Senior Electrical Engineer

Company Description

Icarus is at the forefront of aerospace innovation, developing solar-powered stratospheric drones designed to enhance global connectivity and observation. Operating at altitudes 20 times closer to Earth than Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, our drones deliver superior 5G direct-to-device communication and ultra-high-resolution imagery. With the capability to remain airborne for up to a year through autonomous solar-powered operations, Icarus offers continuous, cost-effective solutions that surpass traditional cell towers and satellite systems.

 

Role Description

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Electrical Engineer to join our dynamic team in El Segundo, California. In this role, you will lead the design, development, and optimization of the electrical systems that power and control our stratospheric drones. Your expertise will be crucial in ensuring the reliability, efficiency, and performance of our drones' power distribution, energy storage, and control systems, enabling sustained high-altitude operations.

 

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development of electrical and communications architectures, including power distribution, RF communication, and power generation.
• Design, develop, and test electronics for flight and ground infrastructure.
• Develop and execute testing protocols to validate the performance of end-to-end electronics systems in laboratory and field environments.
• Work on system trade studies, requirements definition, component selection, electrical analysis, schematic development, prototyping, debugging, documentation, manufacturing, and testing of sophisticated electrical systems.
• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams, including mechanical, thermal, and software to deliver seamlessly integrated and high-performance hardware solutions.
• Develop tools in-house to verify calculations, improves processes, and analyze data.
• Source and communicate with vendors and suppliers for relevant COTS components.

 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in electrical system design
• Proven expertise in power electronics, energy storage systems, and solar energy integration.
• Proficiency with electrical design and simulation tools such as Altium, SPICE, or equivalent.
• Experience with embedded systems development and programming languages, including C/C++ and Python.
• Familiarity with communication protocols such as CAN and I2C.

 

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), satellites, or other aerospace projects.
• Knowledge of RF communication systems and their integration into complex platforms.
• Familiarity with aerospace industry standards and certification processes.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving abilities.

 

Compensation and Benefits:

• $120,000 to $160,000 salary
• Large equity in the company
• Comprehensive healthcare, dental, and vision plan with HSA.
• Dream desk setup, including tools and whatever else you need to be your most productive self.
• Daily lunch and unlimited Celsius.
• Flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance.