge of the complete payload. Coordinate electrical and software requirements across engineering teams. Evaluate buy-versus-build decisions and communicate cost, schedule, and technical risks. What It Takes:  Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field OR a Master’s degree or PhD may substitute for two years of experience per advanced degree. 7+ years of motor controls and power electronics experience.  Experience with dynamic modeling and controls in MATLAB. Strong knowledge of BLDC motors and control algorithms, including field-oriented control. Experience with power-converter topologies and their controls. Experience implementing algorithms in hardware and software for target deployment. Strong systems-thinking and complex problem-solving skills. What We'd Love: Familiarity with payload-interface hardware used in spaceflight missions. Hands-on circuit-design and software-development experience. Understanding ...